Atari 4" Trackball Wood CP Flush Mount

[yo1dog]

So I am considering getting an Atari 4" trackball because I love their huge size (that's what she said). Problem is I have a 3/4" wood control panel and I am trying to keep everything flush mounted. In this case I would not mind some bolt heads showing.



I was thinking of removing the plexiglass and metal top, drilling the circular hole for the ball, and routing the wood to 1/8" thick for the trackball base. Then I could either drive bolts through the top or put something underneath it to hold it up.

I am worried that the 1/8" wood would be too thin to support someone smashing on the trackball. Therefore, bolting from the top will not be a viable option.

I think the best solution is to create something to hold it from underneath. It would secure the trackball against the control panel and in place. This would allow for a completely flush mount as well. See the following crapagram:


Red: Tranckball
Blue: Harness/support
Black: Control Panel
Grey: Bolts that holds harness/support to control panel

What do you guys think?

Edit:
The wood is 3/4" Birch "Plywood Hardwood" and I do NOT have any plexiglass overlay.

[newmanfamilyvlogs]

i wonder if you could fabricate something like these in a bigger size:
http://www.twistedquarter.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=113_120&products_id=793&zenid=7rs2f6sqvbjrs70dp25rgod240

[yo1dog]

My control panel is bare wood (no paint, graphic overlay, plexiglass, etc) with just a finish, and I am trying to keep it that way. A big black mounting plate would be so ugly!

[Crazy Cooter]

Build a "basket"to hold it from the bottom (in addition to routing the top thin).

[yo1dog]

That's exactly what I was saying

[Crazy Cooter]

Build it with a "lip" so you can rambo a dozen screws upward into the control panel and you won't need to have bolts showing.  Just make sure the basket it tight around the sides/edges and it won't go anywhere.

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Like that.

[bkenobi]

Just a thought, but if you are using 3/4" wood, then you will only have 1/2" threads holding the TB in place.  You could add a bunch of screws, but that would mean more locations to remove for maintenance.  I was thinking about a slightly different approach that might work well.  What if you were to add a strip of wood around the perimeter (or at least 2 sides) of the track ball mounting location.  These strips would be glued down, but prior to applying glue, insert 4 T-nuts facing down.  That would allow you to have a nice metal threading to screw into that won't wear out.  Then you can make a cradle out of whatever you want (bent sheet metal, wood, etc) and you would be able to screw down the TB frame nice and snug without any issue of stripping the wood screws or bolts visible from above.

[yo1dog]

Great idea. Thanks!