Trackball mounting, hacking, etc.

[neuromancer]

So I finally got a trackball. It's a used Happ that I got off ebay for $15. Rolls well.

I'm planning on hacking the optical boards to a mouse a la Mamezilla. The link in the "controls" section is broken, but you can find the page by searching for "mamezilla" in the examples; there is a mirror of the site with, including the hack.

Mounting -- I just have the trackball, no mounting plate. It's the pool ball size unit. Has anyone ever mounted a trackball without a plate? I'm thinking of mounting it from underneath with some clips (like a kitchen sink) and then putting a thin piece of plastic over it. If all else failes, I suppose I can buy a mounting plate, but that would nearly double my cost...

Bob

[u_rebelscum]

Mounting -- I just have the trackball, no mounting plate. It's the pool ball size unit. Has anyone ever mounted a trackball without a plate? I'm thinking of mounting it from underneath with some clips (like a kitchen sink) and then putting a thin piece of plastic over it. If all else failes, I suppose I can buy a mounting plate, but that would nearly double my cost...

People have posted here about mounting without a plate.  Most went well.  The hardest part is making it level, IIRC.  TBs take a lot of abuse, so make sure you mount it securely.

I can't come up with the right words to find them, though.  Probably also in the examples links, but that's hard to search, too.

[MisterB]

I mounted without a plate.  All I did was open up the trackball casing, drill some pilot holes, screw it into the CP top from the inside-out with wood screws, and reassemble.  Works like a charm.  No issues with repeated Golden Tee abuse.

[aricade]

I took the specs from Happ's Website for the TB Plate.  Then I had a friend who owns a truck and trailer service centre, get some scrap alluminum and cut it to Happ's Specs...

Initially I made my own out of a hard cardboard, while I was waiting for the alluminum tb plate.   This worked great to.. It just really depend on how much abuse you'd be administering to the tb.....  

I did consider seriously just routing out the control panel, but with the tools it was cheaper for  me to have my friend build me the tb plate, He was willing it was free...

Cheers