Recommend parts to me

[Phreakwars]

So it's my understanding the best way to do a spinner interface, and a track ball interface is by USB, which is fine. I'm not a spinner or trackball player personally, but suppose someone wanted ONLY USB interface. My question would be which trackball should I consider for USB connection and quality. Same question on the spinner. Model# or part # would be helpful and of course, spam me some links in this thread, thanks.

[PL1]

suppose someone wanted ONLY USB interface. My question would be which trackball should I consider for USB connection and quality.

The other consideration is ease of installation.

Ultimarc's U-Trak is easier to install, but Happ trackball hardware quality is a bit higher.
- If you choose the U-Trak, you can use separate encoders for the trackball and spinner or plug the Dupont pins from the U-Trak onto the TT2's Opti-Wiz 3.
- If you use separate encoders, you may want to enable "multimouse" in mame.ini.

One product line to avoid is Happ trackballs with the USB & PS/2 green boards -- a number of users have complained about backspin.

There are two types of "green boards":

1. The old optical board. (P/N A052-1010-00)
- Obsolete due to problems with backspin.
- Replaced by the "red board". (P/N A052-1011-00)
 

2. The newer USB & PS/2 encoder kit (P/N 56-0113-00K) has the main PCB (P/N 55-0301-00) with the encoder and a satellite optical PCB. (55-0302-00)
- Not obsolete, but not recommended.

GGG carries a plug-and-play Trackball Cable for Opti-Wiz™ "No-Solder" that replaces the molex harness on the arcade-style Happ trackballs with green or red boards.

Same question on the spinner.

The TT2 from GGG is your friend.
---------
Check with Randy to see if you can get:
1.) A TT2 connected to the Opti-Wiz 3 "smart-X" axis.
- It's probably not an issue, but I'm not certain if a trackball will work properly with the "smart-X" axis and "Y-" axis on the OW3.   

  and

2a.) The Dupont pins on J2 so you can use the Trackball Cable for Opti-Wiz™ "No-Solder" with an arcade-style Happ trackball.

  or

2b.) A similar cable soldered to the OW3 for an arcade-style Happ trackball.


Scott

[Phreakwars]

Now do these need to plug into a separate encoder, or can I plug them into a USB port? The USB ONLY is important for the project. In a nut shell I want to create a small box with only a spinner on it, a small box with only a trackball on it, and another small box with both a trackball and spinner. The purpose would be to make an add on controller if you would, that I can plug into external USB ports on the cabinet.

[PL1]

Now do these need to plug into a separate encoder, or can I plug them into a USB port?

They are USB optical (mouse) encoders.
- No other encoder is needed for the spinner or trackball.
- You'll probably want a separate encoder for the buttons. (see below)

The connector on the lower left of the OW3 is for a micro-USB cable.



The Ultimarc trackball/spinner interface is USB. (Probably a mini connector, but maybe a micro.   )



If you want to use more than one interface with only one USB cable coming out the back, use a Neutrik "NAUSB-W-B" USB feedthru (pull the two screws and reverse the barrel so it's USB-B out like the pic below) and an unpowered 4-port USB hub.



The Neutrik USB feedthru mounting plate is 26mm(1.024") wide x 31mm(1.22") tall.
- Neutrik mounting and measurements diagram here.

I want to create a small box with only a spinner on it

If depth is a concern on this box, look at the TurboTwist Sci-Winder™, the Atari-brand spinner mentioned here, or the GRS button hole spinner here.

The purpose would be to make an add on controller if you would, that I can plug into external USB ports on the cabinet.

The next consideration is how many buttons for the games on your list (steps 2 and 4 here) and what type of encoder to use with those buttons.

IMO mouse buttons are trouble waiting to happen as soon as anyone but you touches them so you may want to forget about the mouse button inputs on all of the spinner and trackball encoders we've talked about so far.   

If you use a gamepad encoder for the buttons, you may run into the Windows controller renumbering problem.   

A keyboard encoder firmware loaded on an Arduino Pro Micro would be the least expensive and most bulletproof option.
- Check out the KADE miniArcade 2.0 firmware thread here.   
- 17 button inputs is more than enough for each controller you're planning, right?   




Scott

[Phreakwars]

Thank you Scott, this is immensely helpful, am taking careful note and studying diagrams thank you, thank you, thank you so much for the help. All I'll need to do is get the correct terminal interfaces for the USB to create the output type I need for the add on box's interface. I'm thinking type A or type C, haven't made up my mind because I'm still sketching and brainstorming, but very helpful info.

Looking to take advantage of all 4 USB ports on a Pi and give them each a function. And YES Player 2 will be on a separate control instead of the iPac, because P2 will also interface USB (easy 2nd i-pac build). This allows (3) USB external to switch to P3 and P4 mode rather then trackball/Spinner. Pretty sure you know what I'm driving at here.

[bobbyb13]

Thank you Scott, this is immensely helpful, am taking careful note and studying diagrams thank you, thank you, thank you so much for the help. All I'll need to do is get the correct terminal interfaces for the USB to create the output type I need for the add on box's interface. I'm thinking type A or type C, haven't made up my mind because I'm still sketching and brainstorming, but very helpul info.

