This cassette player modification controls the player's motor directly with an L9110 motor driver. An Adafruit QT Py RP2040 controls the L9110 with two PWM pins and uses CircuitPython code to affect the motor's throttle by reading a potentiometer value.

This mod should be used with a cassette tape loop. By driving the motor independently from the cassette player's circuit board, you can damage regular cassette tapes since the motor will keep spinning the tape even once the tape has reached the end.

Make sure to use this modification with a cassette tape loop! Otherwise you may damage regular cassette tapes.

The circuit is built on a perma-proto board that fits perfectly on the back of the cassette player with a 3D printed plate. The QT Py RP2040 can power the audio output of the player with its 3.3V output.

The potentiometer affects the speed and direction of the motor being driven by the L9110 driver. If you turn the potentiometer all the way to the left, the motor throttles at full speed in reverse. If you turn the potentiometer all the way to the right, the motor throttles forward at full speed.

The button controls a revved warble effect when it is held down. The motor will perform the effect forward or reversed depending on the position of the potentiometer.

Electronic Parts

Video of hand holding a QT Py PCB in their hand. An LED glows rainbow colors.
What a cutie pie! Or is it... a QT Py? This diminutive dev board comes with one of our new favorite chip, the RP2040. It's been made famous in the new
$9.95
In Stock
Feather wired to L9110 chip, driving a DC motor back and forth
Run two solenoids or a single DC motor with up to 800mA per channel using the super-simple L9110H H-bridge driver. This bridge chip is an 8 DIP package so it's easy to fit onto any...
$1.50
In Stock
Top view of Adafruit Perma-Proto Half-sized Breadboard PCB.
Customers have asked us to carry basic perf-board, but we never liked the look of most basic perf: it's always crummy quality, with pads that flake off and no labeling. Then we...
$4.50
In Stock
Angled shot of rotary potentiometer
This Alpha 10K Linear potentiometer is a two-in-one, good in a breadboard or with a panel. It's a fairly standard linear taper 10K ohm potentiometer. It's smooth and...
$1.95
In Stock
Angled shot of 20 6mm soft silicone top pushbuttons.
This product is really annoying to have to write a description for because it's really something you have to touch to understand! Instead of a hard plastic actuator-button, these...
$2.50
In Stock
Breadboard-friendly SPDT Slide Switch
These nice switches are perfect for use with breadboard and perfboard projects. They have 0.1" spacing and snap in nicely into a solderless breadboard. They're easy to switch...
$0.95
In Stock
1 x USB-C Cable
USB-C to USB-A cable

Cassette Gear

1 x Portable Cassette Player
Portable cassette player
1 x Audio Cassette Tape Splicing Tape
Cassette splicing tape

This guide was first published on Jun 29, 2022. It was last updated on Jun 29, 2022.

This page (Motor Controlled Cassette Player) was last updated on Jun 24, 2022.

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