Yep, 360 degree continuous potentiometers. I just searched for the model number of the units you just sent a picture of, they’re still in production apparently!
That’s why I posted a clear pic. They are still widely used in servo mechanisms - which is what those were for. If you’re in the UK/Europe and want a few 5K ones, drop me a memo.
Hi folks -
If you e-mailed me for SoftPots and received an Invoice, please pay it ASAP, or send me another e-mail with your ETA. Or if you did not get an invoice, let me know that, too. They should’ve all gone out last night. Not trying to rush anyone, but it’d be cool to get the order out before the weekend. No worries if you’ve changed your mind or funds are slow, just let me know so I can plan. We need to order at least 100 units to get the great discount.
Thanks! 
I’m still waiting for the money to be transferred on my paypal-account. The guys working at my bank are a bit slow so that it can take up to a week until you have the money, I’m afraid.
I can cover the diff of the slow transfers (there are a few) to get the order out sooner - will ship to you once funds settle.
Is it too late to jump in on this?
Sorry, the order went out yesterday. Keep me posted with your interest, though, as there will probably be others. If this one doesn’t turn into a big PITA then I’ll probably do it again.
Sorry, the order went out yesterday. Keep me posted with your interest, though, as there will probably be others. If this one doesn’t turn into a big PITA then I’ll probably do it again.
cool, it’s probably for the best anywayz.
i find it so hard to resist these group buys…
i will get in on the next round.
Maybe a list in the wiki could be placed next time, more convenient…
>> Maybe a list in the wiki
I will check out how this is done…
The softpots arrived yesterday and they look great. I will be packaging them up over the next week or so as time allows. I’m tempted to wait until after the XMas rush is over to send them out…
hi phineus
have you considered building a little checking circuit and testing them ?
don t wanna be negative or anything… 
simone
The softpots arrived yesterday and they look great. I will be packaging them up over the next week or so as time allows. I’m tempted to wait until after the XMas rush is over to send them out…
Good to hear. Take your time, the holiday is already enough of a rush.
The softpots went out yesterday. Most went in shipping tubes, a couple went in multiple padded envelopes with a plastic stiffener. Let me know when you get them!
Note, I wrapped batches of 5 strips together with “invisible” scotch tape. It peels right off the strips, don’t worry. I actually use this removable tape all the time on my prototypes - it holds things together nicely then comes off easily with no residue. One time I used some packing tape to hold things together and though it was much stickier and held longer it did leave some residue, but that came right off with some alcohol - my point is the strips are super-durable and clean easily.
I noticed towards the end of packing them up that a couple had very minor nicks in the surface. I hadn’t noticed this before but I held these out from the remaining batches. If you got one of the nicked strips (I’m talking barely noticeable little dents) and it bothers you please let me know and I’ll replace it with a perfect one. It think it might be that they put the units into the package before they were entirely cured or something, and the crimped-on ends left little edge dents on a couple of adjacent pots. I only point it out because I was surprised to see it - they are usually flawless.
I’m now taking orders on full Stribe Prototype kits as well as sub-kits. Come over to the Stribe Project Forum and check it out:
http://www.soundwidgets.com/smf/
Once I get 10 paid kit pre-orders I can go ahead and start ordering boards and parts.
I just received my share of the softpots. Thanks!
Well, PayPal “limited” my account, right in the middle of my first round of Stribe kit orders.
Apparently something about how I did the group buy for the softpots struck them as “suspicious” and they froze my account, pending… god knows what, they won’t tell me. I have uploaded every form of information I can think of and faxed them a bank statement and written a long e-mail explaining of what I’m doing. Apparently they will review my case within the next 3-5 days and let me know if they need more information.
In scouring the web I have come across dozens of sites filled with scary stories about people getting screwed out of their money for good, in exactly the way I just described. Apparently PayPal just keeps asking for more information over and over and won’t tell you why until you give up or hire a lawyer. They figure no-one will hire a lawyer over a couple grand, so they just keep the money and everyone goes home. A few of these are anonymous testimonials from people who apparently worked for PayPal.
If this turns out to be true I will be very very sad.
Anyone been through this? Should I start saving up to buy the kit parts out-of-pocket? Just hold tight? The timing couldn’t be worse. I really just can’t believe it.
That really sucks.
I have also read a lot of horror stories about PayPal freezing accounts and sucking money out of bank accounts without permission… I thought they had stopped all their shonky practices but obviously not.
I live in perpetual fear that PayPal might steal my money, before or after I put it back into my bank account.
Well, PayPal “limited” my account, right in the middle of my first round of Stribe kit orders.
Any chance it’s just that they couldn’t verify some of your info? I see my Stribe kit payment seems to have gone through, but looking at the order details on paypal I see this:
Business Contact Information
Customer Service URL: http://woundwidgets.com/smf/
You’ve accidentally misspelled soundwidgets.
I hope paypal gets their act together.
In a couple of days, if you’ve not got your account back, let me know if you want me to email them and say since the vendor (you) has had their account limited, I either want them to restore your account or that I want my money back. If they choose to return my money, I’d then send you a check or send the money however you want. I won’t send them such email unless you give me the go ahead.
Is there some other kind of pressure that can be put on paypal to get them to give you your account back?
;D Restored! After finally getting an e-mail address out of one of the phone reps I spoke with today (PayPal provides no place to actually type in an explanation, you can only upload images, or fax them. Literally, there’s no place to type anything in… I wonder why) I sent an impassioned note explaining my situation and some other stuff about integrity, trust, justice blah blah blah.
In my e-mail, I mentioned (truthfully) that I am presently involved in evaluating on-line donation solutions for a mega non-profit. I wonder if that explains the sudden-ness of the restoration?
FYI if you ever need it the e-mail address you write to is: appeal@paypal.com
Now I’m trying to decide if I should switch to Google Checkout. Any thoughts?
@Wilba: it’s interesting, among the things I read about today was PayPal sucking money out of people’s bank accounts for questionable reasons, then tying it all up in red tape.
Also, apparently there is a feature you can get turned on (it is un-advertised) that does a “sweep” of your PayPal account each night and moves the cash to your bank account. You have to have your limits set high and get the right person on the phone, apparently.
Sheesh, I was really worried. I was thinking I’d have to sell the dog or something to pay everyone back.
*phew*
PayPal sucks. Google Checkout is a good idea, less fees, infinitely more trustworthy. It’s only for the U.S. and U.K. at the moment, not Australia, or I would change in an instant.
Any players besides Google and PayPal who might be worth investigating?