Keyboard Builders' Digest / Tips & Tricks
SmartKnob
SmartKnob is an open-source input device with software-configurable endstops and virtual detents – designed by Scott Bezek.
Published April 18, 2022
Would you like to contribute to this year's MK Advent Calendar? Here are the guidelines for authors, along with last year's edition for reference.
A brushless gimbal motor is paired with a magnetic encoder to provide closed-loop torque feedback control, making it possible to dynamically create and adjust the feel of detents and endstops.
Internally, everything is powered by an ESP32, with a TMC6300 BLDC motor driver, HX711 strain gauge ADC, VEML7700 ambient light sensor, and more! – Scott Bezek.
Check out this demo:
Since you can't feel the detents through the video, Scott suggests you to turn up the volume so you can at least hear them, particularly the fine-grained detents toward the end of the video.
The best thing? It's open-source/open/hardware:
https://github.com/scottbez1/smartknob
Published on Mon 18th Apr 2022. Featured in KBD #74 (source).
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