Mounting a 3" TB from underneath CP without a mounting plate - any ideas?

[javeryh]

I'd love to see some examples.  There can be no hardware (screws, etc.) going completely through the top.  The only thing showing should the the trackball itself.  The CP is going to be stained wood with no art (3/4" birch ply with 1/8" plexi on top).  Any ideas?

[HaRuMaN]

http://www.stafast.com/products/tnuts.html

[gryhnd]

I used metal strapping. Hasn't budged:

[Epyx]

I would do what I did for my trackball minus the flush mounted bolts...just glue the top of the trackball casing in to the routed underside of the trackball hole or as gryhnd mentioned, strap it in for something a little less permanent

[markronz]

The "Super High Trackball Install Kit" from GGG is also an option:
http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=74&products_id=315

Just bought one myself, but haven't gotten to install it yet.  It appears that it's bottom mounted, with just that little ring around the trackball and that's it.

[javeryh]

I used metal strapping. Hasn't budged:

Did you route out the area that the TB sits in?  I have a high-lip TB so I can leave either 1/16" of material (so the plexi will sit flush with the lip - this scares me because it's so thin) or 3/16" of material which will cause the plexi to sit above the lip (so I'd have to use a chamfer bit around the plexiglass hole to make the transition look nice.

[javeryh]

The "Super High Trackball Install Kit" from GGG is also an option:
http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=74&products_id=315

Just bought one myself, but haven't gotten to install it yet.  It appears that it's bottom mounted, with just that little ring around the trackball and that's it.

From the pic it looks like there would be visible screws showing from the top as well as the ring sitting above the CP top by 1/8" or whatever the thickness is - unless I'm not looking at it properly...

[gryhnd]

Did you route out the area that the TB sits in?

I did, and the cutout for the lip is exact, so it is nice and tight.  Especially after a couple coats of Helmsman Spar:

[javeryh]

Did you route out the area that the TB sits in?

I did, and the cutout for the lip is exact, so it is nice and tight.  Especially after a couple coats of Helmsman Spar:

Awesome - thanks for the pics.  How did you cut out the hole?  I have a holesaw but I'm afraid it won't be that precise.  Your edges are nice and crisp.  Setting up the router for something like that seems tricky too.  I am going for the exact finish you achieved only with some 1/8" plexi on top of the poly finish.  

EDIT: Also, is that metal strap the only thing holding it in place? 

[DashRendar]

Did you route out the area that the TB sits in?

I did, and the cutout for the lip is exact, so it is nice and tight.  Especially after a couple coats of Helmsman Spar:

I just gotta say Gryhnd, that's a gorgeous cocktail cab you built.   

[gryhnd]

Purchased the exact size hole saw I needed from Amazon since my big box stores didn't have it.

I didn't want to risk cutting that with a router for the very reason you mention.



There are two straps holding it place in sort of an x or cross fashion bent tight to the shape of the t-ball case and just a skosh shorter so that when screwed into place it pulls the tball tight against the surface.

It's just those straps, plus some minor help by how tight the lip fits in the hole, that holds it in place.  Been there for 8 months (with two removals for unrelated reasons) and it hasn't twitched once during gameplay.

[gryhnd]

I just gotta say Gryhnd, that's a gorgeous cocktail cab you built.  

Thanks  

[javeryh]

Purchased the exact size hole saw I needed from Amazon since my big box stores didn't have it.

I didn't want to risk cutting that with a router for the very reason you mention.



There are two straps holding it place in sort of an x or cross fashion bent tight to the shape of the t-ball case and just a skosh shorter so that when screwed into place it pulls the tball tight against the surface.

It's just those straps, plus some minor help by how tight the lip fits in the hole, that holds it in place.  Been there for 8 months (with two removals for unrelated reasons) and it hasn't twitched once during gameplay.

Thanks- you've got a pic for every question!  So how much material did you leave after routing was finished?  Is that a high-lip TB or a regular one with the 1/16" lip.  If it's a regular one then I might be daring and go down to 1/16"!

[gryhnd]

Thanks- you've got a pic for every question!  So how much material did you leave after routing was finished?  Is that a high-lip TB or a regular one with the 1/16" lip.  If it's a regular one then I might be daring and go down to 1/16"!

  ya...I pretty much over-document.

You can see the entire build if you dare, at http://www.skinners.us/skinners/Misc/CocktailArcade/

I can't recall how much material I left, sorry. I want to say about 1/8+".  It's an X-Arcade trackball.

---looks at xgaming site---

Ok, Xgaming says "To Install, Use a router to cut out 5-7/8” by 5-7/8” down to 1/4”. Cut 2-7/8” hole for lip/ball.", but I don't remember leaving 1/4" behind. I could be mistaken though, it's been a while.

[Epyx]

Agreed...its somewhere between 1/8" and 1/4"...I generally leave somewhere just under 1/4" for the X arcade/Betsons.

Also the hole saw size you want is 2 7/8".  I purchased mine at Home Depot.

[gryhnd]

Also the hole saw size you want is 2 7/8".  I purchased mine at Home Depot.

You were lucky. Neither Lowes nor HD in my area carried them.  2 3/4", yep. 3"? Yep. 2 7/8"? "Huh wut?".

[javeryh]

ya...I pretty much over-document.

No such thing!   

[gryhnd]

Also the hole saw size you want is 2 7/8".  I purchased mine at Home Depot.

You were lucky. Neither Lowes nor HD in my area carried them.  2 3/4", yep. 3"? Yep. 2 7/8"? "Huh wut?".

heh, looks like you and I already had part of this conversation. I must be getting old 

[Epyx]

Lol...hey we were both part of that conversation and I had forgotten it even though it was in my old thread...think its time to book our seniors home...