I've been experimenting with various multi-button mice like Redragon, Lioncast, and Logitech, trying to customize them for my workflow. However, I've hit a wall with these mice, as many have hard-wired buttons that can't be changed, and others are just too heavy. Honestly, I find I'm faster using a basic Amazon Basics mouse! This led me to wonder about building my own mouse that would be completely customizable — no unchangeable buttons allowed. My initial thought was to 3D-print a mouse from scratch. But then it hit me: why not take a comfortable mouse shell, replace its internal board with something like an Arduino Pro Micro, which I've used before? How feasible would that actually be?
6 Answers
If you're looking to make your own, it's not just about swapping buttons. You’re diving into circuit boards and microchips to connect everything from the microswitches to the tracking laser. Do you think that's within your skill set?
That Strategic Commander has some cool features, but man, building a mouse seems way harder than it ought to be.
Check this out: there are DIY mouse kits where you can 3D print your own shell! They focus on ergonomics, which could be helpful. But just a heads-up, a lot of them only have two buttons, so you'll want to ensure it meets your needs.
Good info! But I need something with more buttons that I can also program. Two just won’t cut it for me.
Honestly, it might be more challenging than you think unless you're into 3D printing. Even then, there's a steep learning curve. If you’re comfortable coding, maybe consider just modifying an existing mouse instead? It could save you a lot of time!
That's what I initially thought! I figured just reprogramming the buttons of an existing mouse would be a more efficient path.
It's definitely doable, but preparing a full project might take a year to get it right. You could whip up a prototype in a couple of months, but expect to iterate a few times to get to a product level — think at least six months before you're really satisfied with it.
Wow, that sounds complicated! I thought it would be easier since I was using an existing shell. Is re-mapping with Arduino really that challenging?
Yeah, it is frustrating! There aren’t really any options out there tailored for casual use, and most mice are aimed at gamers.
If you’re still set on it, try asking around for advice! Plus, you might want to check out resources on USB interface design and sensor integration. Ideally, you'd need to reach a higher sampling frequency to avoid lag, and that could be tricky with an Arduino. You could end up with a sluggish mouse and a ton of headaches.
Here's a solid reference to get you started: [https://github.com/BenMakesEverything/PMW3389_Mouse](https://github.com/BenMakesEverything/PMW3389_Mouse). I've designed and created a mouse using it. But be ready for months of work! Familiarize yourself with Fusion 360 and KiCad for design, and you can get programming help from ChatGPT. Knowledge of electronics will definitely help too.
Look, this is making me want to buy a Microsoft Strategic Commander instead! Sounds like a big time investment, though. I just need a simple customizable mouse fast.