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My Giant trackball

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Generic Eric:

Ok, so I bought one of those Candlepin/Duckpin bowling balls. The way about the same as the atari football trackballs. The ball is 4.5 inches. What I want to know is what do you suggest making the enclosure out of? Metal? If so what kind and how thick? If I make the trackball enclosure out of metal, should I still have a trackball mounting plate?

Is there anything else I need to consider? Thanks in advance.

MinerAl:

Are you building the mechanism yourself then?

Generic Eric:

Well, I looked for it at happs, but it was too pricey.

I don't know how much its gonna end up costing me in end, or if it would be cheaper just to buy it from happs. But I think it can be done. You have one, so you could probably tell me what I am getting into best

MinerAl:

Cool!

The thing about the Happs/Atari giant track balls, is that the mechanism is designed for mounting under a metal CP. If you were to mount one even under a 1/4" of plywood, you would be seriously reducing the surface of the ball you'd have to play with.

If you're going to design/manufacture your own, you could make the top of the mechanism 3/4" lower, so that the ball could be mounted in a regular wood CP.

I'll do some measuring when I get a chance (which may not be soon, unfortunately). How much access do you have to a metal shop?

Generic Eric:

Not much to be honest. There is a Fab guy at work, and I know he has contraption to bend metal for making brackets and stuff. But im not sure what else he has in there. Measurements would be great, I only have the exploded view from the happs website. No rush and I didn't mean to put you on the spot or anything.

I didn't realize that the cps were metal, so the hint you gave me is a great help.

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