DIY 10 turns pot - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: dardosordi
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 02, 2016, 05:53:20 am
content: I needed one and decided to build it, why ?1. They are expensive, hard to get (where I live) and also shipping would cost half its price.2. Because its fun.3. I can repair it if the pot goes bad.4. Because I can!I made it using some cogs from an old cd drive, the shaft came from an old radio tuner and a heatsink as the frame. The knob was recycled from an old CRT monitor.It's actually 13 turns and works reasonably well, Im quite happy with it.

author: neo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 02, 2016, 08:09:53 am
content: This may just be my own opinion but this is genius in its own right, i really like the way you did it, might even do it myself with how many pots i have lying around

author: ElektroQuark
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 02, 2016, 08:46:52 am
content: DO the original pot behave perfectly linear (or logarithmic) in the new arrangement? I thought they are not so "regular"along all the range.

author: ebclr
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 02, 2016, 08:56:29 am
content: USD 1.68 shiped to argentinahttps://www.aliexpress.com/item/50K-Ohm-590S-2-503L-BOURNS-Rotary-Wirewound-Precision-Potentiometer-Pot-10-Turn/32674459760.html?spm=2114.01010208.3.2.CFMS4L&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_3_10056_10065_10055_10068_10054_10069_10059_418_10073_10017_10070_10060_10061_10052_10062_10053_10050_10051,searchweb201603_6&btsid=b09e4175-4db6-4286-b320-27526c604033

author: ZeTeX
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 02, 2016, 11:09:40 am
content: Quote from: ebclr on October 02, 2016, 08:56:29 amThose are totally garbage they literally break after no-time use.but those:http://www.ebay.com/itm/1pcs-Bi-Technologies-10K-Wirewound-Potentiometer-7276R10KL-25-10-Multi-Turn-/151336206694?hash=item233c574166:g:vbkAAOSwo8hTqA6Athose actually come with a metal shaft and they are really high quality and cost only 8.6 US$ including worldwide shipping, for a 10 turn pot those are cheap and good.but other then that, op, really good job! 10/10.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 02, 2016, 11:11:09 am
content: Used to be very common as a method to get finer resolution on a variable capacitor, like used to tune radio sets. Does nothing for linearity or resolution ofv the pot, you get what it had originally, but you can adjust the wiper very slowly to give a finer control of the position, and there is reduced friction on it.

author: dom0
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 02, 2016, 01:40:01 pm
content: Some variocaps even had these gears built-in. To avoid play when trying to fine-tune to a station they use split-cogs that are spring-loaded. That way you can make even the most miniscule adjustments with no problems.

author: lowimpedance
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 02, 2016, 02:15:56 pm
content: Quote from: neo on October 02, 2016, 08:09:53 amIndeed a neat re-application of various bits.

author: Farley
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 02, 2016, 02:58:24 pm
content: Nice work.One feature available with this sort of configuration is the ability to drive a dial/pointer off of the pot shaft. A conventional 10-turn pot does not provide that option.dardosordi - are you experiencing any objectionable backlash in the gear train?

author: ZeTeX
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 02, 2016, 03:42:34 pm
content: Now get a 10 turn pot and make it 100 turns! haha

author: dardosordi
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 02, 2016, 05:20:45 pm
content: Quote from: Farley on October 02, 2016, 02:58:24 pmThanks!I have no 10 turn pot to compare it to, but compared against the same pot (I have another spare) it requieres less force and feels ok.

author: dardosordi
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 02, 2016, 05:23:09 pm
content: Quote from: EdoNork on October 02, 2016, 08:46:52 amThe original pot was log and it works the same (these are not real log pots, cfhttp://www.geofex.com/article_folders/potsecrets/potscret.htm). It actually works pretty well for its intended use a home brew lab PSU.

author: jonovid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 02, 2016, 05:23:18 pm
content: Like your work. I do similar things, if I need a custom one off part. 10 turn potsQuotehave you tried aliexpress? they have blue 10 turn pots and the 10 turn knob's too.OR maybe with your custom one off part, you can try adding custom lighting.making a knob glow lightpipe design try adding a custom lightpipe down a transparent plastic axle so the knob will glow with led's. like a red , blue or green glowing dot on the knob. a another idea is the fixd axle with a outer rotating sleeve & ring. the knob face is stationaryso you can add a tactile switch. but the outer ring moves. just more ideas.

author: dardosordi
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 02, 2016, 05:25:36 pm
content: Quote from: ebclr on October 02, 2016, 08:56:29 amThose are half what I pay for a regular pot here. Im travelling to the USA in a bout a week becuase of my job so I'll get some parts when being there. But all in all, this was a fun project and it worked.

author: dardosordi
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 02, 2016, 05:27:37 pm
content: Quote from: SeanB on October 02, 2016, 11:11:09 amThat is correct and its what I was expecting, but it will let my PSU adjust in 100mV steps (finer if I bother to do it carefully) so I call it a win.

author: dardosordi
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 02, 2016, 05:29:46 pm
content: Quote from: lowimpedance on October 02, 2016, 02:15:56 pmThanks, it drives me crazy thinking about all the work and energy that went into manufacturing stuff that ends up in a landfill polluting the environment! Plus I get to distract myself from coding all day long

author: dardosordi
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 02, 2016, 05:31:02 pm
content: Quote from: ZeTeX on October 02, 2016, 03:42:34 pmHaha, will not be practical for my application but if resolution of the 10 turn pot allows it then it may be useful for someone else.

author: dardosordi
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 02, 2016, 05:36:27 pm
content: Quote from: ZeTeX on October 02, 2016, 11:09:40 amI needed a 5K log pot, but this one may come in handy for another project. Thanks.

author: TheDirty
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 04, 2017, 06:14:56 pm
content: Bought a 3D printer recently. I bet I could design a gear system with holder. Maybe it's already done, I'll take a look.

author: dardosordi
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 04, 2017, 07:17:27 pm
content: Quote from: TheDirty on January 04, 2017, 06:14:56 pmThat's a fantastic idea, I would love to see it!