[sdiy] rotary encoder failure mechanism

[Dave Manley]

Neil Johnson wrote:
>
> The low-cost ALPS style rotary encoders (e.g. as used in x0xb0x) are 
> built in same way as their pots: a little PCB with tracks 
> printed/etched on them, and the spindle moves sprung metal contacts 
> over the tracks.  Pots have single or dual carbon (or some other 
> resistive material) tracks, encoders have highly conductive patterns 
> to implement the A/B codes.
>
> Otherwise same materials, same lifetime, similar failure modes.  No 
> cams or anything like that.
>
> Neil
> -- 
Thanks for the description, it's clear to me now how these work and how 
they'd fail.

-Dave