trackball mounting question (again...ugh)

[wee beastie]

ok guys, as I posted earlier, I have a 3" imperial TB, and I'm mounting it in 3/4 MDF.  I traced around the trackball housing and jigsawed out the "diagonal football" shape for the housing.  It's a tight fit.  I did a great job on the jig (if I do say so myself!).  It's so tight, in fact, that I'm questioning the necessity of a mounting plate.  Can I just put carriage bolts right thru the lexan on my control panel to hold the TB in place?  I was also thinking of creating a "cradle" underneath to prevent the TB from putting any gravity stress on the TB.

Has anyone else done this?  Will it work?  Thoughts, comments, general pains.  Please post your opinions.

[RandyT]

Lexan is pretty tough material and doesn't crack as readily as acrylic (plexiglas).  If you have a good tight fit it will probably be fine.  If you want to make sure that the trackball doesn't put stress on the Lexan, I'm sure you can find a couple spots on the housing of the trackball for a couple of L-brackets.  Just secure them on the underside of your panel and I think you'll be all set.



RandyT

[wee beastie]

good idea with the L-brackets.  Thanks!