Can I squeeze a track ball in there?

[Malenko]

I have about 24" of CPO width. Can I move the controls far enough apart to squeeze a small track ball in there? Its not so much I want the trackball for the games (though, it would be nice!) I want it there more the usage of the mouse. I have no good pictures of my CPO but I had a hotrod there that fit almost perfect (1/8th inch gap on each side) so if you need a visual www.hanaho.com has pix of the hot rod.

Can it be done or will it be too cramped and gaudy to merit.  I dont mind using a small trackball, I dont need a 3" one.

here is the quintessential bad webcam picture:

[Guaranos]

Personally, I wouldn't do it.  Even the 2 1/4" trackballs require some significant space under the control panel.  You might be able to physically squeeze it into there, but player 1's joystick hand will be banging against the side of the cabinet, and player 2's joystick will be getting in the way of attempts to spin the trackball to the right.

[stuckpixel]

Mock it up. That's really about the best thing to do, go track down some cardboard and make a mockup to see if you'll be hitting your hands on stuff or whatnot.

I had to pull the trackball out of my bar-top design after the mockup, because while it'd physically fit, playing anything other than centipede wouldn't be possible.

If you were looking primarily for a windows mouse, and you wanted something small, take a look at the Logitech Marble Mouse. I was planning on hacking one for the bartop project. It's a 1.5" trackball, and after I took mine apart, it looked like it'd be manageable to get it working in an arcade CP. Happs also makes a 1.5", but it runs around $100 instead of the $20 for the marble mouse.

[scotthh]

I have attached photographs of two 24" CPs. I don't think there is room for two joysticks with multiple buttons (it looks like you have a NeoGeo set up) and a trackball in the middle.

In my second CP, the trackball is not centered, it is offset to the right (nearer to the spinner with the steering wheel). This leaves enough room for the joystick and buttons to be used comfortably.  I have a 3" trackball, and without the steering wheel, Golden Tee can be played comfortably.

If you only want the trackball for mouse functions, I agree with the other posters, you'd be better off with a wireless mouse/trackball.

[Malenko]

what I have is basically a neogeo layout with an additional top row of buttons (think of it as a neogeo and SF layout combined into 1)  I didnt know how small they made track balls but having one too small would defeat the benefits of having for gameplay instead of just a mouse.  I currently have both a wireles KB and mouse (every mame cab should) I guess I'll build a dedicated bartop for the trackball games, but thats WAY further down the road.

how big of a foot print does a spinner need? I do sorely miss Arkanoid.

[moriartyds]

how big of a foot print does a spinner need? I do sorely miss Arkanoid.

If you get the GGG turbotwister spinner (highly recommended) the footprint is the same size as a regular arcade button.  You'll need somewhere below the panel to attach the PCB board, but it's very small as well.  That should fit fine.

[PsychoAU]

I just finished building my CP.  I have what used to be a Centipede cabinet that has long since been converted.  I built mine with 2 players with 7 buttons each and a 2.25" Trackball.  The CP on those is 23.75" wide.  But, there are two supports under the CP that are 3/4" on each side, so really I have 22.25" to work with.  I built it about 10" deep, but the front piece of MDF takes 3/4" off the depth, so I really have 9.25".  I am using two U360s so I don't have to worry about joystick microswitch clearance. 

I have attached my Visio template for you to use.

Instead of a Tornado Spinner like in the template, I am going to use a TurboTwist 2, but you can see how a Tornado would fit there (it takes a 2" x 2" footprint).

I even had room to have a row of buttons at the top.  I am only putting the Player 1/2 start buttons and two in the middle which are mouse buttons.  I have the shift button under the bottom of my CP box and some pinball buttons on the sides.

It was a really tight fit, but it can be done.  Should be better for you since you have few more inches to work with.  Hope this helps you a little.

[btp2k2]

Plus, you have to factor in a mounting plate if using a wood panel.

That is at least 6 inches

[PsychoAU]

Yep, I had to factor that into mine.  2.25" trackball has a 6" mounting plate.  3" trackball has a 6.5" plate, I think.  I managed to get it all in with millimeters to spare. 

[Kaytrim]

Yep, I had to factor that into mine.  2.25" trackball has a 6" mounting plate.  3" trackball has a 6.5" plate, I think.  I managed to get it all in with millimeters to spare. 

The same mounting plate works for both the 3" and the 2.25" trackballs.

[xmenxmen]

I want it there more the usage of the mouse.

If a mouse is what you want, why not just consider a wireless mouse.  That what I use, one of those Logitech wireless notebook mouse.  Works great whenever I need to use it.  I just leave mine on the top of the cabinet.

[leapinlew]

24" is too tight in my opinion. I've mounted a trackball in a 26" panel and it was ok, but in a 24" panel it's too tight. Here is my last 24" panel:



The excess space you see around the joysticks is hang over. The joystick and buttons are at the extreme edges. All I could mount extra was a spinner.

My 26" panel had enough for a trackball, but just barely:

It's mounted lower because it just barely fits. In fact, I didn't even use a mounting plate because it took up too much space:

[btp2k2]

Hey leapinlew....the widowmaker panel turned out awesome!

[Malenko]

yeah the widow maker is awesome, I didnt see the thread for it till he was done, but the first thing I noticed was the lack of start buttons (he put them next to the coin buttons afterwards)


heres a actual size drawing of my CPO, no artwork just lines:


Im trying to figureout what to put in the background, going with a Mortal Kombat Theme

here are the potential coin door inserts, incase anyone else wants to use them on their cab: