Trackball and 3 button placement?

[simplygriff]

I am going to make a removable panel that will include my Happ 3" trackball and 3 buttons.  My question is where to place the buttons.  I plan on using the Happ mounting plate and because of this I don't know whether to place the buttons on top closer to the monitor or to the left side.  Any thoughts or pics of your setup will be greatly appreciated.

On a related note Does anyone see any reason I couldn't use 1/2" MDF to build this panel as opposed to 3/4"?

-G

[mahuti]

I don't know about MDF, but I used a 1/2" oak panel to build my board (with a trackball & spinner, with mounting plate routed out. Works fine.

[simplygriff]

Cool!  I think I can get a smaller piece of 1/2" MDF at Home Depot I can build this box out of.

Any suggestions of the button placement anyone?
-G

[FractalWalk]

If you are using both TB and buttons in a game they will get in the way of each other. You'll have one arm on the trackball and then have to reach over that with the other to hit the buttons.

I'd mount buttons to the side.

[NoOne=NBA=]

On the side definitely.

[Doc-]

On my modular panel (link below) I have both - there are three buttons on the trackball panel, as well as button panels to either side (as desired).

In reality - I almost never use the buttons above the trackball, and instead use the button panels on either side.  If I were building a dedicated trackball CP I would mount three buttons on each side of the trackball - to support both left and right handed players.

You also might want to consider a single joystick if only to switch games.  Some front ends have joystick support but don't let you select games with the trackball.

I've used 1/2" MDF on all of my panels and it works fine as long as it is properly supported.

[IncrdblHulk7]

I was contemplating the same thing - TB button placement.

Mounting above seems bad - because you "button"arm would be reaching over the TB.  

I was thinking about mounting them to the right of the TB (3 buttons).  

I really dont want the buttons to interfere with GoldenTee - so I was thinking I might try recessing the buttons slightly - so that they are flush with panel.  Has anyone tried this?  Would it make it uncomfortable?  

[simplygriff]

Thanks for the ideas guys.  This panel will be in addition to 2 MAS System sticks I have with  Playstation & Gamecube support so I have an over abundance of buttons.  I'm going to have the TB panel be removable so I can insert a different panel for a steering wheel when I want.  I think I worked out my plans last night.  I don't have a pic but the buttons will be above (closer to the monitor) the TB primarily for width constraints.  This all may change after what you guys said but I think I'm going to make a mock-up cardboard panel and see how it works.