Introduction: Non-Binary Pedal

In this project we are building a non-binary Pedal. It is needed to control our Lötinatör. Its instructable can be found here: https://www.instructables.com/id/Loetinator/

The documentation of the process can be found at http://loetinator.wordpress.com (German)

We created this part of the project as part of our course, Multimodal Media Madness - Personal Fabrication at RWTH Aachen University, Germany. http://hci.rwth-aachen.de/m3

Why did we build a pedal from scratch?

We didn't find any Non-Binary Pedal on Instructables, Thingiverse, ... !

You can watch the embedded Video to see the Pedal in action.

Step 1: Gather Materials

For this Instructable you'll need/we've used:

  • 38x M3x10mm screws

  • 38x M3 nuts

  • 31x M3 washers

  • 7-8x angles

  • hinge

  • a big carriage bolt or the like (to hold the pedal at the default position)

  • 2x M4x30mm carriage bold as wiper contacts

  • 2x M4 nuts

  • 2x M4 washers

  • 2x 1,8mmx8mmx3mm screw eyes

  • 9/32"x2" pull spring for the pedal

  • 5/16"x1-1/4" pull spring for the wiper contacts

  • 7/32"x11/16" compression spring for the wiper contacts

  • 5mm Aspen/Poplar Plywood

  • 38-40 resistors (e.g. 100 ohm)

  • stripboard

  • cables

  • Lasercutter

  • screw driver

  • soldering iron

  • solder

  • drill

Step 2: Laser Cut ALL the Things!

Use the Laser Cutter to cut the pedal, the two side plates, the ground plate and the back plate.

If you don't want to use our graphics, you can make your own. Here are the measurements:

  • back plate 107mmx190mm
  • side plate 83mmx190mm with two cut out areas for the resistors - 15mmx106mm and 20mmx106mm
  • ground plate 107mmx255mm
  • pedal 83mmx250mm

Attachments

Step 3: Add the First Angles to the Pedal

The first two angles are the holder for the wiper contacts. You have to place shifted on the back side of the pedal. So the wiper contacts can be on one line.

Step 4: Add Wiper Contacts

Place the carriage bolts, nuts, washers, the compression spring and the pull spring as seen in the pictures.

Step 5: Add the Pedal to the Ground Plate

Connect the pedal and the ground plate with the hinge. It should be placed centred on one end of the ground plate.

Step 6: Add the Side Plate and the Back Plate

Step 7: Cut and Solder the Strip Board

The length of the strip boards should be ~83mm like the width of the side plates. We used a pair of scissors to cut the strip board to its length.

Now you can solder all the resistors to the strip boards, so the Voltage will go down between the different strips. You should also solder two cables (e.g. black and red) to the boards. We used a yellow cable (not soldered on the image) for the wiper contacts.

Step 8: Add the Screw Eyes and the Pull Spring

We placed one screw eye centred on the pedal and the other one centred at 17cm heigth on the back plate. Now you can connect the pedal and the back plate with the screw eyes and the pull spring for the pedal.

Step 9: Add the Giant Carriage Bolt

Place the giant carriage bolt through both side plates, so it can hold the pedal to its default position. It should be on one line with the wiper contacts.

Now you've finished the non-binary pedal. Connect the cables to your microcontroller and read the values!

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