Main > Main Forum
Hacking a iBall USB Trackball?!?
Tiger-Heli:
--- Quote from: mancab on March 23, 2003, 11:38:07 pm ---Is it possible to add a different sized ball to the base for this trackball, such as a billiard ball? What kind of modifications would you have to make? Any help would be appreciated. :)
--- End quote ---
I'm planning to order these, although I am hoping they will work fine "out of the box" for what I want to do.
Here are some general ideas, though:
A billiard ball is 2-1/4 diameter, and the i-ball is 2-inch. It's possible the billiard ball would roll on the existing rollers. In this case, you would just have to modify the top cover to widen the opening and add spacers to move the top cover up. You might be able to do something with a Happ TB mounting plate, or a Happ TB enclosure, or buy a $25 Wico 2-1/4 trackball and use the electronics from the i-ball with it.
Other modification thoughts - Chad Manning posted in this thread http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=5687 how he painted the casing black and mounted the unit in his control panel.
It might be possible to illuminate the ball using LED's ala 1up - www.1uparcade.com
Snooker uses smaller billiard balls - not sure if these are 2-inch or not, but they might work.
Or a 2-inch ball bearing might provide more weight and work better, but you lose the translucency.
Wienerdog:
--- Quote from: Tiger-Heli on March 24, 2003, 07:29:03 am ---A billiard ball is 2-1/4 diameter, and the i-ball is 2-inch. It's possible the billiard ball would roll on the existing rollers. In this case, you would just have to modify the top cover to widen the opening and add spacers to move the top cover up. You might be able to do something with a Happ TB mounting plate, or a Happ TB enclosure, or buy a $25 Wico 2-1/4 trackball and use the electronics from the i-ball with it.
--- End quote ---
I don't think this will work. There are three points on the black bracket (above picture) that hold the ball in place. Then there are the two rollers that register the trackball movements. These points are spaced so that a 2 inch ball will hit the rollers. You _would_ be able to remove these three "holders" and build something else in their place, but I don't know how you can make it strong enough to hold a ball.
--- Quote from: Tiger-Heli on March 24, 2003, 07:29:03 am ---It might be possible to illuminate the ball using LED's ala 1up - www.1uparcade.com
--- End quote ---
I was planning on doing this, but it will be much easier thatn 1Up's TB. Since this one is very translucent, one LED below the ball will be sufficient to light it up nicely. There is a hole in the bottom of the circuit board and black support bracket, so a light underneath will work good.
u_rebelscum:
--- Quote from: Tiger-Heli on March 24, 2003, 07:29:03 am ---Snooker uses smaller billiard balls - not sure if these are 2-inch or not, but they might work.
--- End quote ---
FWIW, they're usually 2 1/8".