Trackball in a Metal CP?

[Necro]

Ok, I'm trying to determine the last item I need to order for my CPs.  One will have a trackball and I have minimal space (4-5 inches).

Has anyone installed a trackball in a CP with this little depth and can I forget about a mounting plate and just mount it directly to the metal?  Seems like since the CP is metal already, there's no point in a mounting plate at all if I were to bevel and polish the circle the ball came through the CP at.

[shardian]

You are right in the fact you do not need any fancy mounting plate. You just need to drill out your holes and bolt it on.

[Tim N.]

Ok, I'm trying to determine the last item I need to order for my CPs.  One will have a trackball and I have minimal space (4-5 inches).

Has anyone installed a trackball in a CP with this little depth and can I forget about a mounting plate and just mount it directly to the metal?  Seems like since the CP is metal already, there's no point in a mounting plate at all if I were to bevel and polish the circle the ball came through the CP at.

Yep, no mounting plate needed... Here is a pic of one I did in metal that is 2 1/4" ball with very little room for anything else.... Obviously this is more for Centipede than it is for Golden Tee....Have fun, I swore I would never cut out another metal CP ever again!

[pinballwizard79]

Yeah Tim is right, it can be very tough.

See the control panel sticky above on one of the more recent entries to see my previous metal panel.

All of my arcades except this one were metal panels so here is some advice.

Make sure your hole saw is not only new & sharp but a good one too.

Put the panel on a stable wooden shelf or horse you dont mind to drill through because if you leave it in the cab the CP flexes which equals a oval hole if you even get through it......flex = no or bad hole. Also by drilling into the wood under the CP you give the auger bit something to keep it straight because if it goes at a slight angle you are F'd with another oval.

Drill a small pilot hole first, then drop in the hole saw auger

Hold on to that CP or it will spin!!!!

Hold on to that drill!!!

get ready for burns from metal flakes

[Necro]

Hehehe.  I was debating getting a hole punch also to use for my buttons.  I have a drill press, so I was going to try to use that for as many holes as I can on the CP, and then use a hand drill if there are any I can't get the CP oriented in the drill press for.

My main concern right now is just that if I order an expensive trackball, and I can't figure out a way to fit it in.  I'm retrofitting a Omega Race cabinet and the trackball will be on a second control panel that I can swap in that also has a spinner on it.  Big thing seems that I need to find a trackball that will fit into a ~4.5 inch space (front to back)