After a few years of MUCH reading I am STILL learning things from Scott's posts
 

[PL1]

Thank you Scott, this is immensely helpful, am taking careful note and studying diagrams

After a few years of MUCH reading I am STILL learning things from Scott's posts

Glad to assist.   

on a Pi

For future reference, this is one of those important details you really should mention in the OP or, even better, start the thread in the correct sub-forum.  ("RasPi & Dev Board" instead of "Main")   
- IIRC some encoders don't work with Unix/RasPi.
- From what I've read, the versions of MAME and other emulators usually used with RasPi's can be tricky to get spinners working so you'll need someone else for help in this area.

All I'll need to do is get the correct terminal interfaces for the USB to create the output type I need for the add on box's interface. I'm thinking type A or type C

The RasPi 3B+ has USB type A connectors, not type C connectors.

Here's how I pictured things connected from encoder(s) to computer:
1. Encoders usually come with male type A cables
2. Unpowered USB hubs usually come with four female type A ports and a male type A plug
3. A Neutrik feedthru configured so there's a type A female inside and type B female connector outside.
4. A USB A-B cable between the Neutrik feedthru (type B) and the computer. (type A)

And YES Player 2 will be on a separate control instead of the iPac, because P2 will also interface USB (easy 2nd i-pac build).

Keyboard encoders are your friend if you plan on hotswapping controllers, but using IPacs for single-player fightsticks is a bit of a waste.
- You could save about $70 (or $140) by using KADE miniArcade 2.0 firmware on Arduino Pro Micros to make keyboard encoders for the P1 and P2 (or P1-P4) fightsticks.

This allows (3) USB external to switch to P3 and P4 mode rather then trackball/Spinner.

Sorry, but this sentence makes no sense.

Pretty sure you know what I'm driving at here.

Sorry, but I suspect it's not coming across quite as clear as the picture in your mind.   

Maybe you could post some concept sketches and lay out all of the specs something like this.

Computer: RasPi3B+
Case: ____

Display: ____

Front End: ____
Emulators: ____, ____, ____

Joystick Game List:  ____, ____, ____, ____, ____, ____, ____, ____ . . .

Trackball/Spinner Game List:  ____, ____, ____, ____, ____, ____, ____, ____ . . .

USB Controller 1:  P1 Fightstick
- Joystick + 6 player buttons
- Coin1, Start1, Exit and Pause admin buttons
- ____ encoder for buttons
- Neutrik USB feedthru?

USB Controller 2:  P2 Fightstick
- Joystick + 6 player buttons
- Coin2 and Start2 admin buttons
- ____ encoder for buttons
- Neutrik USB feedthru?

USB Controller 3:  P3 Fightstick
- Joystick + 4 player buttons
- Coin3 and Start3 admin buttons
- ____ encoder for buttons
- Neutrik USB feedthru?

USB Controller 4:  P4 Fightstick
- Joystick + 4 player buttons
- Coin4 and Start4 admin buttons
- ____ encoder for buttons
- Neutrik USB feedthru?

USB Controller 5: Spinner + trackball
- Spinner on X-axis (or "smart-X" axis)
- Opti-Wiz encoder for spinner + trackball ***Unique ID#***
- __ player buttons matching those assigned to P1 fightstick
- Arduino Micro for player button encoder
- Unpowered USB hub
- Neutrik USB feedthru

USB Controller 6: Spinner
- Spinner on Y-axis
- ____ encoder for spinner ***Unique ID#***
- __ player buttons matching those assigned to P2 fightstick
- Arduino Micro for player button encoder
- Unpowered USB hub
- Neutrik USB feedthru

USB Controller 7: Trackball
- ____ encoder for trackball ***Unique ID#***
- __ player buttons matching those assigned to P2 fightstick
- Arduino Micro for player button encoder
- Unpowered USB hub
- Neutrik USB feedthru

Scott

[Phreakwars]

Maybe you could post some concept sketches and lay out all of the specs something like this.

Scott

Sure. Imagine a stand up or even bartop/arcade1up with a 1 player 6 button config and has 2 or even 3 USB ports mounted on the side of it to plug in an extra controller for 2 player games, or plug in an add on spinner or track ball. Here's a very sloppy sketch. It doesn't even have to be a Pi. Could be to add a PC as well. If the trackball/spinner is easier to do in windows or linux distros, no sweat for me, just wanna get the concept down.

P.S. I'm factoring in Sinden light gun/Aimtrack as well.. the whole shebang if you would.

[Phreakwars]

Computer: RasPi3B+/4/ITX PC
Case: N/A

Display: N/A

Front End: N/A
Emulators: ALL

Joystick Game List:  N/A

INTERNAL USB Controller 1:  P1 Fightstick
- Joystick + 6 player buttons
- Coin1, Start1, Exit Pause TAB ENTER admin buttons
- I-Pac/I/O Ultimate/others encoder for buttons

EXTERNAL USB Controller 2 (OPTION 1):  P2 Fightstick
- Joystick + 6 player buttons
- Coin2 and Start2 admin buttons: N/A
- Mini-PAC Standard or OTHER encoder for buttons

EXTERNAL USB Controller 3(OPTION 2):  Trackball
- Buttons optional but not needed

EXTERNAL USB Controller 4(OPTION 3:  Spinner
- Buttons optional but not needed

[Phreakwars]

My thinking on the Pi, if needed the person could simply swap out front ends/emulators when they switch to a different type of controller. That's simply a matter of changing out the microSD card to a different config.  On a PC, for sure it would be easier because of emulator compatibility that's out there.