About to buy my trackball, some final questions

[Donger]

Hi-

Based upon the replies in the other thread, plus some additional research on my own, I've decided to get the Happ 3" High-Ball Trackball for my CP.

There are 3 additional items on the trackball page...I was wondering if I needed them.

http://www.happcontrols.com/trackballs/trackballs_amusement.htm

1) "Trackball Plate" 56-5530-00
2) "Trackball Mounting Kit" 55-1103-00
3) "Trackball Support Plate" 95-1828-10

Could someone explain what these items are used for?  I assume I need either the Plate or the Mounting Kit.  Any problems if I eliminate these items?  They add some unwanted costs to the project.

Thanks for the help!

Donger

[u_rebelscum]

The "support plate" isn't needed.  It does help protect the bottom of the plastic TB case against over tightened bolts, and hammered trackballs.  However, if someone hammers the TB so hard the support plate "helps", it just means the rollers, bearings and bearings seats are going to take the abuse.  So make sure you mount your TB tightly, but not overly tight, and don't pound the ball with your fists in frustration.


If you are mounting the trackball directly to a metal CP, no you don't need a monuting plate or kit.  You'd need to drill holes in the metal though (3.25" (for the ball) and 3/8-1/4" (for the 4 bolts).

If you are mounting to a wood panel, the easiest by far is to use either the kit or . . . the kit.  Since you are getting the highball, be sure to get the highball version, and there is no highball plate, you're stuck with the highball kits (55-1103-00 or 55-1104-00).

Other things you can do:
1) Make your own plate (much like if you had a metal CP)
2) Somehow support the trackball from underneth.  There are examples of people from here doing that, but it's not as easy.  Hopefully they'll say their views and howtos about this.

[Mark70]

I want to dig up this thread again, because I had the same questions about installing a trackball and I haven't found the answers.

I was wondering, if you're using plexi and mounting in a wood CP, why to you need a cover plate on top?

[u_rebelscum]

I was wondering, if you're using plexi and mounting in a wood CP, why to you need a cover plate on top?

You could put the plate under the plexi.  Route the wood ~1/16" (the thinkness of the mounting kit) in the shape and size of the mounting plate, put the plate in, (optional) put artwork over wood & plate, put plexi on top.  If you do this, use the high lip (or high ball) version: http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=43800.0 for quick side view of why.  Many people seem to be doing this.

The simplest is to put the mounting plate on top of course, but some people have been successful with mounting with undersupport instead.  Try doing some more searching of the forum; bottom support has been discussed before, but I don't which search words to include so the right threads are found; trackballs are a common topic.   Or hopefully someone who did this will post here.