Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: jopenner on September 30, 2005, 01:31:55 pm
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Hi All,
I am looking at fabricating my control panel out of 5/8" MDF and then apply a custom made graphic image from Mame Marquees to make it look beautiful and then touch it off with an 1/8" sheet of lexan or plexiglass. I don't want to touch off a plexiglass debate, however, my question is, how do I flush mount my Happ's 3" trackball, so that all the ball itself is the only part of the trackball exposed above the graphic image and plexiglass layer. I am also concerned about sharp edges on the plexiglass around the trackball. I have not received my trackball yet, but was wondering if it comes with a sleeve that will hide the nasty edges of the plexiglass.
Does anyone have any ideas for this?
Thanks.
John
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You need to use a router to flush mount the trackball mounting plate, probably the easiest way. As far as the sharp edges of the plexiglass, round it a bit with a dremel/sandpaper and flame polish the edges.
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As Abomination said, I'd go with getting a mounting kit, routing 1/16 of an inch (the thickness of the mounting plate) under the art.
As to "all of the ball and only the ball showing", that's harder. The trackballs have that black "lip" around the ball; this is designed to be level with the top of the CP. If you cover the lip, especially with the art and plexi over it, you are going to "lose" that much of the ball.
If, OTOH, you have the "high lip", aka "golden tee" TB, it is designed to have the 1/16" mounting plate + 1/8" plexi over it, with the top of the lip level with the top of the plexi. You'll have a black "tube" around the ball sticking through the plexi. With the lip around the ball, you won't need to round the plexi at all, just sand the jaggies (if the 3" hole in the plexi is perfectly round).
The third option is if you have happs "high ball" model (IMO, yuck). This model can have the lip covered with art + plexi and have enough ball over the plexi not to feel like it's buried, but IMO the ball jumps off the rollers too easily for me to use effectively. (Others love this ball, though.)
Here's an old image showing how much ball would show above the 1/8" plexi: (http://urebelscum.speedhost.com/images/TB_ballHeight.gif)
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One other thing about the plexiglass...I would use sandpaper if I were you to smooth the edges as opposed to a dremel.
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Here is a link (http://www.rototron.info?Page=Trackball.aspx) to how I did it.