Updates

June 2, 2026 — Introducing Rotatrix Wired — and kits restock Wednesday

TL;DR:

• The current DIY kits will be restocked Wednesday, June 3 at 12pm ET — still US$129, at rotatrix.com/kit.
• Rotatrix Wired — a new board-replacement edition — is on track for pre-orders beginning late June (US$149 kit / US$299 assembled).

In my last update I mentioned a DIY kit in beta, and a “V1.5” board that replaces the Kensington controller entirely. Here’s news on both.

First, the original Rotatrix design is now called Rotatrix Hybrid. It adds a microcontroller alongside the stock Kensington one, functioning as a Rotatrix over USB, and a Kensington (2D-only) mouse over wireless.

Going forward, Hybrid lives on as a solder-it-yourself kit (too labor-intensive to offer assembled). The kit has now graduated from beta:

Hybrid kits restock Wednesday, June 3 at 12pm ET (UTC−4). More at rotatrix.com/kit — price is still US$129.

Hybrid is for you if you can build it yourself and want to keep the trackball’s wireless mouse mode, or want a Rotatrix as soon as possible.

Rotatrix Wired is the new name for the board replacement: a custom circuit board that replaces the Kensington controller entirely. Installation becomes a quick board swap with just a screwdriver. In exchange for going wired-only, the original 3-position power switch and DPI button are freed up as extra mappable controls.

The first Wired prototype boards are in. I’ve built the first Wired unit and I’m using it as I write this. Next, I’m ordering a small initial batch — if all goes well, I’ll open pre-orders in late June for both self-install kits (US$149) and pre-assembled & tested (US$299), with fulfillment scaling in August. Full comparison at rotatrix.com/editions.

Smaller notes:

• Fulfillment on the current batch is running ahead of schedule.
• On the software side, I’ve been improving Linux support and started prototyping Inventor and Rhino integrations.

— David

May 12, 2026 — Kits in beta, and a wired V1.5 in development

First — thanks to everyone who’s emailed with questions, ideas, and interest. I’ve read every reply and appreciate the support, even where I haven’t been able to respond individually.

Existing orders. Orders already accepted are in progress. Current units are hand-soldered — adding a custom controller into a Kensington SlimBlade Pro with a dozen wire connections. Since interest has outpaced my bench, I’ve been recruiting freelance technicians in NYC to help with assembly.

A kit option, now in beta. A lot of makers reached out wanting to do the install themselves, so I put together a kit version — the same controller mod, but you solder it into your own SlimBlade Pro. I’m releasing it in small batches and opening more spots as I go.

V1.5 is in development. Same functionality, different build — a custom PCB that replaces the stock Kensington controller entirely. Two things this unlocks:

• Assembled units get much faster to build — the PCB can be contract-manufactured and dropped in with a screwdriver.
• Installation can be DIY without requiring soldering skills.

The trade-off: V1.5 is fully wired-only. V1 offers full 3D in wired mode and Kensington’s stock mouse control over wireless; replacing the stock controller altogether means giving up that wireless mode. Wireless Rotatrix functionality will have to wait for future development.

Edit: V1.5 is now called Rotatrix Wired.

Reopening assembled orders is delayed. Hand-soldering doesn’t scale well, so rather than reopen on the original timeline, I’m aiming to reopen alongside V1.5, with firm dates to come. Kits will move out of beta sooner.

Thanks for the patience.

— David