Can you swap trackball axis?

[chucklepie]

Hello,
In my control panel I won't quite have enough room for a track ball (the one I'm looking at the the u-track to go with the ipac minipac - http://www.gremlinsolutions.co.uk/products/utrakmini.htm).

I'm assuming the long side is x axis and the shorter side is the y axis. However it would fit if I rotated the trackball so it went in long ways (as you look at it) into my CP.

Is this possible (i.e. can you swap the axis. I'm assuming you just switch the cables, but the minipac is already wired so would need adjusting?

[Le Chuck]

That is how it gets mounted.  As long as you mount it with any short side towards bottom you will be able to fix the axis in settings however trying to save space and mount it on a 45 degree angle (standing on a corner, tallest way possible) will give you all kinds of problems unless you are building a dedicated Marble Madness. 

[chucklepie]

ah, cheers I didn't realise that, it should fit then, I thought it would be the 176 as the width required underneath. I'd better do some calculations/cardboard mockup to see how much space it actually takes up.

btw, why are spinners so expensive? I'd have thought trackballs would cost more....

[Cynicaster]

Because it doesn't benefit from an economy of scale.

[AndyWarne]

The real reason is that the precision of a spinner is much higher than a trackball. To replicate the original geared trackwheels used in some games without gearing, which is not pleasant to use, requires an encoder with a resolution of 1200 pulses per rev. A trackball has inherent gearing from the size of the ball vs the rollers it sits on and so can use an inexpensive encoder using a wheel with cutouts.

Add to that the cost of an anodized knob and a housing machined from a solid piece of aluminium plus two oil-free bearing races and the margins on these are slim.

Incidentally our spinners are used in professional high-end video editing equipment as well and by several museums for the public to control exhibits.

It would of course be possible to use a cheaper device as a rotary control and people are welcome to do that if they wish but what is the point of building an arcade cabinet if you are not going to use arcade-grade controls.

[AndyWarne]

"Arcade grade"   

Which PCBs are compatible with your spinner?

Any which use a spinner, from Arkanoid onwards.

[chucklepie]

Given the cost I think I'll not be bothering with a spinner initially but will be making space.

But it got me thinking, what games do actually really need a trackball? Maybe I should invest the money in an Aim Trak instead where I know there's loads of on rail games I'd play