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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: TheManuel on June 16, 2003, 09:41:58 pm

Title: Need trackball mounting alternatives
Post by: TheManuel on June 16, 2003, 09:41:58 pm
I'm about to receive a Beston/Imperial 3" trackball.  I was seduced by the low price of the refurbished one but wasn't counting on the need for a mounting plate.

Now, Bob Roberts, has them for $12 + $6 shipping = $18.  Ouch!

I'm I out of luck or are there other alternatives?
I'm thinking cutting a 3" hole in a steel plate is probably not an easy task.

Any recommendations?
Title: Re:Need trackball mounting alternatives
Post by: CanStick on June 16, 2003, 10:04:47 pm
Check out this thread:

http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=7542;start=msg54260#msg54260 (http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=7542;start=msg54260#msg54260)

It is the method I am going to be using to mount one in my cab...

Hope this helps!
Terry.
Title: Re:Need trackball mounting alternatives
Post by: JesterDEV on June 16, 2003, 10:19:25 pm
I just cut the football (shap of the trackball case) into the MDF and drilled a 3" hole into my lexan. I mounted it directly to the lexan. Lexan is very strong, and might even work like this just fine.. But I decided to put a block of wook under the case just in case.  :)

Ofcouse this only works if you have artwork, or have painted your lexan. Otherwise it would really nasty.
Title: Re:Need trackball mounting alternatives
Post by: TheManuel on June 16, 2003, 11:00:46 pm
Check out this thread:

It is the method I am going to be using to mount one in my cab...

Hope this helps!
Terry.


That's pretty clever.  Do check JesterDEV's suggestion too, tough.  It is even simpler.  I only hope the lexan holds.
Title: Re:Need trackball mounting alternatives
Post by: TheManuel on June 16, 2003, 11:03:11 pm
Lexan is very strong, and might even work like this just fine.. But I decided to put a block of wook under the case just in case.  :)

You mean to support the weight of the trackball?
Fortunately, as opposed to a joystick, the trackball is not subjected to violent lateral movements, so that seems like it could work.
I think I'm going to try that.
Title: Re:Need trackball mounting alternatives
Post by: CanStick on June 16, 2003, 11:25:45 pm
I am actually going to use a combination of the two....I am going to screw it into the wood, and also drill a 3" hole in the lexan and bolt it there as well.  In fact, I may not even bolt it to the lexan so that I have a  clean, "boltless" installation!
Title: Re:Need trackball mounting alternatives
Post by: JesterDEV on June 17, 2003, 12:02:48 am
Quote
You mean to support the weight of the trackball?
Fortunately, as opposed to a joystick, the trackball is not subjected to violent lateral movements, so that seems like it could work.
I think I'm going to try that.

Yes thats what I ment. I put a block of wooD(not wook) under the trackball so support the weight. The lexan could hold it just fine without the block, but when friends come over things get a bit crazy.  

It's never let me down.
Title: Re:Need trackball mounting alternatives
Post by: AlanS17 on June 17, 2003, 12:46:34 am
Lexan is very strong, and might even work like this just fine.. But I decided to put a block of wook under the case just in case.  :)

You mean to support the weight of the trackball?
Fortunately, as opposed to a joystick, the trackball is not subjected to violent lateral movements, so that seems like it could work.
I think I'm going to try that.

You've never played Golden Tee, have you?
Title: Re:Need trackball mounting alternatives
Post by: u_rebelscum on June 17, 2003, 02:21:52 am
Lexan is very strong, and might even work like this just fine.. But I decided to put a block of wook under the case just in case.  :)

You mean to support the weight of the trackball?
Fortunately, as opposed to a joystick, the trackball is not subjected to violent lateral movements, so that seems like it could work.
I think I'm going to try that.

You've never played Golden Tee, have you?

I agree, TB's can get a lot of (mostly vertical) pounding.
Title: Re:Need trackball mounting alternatives
Post by: mpm32 on June 17, 2003, 09:51:30 am
I was going to link you to my method but someone already did.  I have beat the crap put of that trackball mounted the way I described.  Hasn't moved a millimeter.  The key is to be sure that your football shaped hole is sized right.  I made mine so that it's a press fit.  If there was even a little movement between the edge of the wood and the TB housing, I think it would work itself loose.  Note that I also used 1/2" ply for the CP.  I think my method would work in MDF but, I haven't tried it.

Here's a pic of my panel;
Title: Re:Need trackball mounting alternatives
Post by: mpm32 on June 17, 2003, 10:03:21 am
And here is the debut of my home built Cab - Metal Mame.  Note the metalic theme.  I was waiting on some better pics but anyway here it is. I think I will be getting those new SS sticks.

Title: Re:Need trackball mounting alternatives
Post by: mpm32 on June 17, 2003, 10:20:16 am
That's me pointing.  "if I wiggle that joystick just the right way, someone will bring me another beer"
Title: Re:Need trackball mounting alternatives
Post by: AlanS17 on June 17, 2003, 10:42:35 am
That's me pointing.  "if I wiggle that joystick just the right way, someone will bring me another beer"

Awesome! Where can I but one of those joysticks? (And who pays for the beer?)
Title: Re:Need trackball mounting alternatives
Post by: TheManuel on June 17, 2003, 12:14:39 pm
That's me pointing.  "if I wiggle that joystick just the right way, someone will bring me another beer"

That's a handy feature to have.  I see you're working on a Rolling Rock there.  For a moment I thought it was a Heineken.

In my case, The panel is 1/2" MDF and I plan to use 1/8" lexan.  It will be a tough call.  Maybe I'll try a combination of your method and JesterDev's as CanStick suggested.
Title: Re:Need trackball mounting alternatives
Post by: rampy on June 17, 2003, 03:05:12 pm
That's me pointing.  "if I wiggle that joystick just the right way, someone will bring me another beer"

I thought that was the "joystick I broke my knuckle on while playing golden tee"

=P

The cab looks very cool.. more pics and post it in the project annoucements (if it isn't already)

Rampy
Title: Re:Need trackball mounting alternatives
Post by: mpm32 on June 17, 2003, 03:40:03 pm
Not a big golden tee fan so that wasn't a consideration, well, I thought about it but I'd rather have the wico 4-way in there.  I'll post more pics when I get them in the project announcements.  For it's official coming out.