Electrice Ice Trackball mounting in 3/4 MDF??

[squirrellydw]

I just received my Electric Ice Trackball from GGG and I am not sure how to mount it.  What is the best way to do this?  What is the flat piece for, a template??  What type of screws should I use, it will be mounted into 3/4 MDF?

Thanks

[Fozzy The Bear]

I just received my Electric Ice Trackball from GGG and I am not sure how to mount it.  What is the best way to do this?  What is the flat piece for, a template??  What type of screws should I use, it will be mounted into 3/4 MDF?

You mount it using a mounting kit..... The Electric Ice is actually a 3" Betson Imperial Trackball.

If you're mounting it in 3/4" wood panel then you need to cut a hole the shape of the entire plastic case for it to sit into.  What you do then, depends on whether you want to see the mounting plate or not.

If you don't mind seeing the square mounting plate from the mounting kit on the top of your panel then you just bolt the mounting plate to the track ball and drop the whole thing into the hole you cut.

If you don't want to see the mounting plate, then you have to route a recess into the top surface to take the plate, and lay your artwork over the top of that, with a hole big enough to allow the ball and surrounding ring to poke through the artwork and the plexigalss if you are fitting it.

Hope that helps....

The flat piece, you are talking about, is a spacer plate that Randy supplies with it.... I think it's for mounting the Trackball into a metal panel, but Randy would have to confirm that for you because I bought my Trackball elsewhere and then bought the Electric Ice upgrade kit for it. So I didn't get one of those.

Best Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)

[squirrellydw]

grrrrr, so I need a mounting kit?  I didn't see a mounting kit on Randy site??
Am I missing it??

Thanks

[Donkey_Kong]

squirrellydw- Thanks for posting this as I need some guidance with an E-Ice as well.  Going back to your initial questions on mounting this TB, Is there not a way to mount this thing in a 3/4" CP and JUST have the ball showing through the top? I sure hope so...I don't really want some big plate or really anything up top if I don't have to other than that ICE BALL...If ya know what I mean. Anybody?


Good luck with the mounting kit or whatever you need to git-er-done... squirrellydw

[RandyT]

If you don't want to see the mounting plate, then you have to route a recess into the top surface to take the plate, and lay your artwork over the top of that, with a hole big enough to allow the ball and surrounding ring to poke through the artwork and the plexigalss if you are fitting it.

You can also route a to within 1/4" of the top surface and secure the body of the unit with L brackets and short screws.  Just be sure to stay away from the corners of the housing.

I have seen others use a roundover bit inside the large hole for the ball and it looks very nice.

I already have some carriage bolts in stock, and I will be getting some top plates made soon for those you don't mind that look.

RandyT

[squirrellydw]

So you are saying all I have to do is cut a hole the size of the ball
and route out the rest of the area to fit the housing?  Never installed
one so sorry if this is a dumb question.  Why do you have to stay away from the corners?

Any pics?

thanks Randy, and you can ignore the last email I sent you

[RandyT]

So you are saying all I have to do is cut a hole the size of the ball
and route out the rest of the area to fit the housing?  Never installed
one so sorry if this is a dumb question.  Why do you have to stay away from the corners?

Any pics?

That's pretty much the method.  If you do a search on mounting an Imperial trackball, you should find pics and methods as it has been discussed here a few times.

The corners are where the optic boards are.  If you use very short screws, it should be ok, but you probably don't want to take the chance.

On the other hand, you can also use some of that gray 3M automotive mounting tape with the red backing.  If you put that on the housing side of the L-brackets and use screws on the panel side, it should hold it fine and you can position it wherever you like.

RandyT

[squirrellydw]

thanks Randy.  I did try a search before but I just tried "mounting trackball" and that gave me a lot.  I will try what you suggested.  thanks for all you help and keep the great products coming.

[shatter]

Can you use the 3" Happs mounting plates then?

http://happcontrols.com/trackballs/55110100m.htm

[Fozzy The Bear]

Can you use the 3" Happs mounting plates then?

http://happcontrols.com/trackballs/55110100m.htm

Yes you can use one of those.... The mounting holes in the Betson and the Happ Trackballs are exactly the same spacing. The Happ mounting kit is the one I was talking about above.

