EntertainmentCommon

Game controller

Also called gamepad, joypad.

Two rumble motors and a set of buttons. The analog sticks are often the reason it was scrapped, so test the pots before you plan a robot around them.

A donor is the dead machine. The parts below are what is still worth removing from it. “Leave it” is a part that is physically in there and should stay in there: too dangerous, too worn, or only useful as part of a repair you are not doing.

What you are looking at

A scrapped machine is a box of parts that failed at different times. The reason it was thrown out is often one bad piece. The motor, the cord, the supply, and the screws are frequently still good. This index says which is which.

Why it is in the trash while the parts are not

Stick drift. That is the potentiometer. The rumble motors are innocent.

Before you open it

Do this while it is still unplugged, cool, and not leaking. Remove batteries or unplug.

Where the dead machine usually is

Living room and entertainment stack — In the house
Toy box — In the house
Thrift store — Retail

Thrift stores. Drift is hard to see in the aisle; assume the sticks are tired.

How it comes apart

Screws under the label or behind the battery door. The rumble motors fall out once the shell splits.

Tools: Phillips 00, Spudger.

What to take

The table is the short version. The notes under it describe that part inside this machine, not only the general description.

Parts in this donor
Part	Call	How many	How often	Where to look
Vibration motor	Prize	2	always	Each handle.
Potentiometer	Worth pulling	2	usually	The sticks.
Tactile switch	Bonus	many	always	Face buttons.
Microswitch	Bonus	2	sometimes	Shoulder buttons, on better pads.
USB cable	Bonus	1	sometimes	Wired pads.
Bluetooth audio module	Leave it	1	sometimes	Wireless pads.

Prize

Prize — take this firstVibration motor2 · always
Small cylindrical ERMs, 3–5 V.
Each handle.
Two wires each.
Good.

Worth pulling

Worth pullingPotentiometer2 · usually
Dual axis, often the failed part.
The sticks.
Test for smooth resistance before you keep them.
Drift is the common fault.

Bonus

Bonus, if you are already in thereTactile switchmany · always
Conductive rubber or membrane on most pads. Some use discrete switches.
Face buttons.
Discrete ones are worth it. Rubber is not.
Rubber wears.
Bonus, if you are already in thereMicroswitch2 · sometimes
Real switches.
Shoulder buttons, on better pads.
Desolder.
Good.
Bonus, if you are already in thereUSB cable1 · sometimes
USB.
Wired pads.
Test it.
Fine.

Leave it

Leave it — present, not yours to reuseBluetooth audio module1 · sometimes
A proprietary link, not a general Bluetooth module you can reflash.
Wireless pads.
Leave it.
Not a radio project.