foot operated computer mouse

Step 3 Foot board layout

I outlined my dainty size 8 men's slippered feet on paper, at their rest positions and also where they would fall when operating the click buttons and pointer. I marked the openings for the left- and right- click switches and the spot for the pointer sensor. The left-click switch is actually a half inch to the left of the foot centerline, and the right-click switch is a half inch to the right of the foot centerline. One inch of foot travel would click a switch, and another inch and a half of travel would hit a bumper. Together these determined the shape and location of the plastic tubing rails that would confine my feet and guide their movements by feel. I replicated the curve at the left foot toe onto the right front corner of the foot board, for symmetry and stability then drew a half-inch edge outside the tubing. The blue object is a handy drawing aid that will hold a curve once bent, Alvin Curvex 1022-24. The paper pattern was cut around its perimeter and used to transfer positions of all the elements onto the foot board by poking through the paper with a sharp stylus.