U-trak vs HAPP 3"

[usaf-lt-g]

Hey guys,

So I was planning on installing a U-Trak mainly for 2 reasons. 1) the U-Trak is USB, seems to be plug-n-play and has the RGB option. And 2) my new CP I had CNCd on wood and plexi already has the cutout made for the u-trak with the bezel.

Today I went out and saw on happs site that they carry a similar trackball that is also 3", has RGB and has USB as well (although says USB and PS2).

Couple of questions:

1) what's the better product here?
2) can I fit the happ to the cutout that's already made?
3) as far as plug n play, do both function in Windows 7 as a normal mouse? The original CP had a happ in there that it looks like someone tried jimmy rigging and never worked. Had a separate chip hanging off of it very poorly wired, that looks like was trying to covert it to USB... But I could never get it to work with anything and gave up trying.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[paigeoliver]

Happ's 3" trackball is the highest quality 3" trackball ever made.

No comment on the rest, others can chime in.

[PL1]

Sounds like you don't need to buy a new trackball -- you probably just need an optical encoder like the GGG Opti-Wiz and the adapter cable here.



The Happ trackball's "red boards" output quadrature waveforms.



When you slowly turn the axis, the data lines should alternate between logic high (near 5v) and logic low. (near 0v)

This quadrature waveform shows what you would see on the data lines (A and B) when you slowly turn the axis clockwise.



If one of those lines is always low, that opto circuit is burned out -- replacement "Red Boards" are available from several vendors.

Post pics of your current trackball and interface and we'll help you troubleshoot your current setup to figure out what you need.


Scott

[usaf-lt-g]

Ill take some pictures later today and upload, however, as the board / plexi is already CNC'd to the dimensions of the U-trak, I'd be concerned this won't fit right. I believe it is an older HAPP. The circuit board it came with that converted it to USB or at least was supossed to, looked very make shift and I threw that out anyways. But I'll show you what I have. There is a big metal cover plate that goes over the ball from the top of the panel, so at a minimum id have to find a way to drill 4 more holes if I use it. Also, this trackball doesn't light up... So not sure if they make a LED conversion upgrade for it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[usaf-lt-g]

As promised here's the pictures. Again I acquired this through a purchased cabinet that had really shoddy wiring to begin with so not sure exactly what's going on here....











Not sure if this will fit in my pre-drilled hole at this point either...




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[PL1]

Observations:
1.  Someone hacked off the usual Molex connector and hooked it to some 3-pin  .1" Dupont connectors. (an odd pin arrangement  )

2.  The green wire with the ring-crimp connector connects to frame ground.  It is there to bleed off the static electricity charge generated while rolling the trackball.

3.  There is no optical encoder in your pics (Opti-Wiz, Opti-Pac, Mini-Pac, I-Pac 2015, Ultimate I/O, etc.) so I'm not sure what it was hooked to in the old cab.   

To get your Happ trackball working:
The easiest and least expensive way is to use an Opti-Wiz (no-solder) and the adapter cable here that connects from the optical "red boards" to the Opti-Wiz. (replaces the current hacked harness  )

The bad news:
1. The U-Trak and Happ trackball mount in completely different ways.

2. Since you have a plexi cover and since the artwork is already stuck to the wood, you won't be able to hide the Happ mounting plate.

The bottom line is that you need to decide between two options:
1. Buy a U-Trak/optical encoder(unless you already have one of the ones listed above)/RGB LED and use the Happ for another project/sell it. (more expensive but easy to install)

2. Buy the Opti-Wiz + adapter cable and modify the CP so you can use the Happ. (less expensive but much harder to install and the mounting plate will be visible)


Scott

[paigeoliver]

If your panel is already married to the Utrak then use that and save the happ trackball for your next project.

[DeLuSioNal29]

I think the main concern is that with the Happ trackball you need a mounting plate installed from the top.  For it to be flush you need to route out the CP from the top.  In addition, you need to cut out a bigger hole for the trackball body (football shaped).

Take a look at this topic with pics to see what I mean:  http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,119081.msg1261379.html#msg1261379

My advice, get a UTrak and be done with it.

DeL

[usaf-lt-g]

Decision has been made. Bought a u-track yesterday. Saving the happ for another cabinet.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk