Tấm PingPong DriveKeys Plate

This DrivePlate is part of the DriveKeys Modular Wheelchair Platform Collection.

This plate was developed to explore alternative interaction techniques where a lightweight ball can be rolled or displaced to generate motion input. The design can also serve as a foundation for custom sensors, optical tracking experiments, or other creative input systems.

While the model is inteded to have 3x 8mm ball bearings (heat) pressed into the cradle-pockets, there will also be an alternate model that incorperates the ball-bearings into the print. While not as an ideal of a hard sliding point-contact surface, it becomes a simple zero-assembly-required part.

Additional Hardware

In addition to the Base Mount and it's hardware, you'll also need:

• 3x 8mm Ball Bearings

• 1x 40mm Ping Pong ball

• (Optional) 6x M5x10mm Threaded Inserts - for the 6 insert pockets on the bottom to provide mount-points for additional equipment.

Required Tools

• Soldering Iron with temp control: I use a Pinecil set to 330c to heat-press the threaded inserts and ball-bearings into the prints.

Assembly

If using the ball-bearing version, using a soldering iron, you can coax the 8mm ball-bearings into the recessed pockets. The ball-bearings will cradle the ball, providing low-friction point-contacts.

This plate requires the DriveKeys v11 base mount which can be found here: 

If you or someone you know could benefit from something similar, especially if you don’t have access to a 3D printer, reach out at [email protected]—we’d love to help. And if you're enjoying these projects, consider supporting me on Patreon to help keep the ideas and designs coming! patreon.com/oddinventor.