Need trackball advice.

[TxGlenn]

I was planning on having a trackball that was mounted flush with my control panel (only the ball itself sticking up).  I ordered the UA2 control panel from mameroom and now find out I needed to have ordered a countersunk CP so that the trackball would mount from underneath.

What are my options here?  I was planning on getting a 3" illuminated trackball.  Do I just suck-it-up and get a mounting plate?  I'm worried about how integrated the CP will end up looking.  I've looked through the CP database sticky and it's often hard to tell if what I'm looking at is mounted on top or underneath in the photos.

[thatitalian]

It depends on the trackball.

I am using a Happ one. I will cut a recess into the CP and the mounting plate will sit inside that so that it is flush with the wood. Then I lay my art on top of that and my polycarbonate on top of that with a 3" hole in it so that the ball is popping through.

You could get the U-Trak from Ultimarc.

[Havok]

Check this out, it may help:

http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=74&products_id=315

[Turnarcades]

Why not check out the U-trak from Ultimarc? Simple fixing, intended to be mounted flush with no plate.

[TxGlenn]

Thanks for the responses guys.  Here is what I am working with:





I like the U-trak but it looks like it is meant to fit through a circular hole?  I'm not really familiar with how these work...why is my trackball cutout this shape? I guess I was expecting it to be a circle or a square.  Is there anything I could put there without having to route out some of the CP?  I have no experience with a router and would rather not start learning on my CP.  Is the "mounting plate" a square plate that covers up the entire hole?

[NIVO]

just a suggestion here Glenn. Take the panel you have just bought, grab a spare piece of wood and simply trace the design onto your scrap piece of wood. If you know someone with router experience, ask them for some help and explain your situation. Safety first when it comes to routers and power tools my friend.

[Havok]

Looks like it is pre-drilled and cut for a mounting plate and 3" Happs trackball...

[thatitalian]

You could try mounting it with a custom bracket.

Make one from a few L-brackets and screw into the CP from underneath. Only bad point is you would have to screw into the Trackball case, and that is likely to result in bad things unless you know what you are doing.

[Turnarcades]

Didn't realise it was pre-cut. The U-trak is ideal for a cleaner finish as you only need cut a hole, so it's nice and sturdy around the ball with no plate, but as the hole's already there, shoot for the Happ.

I have just received my first U-trak so will be posting a short review soon, for anyone who's interested.

[Havok]

The only option you have without re-doing the panel is to go with the Happ 3" trackball and mounting plate, and router out the section where the mounting plate will be down to the depth of the control panel. However, this won't be a totally clean unless you plan on putting a control panel overlay on there. I would say before you go any further, trace out the panel on a piece of mdf, and do it the way you want. And you should consider the GGG kit I suggested earlier in the thread - it would look great with an illuminated trackball. I love my Ice-T!