More on trackballs

[TheManuel]

OK.  I have a CompUSA Crystal trackball ready to go into my control panel but I'm really tempted to buy that Betson Imperial refurbished 3" trackball and go genuine:
http://www.betson.com/product.asp?dept%5Fid=13570&sku=IMP++47%2D4300%2D01R+++++++++++++++++

To help me decide:

1) Is all the hardware included or just the ball?

2) Is this trackball mouse-hackable?

Thanks.

[rampy]

OK.  I have a CompUSA Crystal trackball ready to go into my control panel but I'm really tempted to buy that Betson Imperial refurbished 3" trackball and go genuine:
friendlier link

To help me decide:

1) Is all the hardware included or just the ball?

2) Is this trackball mouse-hackable?

Thanks.

1. well it's the trackball, and casing, etc etc... (no bolts or mounting plate)

2. yes...  or you can get a pre-hacked mouse from oscar.   I currently have a ps/2 mouse hacked up to my imperial betson refurb... I used a matching molex to plug into the tball...

*Shrug*

Rampy

[TheManuel]

I used a matching molex to plug into the tball...

Beautiful.
I will like to do that too.

How about mounting?
If you use a mounting plate, does the trackball case have holes to bolt it to the plate or do you have to build some kind of platform?
Also, what are the dimensions of it? (I know it's kind of a diamond shape)

[rampy]

I used a matching molex to plug into the tball...

Beautiful.
I will like to do that too.

How about mounting?
If you use a mounting plate, does the trackball case have holes to bolt it to the plate or do you have to build some kind of platform?
Also, what are the dimensions of it? (I know it's kind of a diamond shape)

I used a mounting plate pics here...  no idea on dimensions sorry.  The trackball has standard holes from which the bolts that go through the top of the mounting plate, through the mounting plate, and then little nuts ....

*shrug* hopefully the pics explain it better than I jsut did.

rampy

[TheManuel]

I used a mounting plate pics here...  no idea on dimensions sorry.  The trackball has standard holes from which the bolts that go through the top of the mounting plate, through the mounting plate, and then little nuts ....

Thanks, buddy.

I'm already picturing how it will go into my laptop control panel.
I'm designing it with the constraint that it should be 30" wide so it fits below my keyboard on th desk (keeps the wife happy, too  ) so it's a little crowded but everything will be playable.
It should be one heavy mother too   so I'm looking for 1/2" MDF which Lowe's and Home Depot don't carry.   I'll call a local lumber yard.

I know that's more info that you needed but i'm just exicted that everything is falling into place after more than a year and half when I started the whole process.  I've been using sloppy prototype in the meantime.

Regards.

[mccall]

The trackball mounts in just under the amount of space needed for mounting plate. While it has a diamond or football shape it takes up less space than the mounting plate. Looking at the shape of it you'd assume it sticks out past the square dimensions of the mounting plate, but it doesn't.

I used a boltless 3" TB mounting plate from Happs. That worked fine. If you need the exact dimensions Happs has a mounting diagram on their site. The TB is heavy, but not so much so that there is a problem with mounting. The mounting plate will hold it solid without any problems.

Home Depot does sell 1/2 inch MDF, they only sell it in 2'x4' sheets though, not the bigger 4'x8' sheets. In the lumber department they have a "pre-cut" section where they have the MDF, particle board and malaname (sp?) in the smaller sizes. You'll find it there for $4 - $5 a sheet.

 

[u_rebelscum]

Betson Trackball case size: 5.75"x5.75"

Happs mounting plate size: 6.5" x 6.5" <--- edited from incorrect 6x6

[TheManuel]

The trackball mounts in just under the amount of space needed for mounting plate. While it has a diamond or football shape it takes up less space than the mounting plate. Looking at the shape of it you'd assume it sticks out past the square dimensions of the mounting plate, but it doesn't.

I used a boltless 3" TB mounting plate from Happs. That worked fine. If you need the exact dimensions Happs has a mounting diagram on their site. The TB is heavy, but not so much so that there is a problem with mounting. The mounting plate will hold it solid without any problems.

Home Depot does sell 1/2 inch MDF, they only sell it in 2'x4' sheets though, not the bigger 4'x8' sheets. In the lumber department they have a "pre-cut" section where they have the MDF, particle board and malaname (sp?) in the smaller sizes. You'll find it there for $4 - $5 a sheet.

Thanks for all the info.

About the 1/2" MDF, I'll have to check, but the last time at went to my local HD, they told me they did not sell it.  I'll try other HD's.

[TheManuel]

Betson Trackball case size: 5.75"x5.75"

Happs mounting plate size: 6" x 6"

Thanks Robin.
I'll need to plan a space for it.
I already ordered the trackball and the shipping came out at $0.45 for UPS std shipping.

I hope that was not an error.

[u_rebelscum]

Betson Trackball case size: 5.75"x5.75"

Happs mounting plate size: 6" x 6"

Thanks Robin.
I'll need to plan a space for it.
I already ordered the trackball and the shipping came out at $0.45 for UPS std shipping.

I hope that was not an error.

If it's true, that's a pretty good rate.

But talking about errors, the mounting plate is 6.5" x 6.5"   I looked at the 2 1/4" mounting plate.  I'll fit my post.