3" Happ Trackball No mounting plate

[mattnb]

I've already read this thread on the topic http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=70111.0 but I don't think my routering skills are up to the challenge and I hate the look of a mounting plate. Then I came across this guy http://www.willcoxonline.com/mame/controlpanel/controlpanel.htm who has a pretty good idea there. He uses a Betson Imperial but I assume I could do something similar with a Happ.

I figure this should be doable and I can't see it causing any problems as long as the rollers are well lubricated so the ball doesn't fly out against the wood.

Can anyone see a problem in doing it this way?

edit-- I meant to make it clearer- I already have a Happ 3" trackball that I wish to use.

[Ginsu Victim]

Have you seen Ultimarc's U-Trak?

http://www.ultimarc.com/trackball.html

[mattnb]

The problem with the U-Trak is that I already have a trackball and I don't really want to buy another one. I would jump on the U-Trak if I could though.

[Ginsu Victim]

Sorry then, that wasn't made clear in your post.

[erictrumpet]

Has anyone directly compared the UTrak with the Happ 3 inch trackball? I know the Happ is commercial-grade awesome, but I am attracted to the UTrak for my next project since it doesn't need a mounting plate. But that's not worth it if the ball itself is not commercial-grade industrial build quality like the Happ. Can anyone compare the two?

Eric.

[TOK]

I really don't like how high the ball sticks out of the panel in that example. I guess because I'm used to seeing standard trackball mounts, it looks too high and seems like it'd be uncomfortable. You can also see the mounting bolts. Have you considered recessing the plate in your panel and then using an overlay?

I did mine with a plexi overlay that was painted from behind, but you could also use clear with a printed overlay.
Its been a while since I built it, but I think the plate 1/16", so I routed that depth, put the plate on and used 1/8" plexi, which matches the lip on the trackball housing. The end result is a flush mount with plate and mounting bolts hidden.

People that don't want to use plexi over their art (like a real machines stick-on overlay) have filled the seams between the plate and the panel to make it flush.

[miles2912]

Honestly it is a pretty simple route job.  Just set your router depth the same thickness as the plate.  Test it out on a piece of scrap MDF.  After that you trace the plate on your mdf where you want it and measure how far your router cuts - 3" for example.  Some scrap wood will make this very easy.  After that you just clamp some scrap wood 3"  from your original trace and just run the router along the clamped wood.  Don't worry about the corners too much, that can get tricky.  After you have routed out the center area (just freehand it here - very easy) go back in with a chisel and square the corners.  Test fit the plate and you are good to go.

The trick here is to make sure your measurements are on and you really can't botch this.