Best Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)

[Fozzy The Bear]

Is there not a way to mount this thing in a 3/4" CP and JUST have the ball showing through the top? I sure hope so

Yes... Randy's method will work, and if you read the method I outlined again, you will also find that it tells you how to hide the mounting plate so that ONLY the ball and outer ring are showing, if you use the mounting plate method.

To hide the mounting plate you have to route the top surface of the panel to recess it then put your artwork over the top of that.

Best Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)

[Donkey_Kong]

Appreciate the help Fozzy! I got one of them weird CP's that are just finished wood with no artwork etc. It appears as though I will be able to pull off the under mount thanks to good fellas such as yourself and Randy that are willing to share secrets of the pros.

Now if i can just free up about $220 or so for the EI & TT II!!

[Fozzy The Bear]

Now if i can just free up about $220 or so for the EI & TT II!!

Easy!! Just sell a few more of those wicked 3D pieces of cabinet art that your good lady wife makes 

Best Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)

[squirrellydw]

Hopefully my last two questions about this. 

1. I assume the green wire off the trackball is the ground correct?
2. How do I mount it, as in the correct orientation?  Is the part with the wires and opti-wiz the front?

thanks

[Kaytrim]

Hopefully my last two questions about this. 

1. I assume the green wire off the trackball is the ground correct?

If the Imperial trackball is simular to Happ then that green wire is the static ground.  According to  Happ static electricity can build up in the trackball during use.

2. How do I mount it, as in the correct orientation?  Is the part with the wires and opti-wiz the front?

Just plug the trackball in prior to mounting.  Move the ball around to see what the orientation is then mark on the bottom which way is toward the monitor.

[RandyT]

Hopefully my last two questions about this. 

1. I assume the green wire off the trackball is the ground correct?

If the Imperial trackball is simular to Happ then that green wire is the static ground.  According to  Happ static electricity can build up in the trackball during use.

This is correct.  Contrary to common belief, however, this has little if anything to do with protecting the electronics or the user from shock.  This is to prevent static buildup in the ball from attracting dirt and debris and the subsequent transfer of that debris to the rollers inside the unit.  A dirty ball and rollers will perform poorly and wear faster.  The EI ball material is less susceptible to this type of buildup, but you may want to connect the wire just in case.

2. How do I mount it, as in the correct orientation?  Is the part with the wires and opti-wiz the front?

When looking at the ball-side of the unit, the wires should exit at the lower right corner.

RandyT

[squirrellydw]

ok thanks, I guess I would have mounted it upside down.

[Donkey_Kong]

What is the preffered TB size 2.25" or 3"? Why?

I'm completely rebuilding my control panel because of lack of planning, poor design, mistakes, addition of TB & Spinner and and on and on...Hopefully i will get it right this time!

[Donkey_Kong]

What is the preffered TB size 2.25" or 3"? Why?

I'm completely rebuilding my control panel because of lack of planning, poor design, mistakes, addition of TB & Spinner and and on and on...Hopefully i will get it right this time!

Never mind...Found some good info on Trackballs in the WIKI...
http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/wiki/Trackballs

[Donkey_Kong]

If you don't want to see the mounting plate, then you have to route a recess into the top surface to take the plate, and lay your artwork over the top of that, with a hole big enough to allow the ball and surrounding ring to poke through the artwork and the plexigalss if you are fitting it.

You can also route a to within 1/4" of the top surface and secure the body of the unit with L brackets and short screws.  Just be sure to stay away from the corners of the housing.

I have seen others use a roundover bit inside the large hole for the ball and it looks very nice.

I already have some carriage bolts in stock, and I will be getting some top plates made soon for those you don't mind that look.

RandyT

When mounting the Electric Ice in the fashion listed above...What should the approximate diameter of the trackball hole be?

[Chris G]

When mounting the Electric Ice in the fashion listed above...What should the approximate diameter of the trackball hole be?

Are you looking for the area inside or outside the lip?  If outside, the spacer included with the T/B works great as a template.

[Donkey_Kong]

When mounting the Electric Ice in the fashion listed above...What should the approximate diameter of the trackball hole be?

Are you looking for the area inside or outside the lip?  If outside, the spacer included with the T/B works great as a template.

What do you think would be better? I'm not even going to have any CPO, just bare stained wood. I will be routing out from the bottom to within 1/4" as Randy indicated above. I just want the ball to show through...I shouldn't need the lip to show through eh?

 

BAH: Second thought...I'm just gonna let the lip come through. Seems like it would be a funky fit otherwise.

Thanks....