Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: wfg97079 on March 03, 2004, 02:11:22 pm
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I have a control panel with a 2.5 inch hole in it, does this mean I would need a 2.5 inch trackball? just not clear on what is measured to determine trackball size
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not necessarily... the size of the trackball refers to the overal diameter of the ball. Even a 3" trackball (depending on flavor/type highball, vs highlip, vs standard) doesn't expose ALL 3 inches above the CP.
What was the control panel from originally (that would help some)?
It's *probably* a 3" trackball as the other "normal" sized tracball diameter is 2 and 1/4" (for the ball itself, not the hole, mind you)
Hope that helps...
rampy
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very helpful
the panel is from a pacman that was converted to centipede
so a 3" could work?
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Generally, a 3" trackball uses a 3" hole, and a 2 1/4" ball uses a 2 1/4" hole, but that's not why they are called that. (rampy right in that the ball diameter is whatever size the TB is called.)
All arcade trackballs have a "lip" or "rim" around where the ball sticks out of the case. The lip is usually ~1/4" wide. So, if you don't mind the ball being lower than normal (ie: the lip under the CP instead of level with the top of the CP), you could use a 3" ball in your 2.5" hole. If you use a 2 1/4" TB, you'll have a 1/4" gap between the lip and the CP.
Look at happs mounted view (http://happcontrols.com/trackballs/560100e.htm) to see the outside of the lip diameter to be 2.99", and the exposed ball to be smaller than that.
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Generally, a 3" trackball uses a 3" hole, and a 2 1/4" ball uses a 2 1/4" hole, but that's not why they are called that. (rampy right in that the ball diameter is whatever size the TB is called.)
All arcade trackballs have a "lip" or "rim" around where the ball sticks out of the case. The lip is usually ~1/4" wide. So, if you don't mind the ball being lower than normal (ie: the lip under the CP instead of level with the top of the CP), you could use a 3" ball in your 2.5" hole. If you use a 2 1/4" TB, you'll have a 1/4" gap between the lip and the CP.
Look at happs mounted view (http://happcontrols.com/trackballs/560100e.htm) to see the outside of the lip diameter to be 2.99", and the exposed ball to be smaller than that.
Oy, I did dork up my assumptions though... I hope I didn't steer wfg too far off the track... listen to u_rebel (he knows what he is talking about and check the happs mounting diagrams he linked to...
disregard the man behind the curtain...
sorry about that wfg...
rampy
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OK
I have some pics of the panel
posted at http://www.miltonsoffice.com
Let me know what you think aould be the best trackball size for me
Thanks again guys!
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I think that 3" is no good with that hole. Even tho it will fit, it will be low and your hand will be hitting the part of the Hole-CP. You need a ball that will show/lift up higher than the hole, so I think the 2"1/4 should be perfect, unless you wanna make the hole bigger and shove in a 3".
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Looks like a hole for a 2.25 trackball to me. Which is also the size used by Centipede.