Happ Trackball Mounting Question

[nickbuol]

I am having a cabinet maker price up the cost to laminate and cut (with a CNC machine) my cabinet, and just found out that he can have the machine to button holes and so forth too.

Anyway, I will be getting my first real trackball next week (3" Happs #56-0300-11) with the corresponding mounting plate (#55-1101-00)...  Anyway, I wanted to make sure that I was doing this right.

So I have them cut out a square that is 5.6" by 5.6" and then the mounting plate (6" x 6" just covers it all, or do I only cut out enough for the ball itself, and then use my router to reduce the thickness of the area to get the ball at the right height?

The mounting plate instructions are at (http://www.happcontrols.com/trackballs/55110100m.htm)

The trackball install sheet (that doesn't show any mounting help) is at: (http://www.happcontrols.com/images/pdf/ins-0053.pdf)

I've got my 1 1/8" holes for the buttons and joysticks all mapped out already.

Thanks!

[darktemp]

You should have them route out X" x Y" (the size of your mounting plate) to the depth of the mounting plate if you want to flush mount it with artwork or plexi on top.  Then you can either cutout the full square as shown on happs site for the trackball or better yet just cut out an area big enough for the trackball housing. 

[nickbuol]

If I end up putting plexiglass over top of the control panel, will that make the trackball not be the proper height?  It would need to be some pretty thin plexiglass I would think.  Right?