Harddrive Scrollwheel Mod -- Need advice

[eaglestrike7339]

My goal is to end up with a scrollwheel like the griffin powermate.

I have taken the HDD apart, and removed the Spindle and Motor. As far as I can tell, my goal is kind of like a split between these projects:

Original Powermate clone, which inspired me
http://www.instructables.com/id/Desk...olume_Control/

HDDJ, a DJ table based off a harddrive spindle and motor
http://www.instructables.com/id/HDDJ...into_a_rotary/

It includes instructions on disassembly, anayzing output (apparently, it uses some sort of triphase motor, so it produces 3 shifted sine waves, which then get magicked into output by means of which I have no idea.

HDD motor to pot for Arduino
http://www.ladyada.net/forums/viewto...p?f=24&p=37113

And a USBmouse emulator for arduino
http://www.arduino.nl/?p=34

So, I'm thinking of hooking the HDD platter to an arduino, which is connected by USB to the PC, and have it send scroll signals to the PC. Do I really know what i'm doing? Not really, and any help would be appreciated.

Nothing is set in stone, so if using an arduino is not the best option (which it prolly isn't but it's what I'm even close to familiar to), please advise.

Thanks!!
eagle

[Mach]

Check the instructables again. The beauty of the mod was he took a PS2 mouse, remoted the rotary encoder and plugged it directly into the PS2 port on his PC. No extra controller board necessary. Does your PC have PS2 port available?

Not sure what would happen if you have 2 usb mice attached. You could also get a phidgets usb encoder which is almost plug and play for what you are doing. Unfortunately it's the same price as the powermate.

[mgfb]

I'm using 2 usb mice on my machine with no problems at all.

[nevermind1534]

You can plug multiple mice in ok; I've done it before. This thread is three and a half months old.