Detachable Trackball?

[Jamesbeat]

Has anyone made a trackball module that attaches to the front of their machine?

I didn't have room for one on my panel, but there are a couple of games (Centipede, Marble Madness, Golden Tee) that I wouldn't mind having the ability to play.
I didn't like them enough to incorporate a control panel large enough to accommodate a trackball, but if I could come up with a separate box that attaches to the front of the panel, I might consider doing it.

I couldn't find much with a search, only modular control panels, which I'm not interested in doing.

[aldub516]

i havent seen a particular project that did this.. but the trackball itself is usually already in a pretty clean shell. You can probably just build a small box, exact size of the trackball, essentially just hiding the plastic case of the trackball. Then find a suitable place to mount it, and research different brackets and such for the job. Maybe if theres enough surface area it can clip on the front of the machine some how? The problem would be easily and non hassle way to connect it to the pc

[pbj]

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Logitech-TrackMan-Marble-Mouse/11017032


There you go, sport.

[aldub516]

lol.. this looked even more easy to use as a cheap solution
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Kensington-Orbit-Trackball-Mouse-with-Scroll-Ring/14235498?action=product_interest&action_type=title&item_id=14235498&placement_id=irs-106-m3&strategy=PWBAB&visitor_id&category=&client_guid=6b8b9e23-0747-47de-9b92-3f528fd0114d&customer_id_enc&config_id=106&parent_item_id=11017032&parent_anchor_item_id=11017032&guid=13953796-bbd7-412f-b06b-9f576166a3e8&bucket_id=irsbucketdefault&beacon_version=1.0.1&findingMethod=p13n

[DeLuSioNal29]

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Logitech-TrackMan-Marble-Mouse/11017032

I have this on my PC.  It's not really good for games like Golden Tee or "rough playing".  Plus the ball pops out pretty easily.

You can check out X-Gaming's trackball instead.  I don't think they sell them anymore (you could always contact them and ask).  But I'm sure you can find a used one on e-bay.


DeL

[BadMouth]

I remember seeing a flip-up trackball once and separate standalone CPs to be used with a standard cab.
(can't be bothered to search for them).

I don't see where there would be anything hard about it.
Get a USB trackball, build a housing for it that can attach to the CP, and plug it into a usb port.
I'd steer clear of those computer mouse trackballs.  They may be OK for centipede, but aren't going to cut it for games like golden tee where the ball needs to spin for a while after released.

Personally, I always wanted to do a trackball CP in front of the joystick CP that flips down out of the way when not in use.

[Jamesbeat]

i havent seen a particular project that did this.. but the trackball itself is usually already in a pretty clean shell. You can probably just build a small box, exact size of the trackball, essentially just hiding the plastic case of the trackball. Then find a suitable place to mount it, and research different brackets and such for the job. Maybe if theres enough surface area it can clip on the front of the machine some how? The problem would be easily and non hassle way to connect it to the pc

That was what I had in mind, just wondering if anyone else did this, and what method of attachment was used etc.

[Jamesbeat]

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Logitech-TrackMan-Marble-Mouse/11017032


There you go, sport.

There you go, sport.

[vwalbridge]

pbj gotta pbj...

But in all seriousness, I actually agree with him. Unless trackball games are just as important to you as other games, then leave it off.

Either build a panel with it fully integrated like it's supposed to be there, or just leave it out entirely. Quite frankly, Marble madness and golden tee require some very aggressive play. Hanging a trackball off your existing control panel will probably not only look ugly, but will not withstand even the most moderate abuse. Furthermore, some surface area around the track ball is necessary for comfortable play and that negates the desire to attach something small.

Maybe I'm missing something here, but this sounds about as strange as having a removable flight joystick, steering wheel, or guns.

Either build your control panel like it was supposed to be there the entire time, or just leave it out.

When you want to play the 3 games you like that use the trackball, then use pbj's suggestion.

[PL1]

i havent seen a particular project that did this.. but the trackball itself is usually already in a pretty clean shell. You can probably just build a small box, exact size of the trackball, essentially just hiding the plastic case of the trackball. Then find a suitable place to mount it, and research different brackets and such for the job. Maybe if theres enough surface area it can clip on the front of the machine some how? The problem would be easily and non hassle way to connect it to the pc

That was what I had in mind, just wondering if anyone else did this, and what method of attachment was used etc.

There are lots of ways to do this, depending on your setup.

It would be easier for people to provide suggestions if they could see a pic or two of your control panel or at least knew a few things about it.

    - Is there an overhang? 

    - If so, is the overhang large enough for a clamp?

    - How much space is there on top of the panel?

    - Where do you plan to plug in the USB cable for the trackball?


Scott

[Jamesbeat]

Good point, here's a link to my build thread so you can see:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,150023.0.html

The overhang is around 3".

I welded hinges to a steel bar which runs along the bottom of the cp, so I could probably use that as part of an attachment point of some kind.
I was thinking that if I did this, I'd probably hide a usb port under the overhang.

I'm also going to have usb ports inside the coin door, so I guess I could use those on the occasions that I use the trackball.

I'd like to come up with some sort of bracket that is hidden, I don't want to have it on show when not in use.
If there is no way of accomplishing that, I will forgo the trackball.

[ark_ader]

Remember those Golden Tee TV trackballs Wally Mart was selling for $5 a few years back?

Hack it with a cordless mouse.



For those with eye sight problems...