mounting 3" happ trackball

[n3wt0n]

Hi everyone,  I am just getting ready to bite the bullet and purchase a mounting plate for my happ trackball but I would really like to avoid using it if possible.  I did a quick search and came up with some great examples of how to use the mounting plate but has anyone successfully under mounted their Happ trackball without it? I am planning on using 5/8" MDF and then 1/8" plexi on top.

Thanks,
Jeremy

[leapinlew]

I did this on mine. It was a bit of a hackjob. I cut the hole big enough to set the trackball in, and the plexi\art sit on the top of the trackball housing. I used brackets and braced underneath to hold it in place.

Wasn't pretty, and I'm sure there is a more elegant way, but the machine is 8-9 years old and doing fine.

[n3wt0n]

Thanks leapinlew. I had a temporary panel that I did quite the hack job on but now I guess its time to do it right. I will order the mounting bracket tomorrow.

[dheck]

My control panel is 5/8 MDF with 1/8" plexi.  I tried to under mount my happy 3" trackball without the bracket but I did not like the results.  I ended up routing out the top of my control panel so that the mounting plate sat flush and then I bondo'd it so that it was all smooth.  Something to keep in mind is that I don't believe the mount is supposed to be used with plexi.  When you do this the ball sits 1/8" low.  It doesn't really bother me but it's something to keep in mind.   

[RandyT]

Something to keep in mind is that I don't believe the mount is supposed to be used with plexi.  When you do this the ball sits 1/8" low.  It doesn't really bother me but it's something to keep in mind.

The HAPP "High-Lip" trackballs have about .190" of lip height around the ball.   The mounting plate is ~.070", so there should be very close to 1/8" left to go nearly flush with 1/8" plexi (which is usually a little undersized anyway.)  Did you cut the circle for the lip or the ball itself?

[dheck]

Something to keep in mind is that I don't believe the mount is supposed to be used with plexi.  When you do this the ball sits 1/8" low.  It doesn't really bother me but it's something to keep in mind.

The HAPP "High-Lip" trackballs have about .190" of lip height around the ball.   The mounting plate is ~.070", so there should be very close to 1/8" left to go nearly flush with 1/8" plexi (which is usually a little undersized anyway.)  Did you cut the circle for the lip or the ball itself?

I cut the circle for the lip.  When mine is bolted to the mounting plate the lip pretty much sits flush with the plate.  Maybe I did not get the "high lip" version?  I wasn't aware this was even an option at time of purchase.

[RandyT]

I cut the circle for the lip.  When mine is bolted to the mounting plate the lip pretty much sits flush with the plate.  Maybe I did not get the "high lip" version?  I wasn't aware this was even an option at time of purchase.

I'm pretty sure most, if not all of the HAPP TB's are "High-lip".  But I haven't seen the PS/2 / USB models. 

Tell me, did you use the spacer which comes with the mounting plate?  If so, remove it.  It's only for metal panels.