Question on trackball hole size

[Heinekenator]

Hello.

I'm building my first control panel, and I have a question about the hole size for a trackball.

The top of the CP is 3/4" MDF, with a sheet of 0.193" thick GE Crystallite (lexan?) on top. I bought a 3" Happs trackball. I plan to route the top of the MDF out to flushmount the trackball mounting plate. My problem is that I don't know what size hole to drill through the lexan to accommodate the ball.  Any insight?

Thanks in advance. I'm new to this hobby and am loving it. 

-Greg

[Stingray]

I don't use Lexan on my CPs so maybe I'm missing something. You'd just cut the hole in the Lexan the same size as the hole in the mounting plate wouldn't you?

-S

[brained]

Well if you got a 3" trackball, get a 3" hole saw.... that worked for me ...

[NoOne=NBA=]

Did you buy the "high-lip" trackball?

If not, you probably won't like the finished results with the plexi over the top.

[ArcadeMaze]

That works great for a 3" trackball, but how do you handle a 2 1/4"?

[Jakobud]

Why don't you just lay your trackball mounting plate down on your lexan and use the mounting plate hole as your guide?

[Hiub1]

I am sure you could get a 2 1/4'' hole saw. That should work.

[brained]

That works great for a 3" trackball, but how do you handle a 2 1/4"?

[ArcadeMaze]

Yes, I realize that 1/4 = .25, but on happs the hole measures out to 2.26 - I imagine to accomodate the rim around the trackball.  I was planning on having the rim flush with the top of the panel.

[FractalWalk]

If you are worried about 1/100th of an inch then you have much better eyes than I do.

[Shape D.]

They make adjustable "hole saws". Seen a thread on it once I did. but I cant find it now.

Edit

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,18515.0.html

[whammoed]

I have used 2 1/4" hole saws and specified 2 1/4" for a laser cut for happs tballs and 2 1/4" is dandy

[u_rebelscum]

The top of the CP is 3/4" MDF, with a sheet of 0.193" thick GE Crystallite (lexan?) on top. I bought a 3" Happs trackball. I plan to route the top of the MDF out to flushmount the trackball mounting plate. My problem is that I don't know what size hole to drill through the lexan to accommodate the ball.  Any insight?

Sort of depends which 3" happs model you got.  Happs has three: 1) normal (aka old school, aka atari), 2) high lip (aka goldenTee, aka GT), and 3) high ball.

One thread illustrating the differences (and different ways to mount).

There are a few others discussing this more in depth.  Search for threads with trackball, high, and happs, and by me.

[Nannuu]

It depends on how you want it to look.  The mounting plate has a hole larger than you need.  There is about a 1/8" lip around the trackball that fits into the hole of the plate.  So if you cut a hole the size of the mounting plate hole you will see the black lip of the TB uncoverd by lexan.  I would recommend measuring the TB once you get it.  I did the same here but I didn't measure quite right so I have some of the lip showing.  I wish I'd cut it smaller.

Also for a TB you may want to bevel/round the lexan to make it a bit smoother when you are sliding your hand over it.  Shown here is a 45 bevel made by a dremel.

[quarterback]

Well if you got a 3" trackball, get a 3" hole saw.... that worked for me ...

Is that true?  For a 3" trackball you want a 3" hole?  Wouldn't that allow you to actually lift the trackball straight up out of the CP?   It seems like the hole would be smaller than the diameter of the trackball.

[u_rebelscum]

Well if you got a 3" trackball, get a 3" hole saw....

Is that true?  For a 3" trackball you want a 3" hole?  Wouldn't that allow you to actually lift the trackball straight up out of the CP?   It seems like the hole would be smaller than the diameter of the trackball.

Yes, mostly.   If you look at the picture above by Nannuu, you'll see some of the part of the black TB case called the "lip" aka "rim" around the ball.  The arcade standard for the outer diameter of the lip is 3" (or metric equiv).  The standard inner diameter is ~ 0.25 inches smaller (thus no balls popping out).

Now, if you are going to leave the lip completely under the plexi, then you can cut the plexi hole ~ 2.75 inches.  But then the ball is lower (yuck, IMO).

Or if you have happs "High Ball", both the outer and inner diameters of the lip are bigger, and you'd need to adjust the plexi hole accordingly.  But, again IMO, the high ball model pops off the rollers easier than the arcade standards.

All which leads to this illustration previously ref'ed above.