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Main => Project Announcements => Topic started by: Zeitgeist on August 28, 2003, 10:33:14 pm

Title: Just Completed Stand Alone Trackball Panel
Post by: Zeitgeist on August 28, 2003, 10:33:14 pm

Thought I'd post my latest control panel creation.
After seeing Oscar's spinner/TB interface & reading a few mouse hacking how to's, I decided that I would like to make a stand alone ambidextrous trakball control panel for my desk.
I had already purchased a 3" Imperial PS2 TB & originaly thought about using it untill I built my full size cab, but I got such a great deal on several used wico 2.25" centipede trackballs that I couldn't pass them up.
I used a molex connector on the ps2 mouse hack so I did not have to modify the trackball in any way.
The panel is made of cheep .75" pine & covered with the self-stick vinyl overlay material that Oscar discovered over at Parts Express.
The vinyl works great & I think it gives the whole thing a really clean look.
It really is almost identical to the material used on the old metal control panels except for the graphics.
I really would have liked to make the panel a bit smaller but when I laid it out prior to cutting & drilling I realized that this much realestate was necessary for comfort & playability.
This panel was more or less intended as a prototype of sorts but I'm pretty happy with it.
I may make another using a USB mouse or simply add USB to this one...
Thanks for looking.

Title: Re:Just Completed Stand Alone Trackball Panel
Post by: Zeitgeist on August 29, 2003, 09:02:55 pm

Here's a pic from the underside.
Any comments critques?

Title: Re:Just Completed Stand Alone Trackball Panel
Post by: Zeitgeist on August 30, 2003, 04:44:33 pm

No comments?
Anyone...
Bueller... Bueller...

Sheesh, does it suck that bad?? :-[

Title: Re:Just Completed Stand Alone Trackball Panel
Post by: DaveMMR on August 30, 2003, 07:26:30 pm

Nah it doesn't suck at all.  Looks pretty good.  

I'm not an expert on arcade controls just yet (still working on my first cab and the controls have yet to be ordered) but I was wondering if a hard slap to the right or left would lead to an accidental button press.

Otherwise good all around job.  Kudos!

Title: Re:Just Completed Stand Alone Trackball Panel
Post by: Zeitgeist on August 30, 2003, 08:48:36 pm

Thanks for the compliments.
Regarding accidental button presses: not so far but the buttons are very close to the ball.
I was trying to keep the panel as small as possible while still being functional.
I haven't tried any golf games on it but it does the trick for centipede, missle command, quantum, reactor, & the bowling games that I have tried.
Z

Title: Re:Just Completed Stand Alone Trackball Panel
Post by: Ghoul on August 30, 2003, 08:58:15 pm

Looks nice. How did you go about hacking the mouse? I have a 3 button ps/2 mouse lying around and a happ trackball, I think this would be nice.

Title: Re:Just Completed Stand Alone Trackball Panel
Post by: DaveMMR on August 30, 2003, 09:32:34 pm

With golf games anyway (Golden Tee I'm really referring too) you slap the ball up really hard, not side to side.   So no real button problems there.  

I was going to originally ask why you had three buttons but then I remembered "Oh yeah, Missle Command".  

Title: Re:Just Completed Stand Alone Trackball Panel
Post by: Zeitgeist on August 31, 2003, 08:47:50 am

Glad to hear that about the golf games Dave.

Ghoul,
It

Title: Re:Just Completed Stand Alone Trackball Panel
Post by: Zeitgeist on August 31, 2003, 07:09:30 pm

Well the tutorial is ready for download in .pdf form.
See this thread:

http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=11208