Microsoft has introduced a few fascinating bits of hardware recently, as well as the most drool worthy by far is the Microsoft surface Dial. What is this wonderful input gadget that will revolutionize innovative work on a computer? Basically, it’s a griffin PowerMate — a rotary encoder as well as button — an interface that truly hasn’t altered in a decade as well as a half.

[K.C. Lee] figures a gadget this basic would produce a fantastic Hackaday prize entry, so he developed a USB HID multimedia dial. It’s a rotary encoder as well as a button. this lights up, though, making this a gamer USB HID multimedia dial.

The electronics for this develop are based around the STM8S003, an extraordinarily cheap microcontroller that will work well sufficient in this application. The mechanical part of this develop is a bit a lot more interesting; [K.C.] states not everybody has gain access to to elegant CNC or 3D printing equipment, so he developed this design out of bits of plastic, metal, as well as superglue. This enclosure is actually an old superglue bottle cap, an empty dental floss spool, as well as bits of metal. It works, as well as took less time to develop than it would take to style in a CAD program.

Right now, [K.C.] is working with some USB problems with the STM8 microcontroller. when those problems are behind him, he’ll have a extremely awesome as well as extremely beneficial input gadget sitting on his desk. It may look like parts waiting on the recycling bin, however it will be at least as beneficial as the elegant Microsoft version.

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