Lexan CP Top

[acevedor2]

Ok, I have a couple of questions on using Lexan on top of my CP.  I have read the other posts regarding Lexan, but none answer my questions which are:

1.  The Happ Trackball will be mounted flush to the top with their mounting kit.  I will router the recess so it sits flush and my CPO will go over it so all is clean looking.  I will not have any bolts on top.  The Lexan is 1/8 inch thick and will sit on top so my question is will this interfere with the trackball?  The reason I ask is that the mounting kit makes the trackball flush so by adding the Lexan it will be built up a little if that makes sense.

2.  For those that have installed Lexan and DID NOT use the carriage bolts going down through the joys to hold it in place, how did you keep it in place?  I know the buttons will do a pretty good job of keeping it down, but will that be enough?

Thanks for the help!

[tranq]

Dude, check out Evilkneivel's posts and such.  He does that, exclusively.

[acevedor2]

Thanks Tranq.  Will do.  I did a search and nothing came up in topics.  Now I'll search for his posts specifically.

[Tahnok]

I have a panel with 1/4" plexi over a recessed 2 1/4" trackball. So far, it's not been a problem. It's actually pretty cool looking. The trick is putting a 45 degree angle around the edge of it, so there's no edge to hit your hand on. Either that, or some people have actually rounded off the edge with an especially small router bit. They both look good; it's just a matter of preference.

[ahofle]

Not sure which trackball you have, but if it's the 'high ball' trackball, the TB lip actually pushes up a tiny bit above the plate on mine.  The 1/8" actually lexan makes it perfect (although the lip of the TB only goes up about 1/16" above the plate).

[leapinlew]

Good question acevedor2...

I had a very similar  situation with my showcase. I didn't have the hi-lip model of a trackball. What I did was purchase a chamfer bit to round out the hole and it makes for cleaner lines. Attached is a picture of how the trackball worked out.

As for securing the plexi to the control panel... I had no intentions of using any carriage bolts, but once the plexi was installed it wouldn't lay down completely on the edge. The only thing I could do was use some small carriage bolts on the edge who's only purpose is to hold down the plexi. It's still way better than having bolts around the trackball and joysticks, but I would've liked to not have them at all. You can see the small carriage bolts in this picture on the edge of the plexi:


Did you already cut the trackball hole out of the plexi?

[acevedor2]

Lew - I have the standard Happ illuminated trackball - blue.  Looks like the same one you have.  I have heard of the chamfer bit being used.  I have never used one.  Are they difficult to use and are they the same a s a pattern bit?  Meaning can i Just put a jig on top and run the bearing along the jig to cut the chamfer?

I get a feeling i might be doing the same with the carriage bolts for the Lexan.  I don't want to but I am just not sure how it will lay flat without them.

Also, did you top mount or bottom mount your joys? I have to top mount at least one of the joys, the Happ Trigger stick, but I am concerned that with it recessed enough in the top so that the carriage bolts are flush with the top, there will be about an 1/8 of an inch gap between the plate of the joy and the CPO.  Not sure if that will cause a problem because obviously it won't adhere in that spot.

[Tahnok]

Chamfer bits are easy to use, just make sure you adjust their depth correctly. I messed up a $30 piece of plexi once cutting the trackball chamfer due to a careless mistake in the depth adjustment. The pattern will sit on the bottom of the workpiece.

[acevedor2]

Thanks Tahnok.  That's what I was thinking. I better practice first. just to make sure