How does the OmniScroll optical bearing mechanism work?

Instead of using traditional notched mechanical encoders that wear out, OmniScroll uses an MX8650 optical mouse sensor positioned under an industrial steel ball bearing. As the bearing spins freely, the optical sensor tracks surface micro-textures at ~520 counts per 360-degree revolution (0.6923 degrees per count) with limitless rotational life and zero friction.

OmniScroll (Omni Scroll) — Open-Source Haptic Rotary Dial & Optical Scroll Wheel

Q: What is OmniScroll (Omni Scroll)?

OmniScroll (also searched as Omni Scroll or Omni-Scroll) is an open-source DIY haptic computer rotary dial and precision optical scroll wheel controller engineered around a freely spinning ball bearing and an MX8650 optical mouse sensor, powered by an ESP32-S2.

Q: What gestures and shortcut actions are supported by OmniScroll?

OmniScroll features ballistic Flick Forward and Flick Backward gestures, a Touch & Spin hold-to-scroll modifier, and Single Tap on the dial cap. Supported actions include Browser Back/Forward, Play/Pause, Media Prev/Next, Volume Up/Down, Tab switching, Virtual Desktop navigation, Undo/Redo, and direct mode switching.

SCROLL Vertical page scroll

CROWN DETENT PROFILE

Studio Controls

LED Brightness

100%

Idle Sleep

30s

Touch Sensitivity

76%

GESTURES & SHORTCUTS

Flick Forward

Flick Back

Touch & Spin

Single Tap

› Advanced Settings

TINYOL ADAPTIVE NEURAL ENGINE

TinyOL Neural Engine

Learning Active

Stroke Travel 110.0 counts (~76°)

Snap Recoil 85.0 counts (~59°)

Turnaround 25.0 milliseconds

HARDWARE RGB CALIBRATION

Fine-tune individual hardware channel limits to calibrate color accuracy and run diagnostic tests.

Red Channel 100.0%

Green Channel 100.0%

Blue Channel 100.0%

Mode Studio

Select, customize LED color, haptics, and direction for each workflow mode.

About OmniScroll (Omni Scroll)

Open-source DIY haptic rotary dial & high-resolution optical controller

GitHub Repository

OmniScroll (often searched as Omni Scroll) is a zero-contact haptic computer controller engineered around a freely spinning industrial steel ball bearing and an MX8650 optical sensor. Powered by an ESP32-S2 microcontroller, OmniScroll delivers native Windows & macOS sub-pixel smooth scrolling, customizable iPhone 6 LRA tactile detents, and real-time on-device adaptive flick gesture recognition (TinyOL).

Tracking MX8650 Optical Sensor (Up to 1600 CPI)

Haptics iPhone LRA + PAM8403 Amplifier

Controller ESP32-S2 (Native USB HID + Web Serial)

Configurator 100% In-Browser Web Serial (No App Required)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is OmniScroll (also searched as Omni Scroll)? ›

OmniScroll (often written as Omni Scroll or Omni-Scroll) is an open-source DIY haptic computer rotary dial and precision optical scroll wheel controller engineered around a freely spinning steel ball bearing and an MX8650 optical mouse sensor, powered by an ESP32-S2 microcontroller. It functions as a native USB HID peripheral without requiring any drivers.

How does the optical bearing mechanism work? ›

Instead of using traditional mechanical rotary encoders that suffer from wear, contact chatter, and fixed click notches, OmniScroll places an MX8650 optical sensor directly beneath the outer race of a ball bearing. It reads microscopic surface texture as it spins, yielding ~520 raw counts per 360° revolution (0.6923° per count) with infinite lifespan and frictionless rotation.

Does OmniScroll require companion software or driver installation? ›

No. OmniScroll operates as a standard USB HID input device on Windows, macOS, Linux, and ChromeOS. Configuration is handled 100% in-browser over the Web Serial API via this control panel with zero background software or driver installations needed.

What gestures and shortcut actions are supported? ›

OmniScroll features ballistic Flick Forward and Flick Backward gestures, a Touch & Spin hold-to-scroll modifier, and Single Tap on the dial cap. Supported actions include Browser Back/Forward, Play/Pause, Media Previous/Next, Volume Up/Down, Tab switching, Virtual Desktop navigation, Undo/Redo, and direct mode switching.

How does the TinyOL adaptive neural gesture engine work? ›

OmniScroll features an on-device machine learning recognizer (TinyOL) running in SRAM that measures kinematic phase-energy and normalized Mahalanobis distance. It separates ballistic flick recoil from deliberate scrolling in under 2 microseconds and adapts to individual hand ergonomics without flash wear.