Author Topic: Scratch Built trackball! (Read 4678 times)

The_Burninater · « **on:** March 08, 2007, 03:28:52 pm »

Ive decided to build a trackball from entirely from scratch! I know that it will not be arcade authentic but i t will be close. I'd rather buy one, but my budget is EXTREMY limited (being 14 in all) but I'm confident that i will have a trackball for $25-30. This going to be the first part of my MAME cabnet. The ball will be an 8-ball form happ, the bearings will be a rig with metal rings and BB-gun BBs serving as the actual bearings, and it will use a mouse as its optical system. This is my first project, but hopefully wont be my last.

phines · « **Reply #1 on:** March 08, 2007, 03:41:50 pm »

I say do it! Sure you could probably spend a little more (like $10) to buy and hack a PC trackball, but you wouldn't learn anything. Don't let anyone talk you out of this one. Tear some things apart and have fun.

melarky · « **Reply #2 on:** March 08, 2007, 03:53:04 pm »

There was a guy in the Buy/Sell/Trade forum selling 3" trackballs for $30 (he bought a large lot of them on ebay or something, and didn't need all of them). Might save yourself some time and see if he still has some.

melarky · « **Reply #3 on:** March 08, 2007, 03:55:30 pm »

went and found his post:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=63232.msg629541#msg629541

looks like he still has some, and is only charging $5 shipping (that sounds like a great deal).

shardian · « **Reply #4 on:** March 08, 2007, 04:56:01 pm »

I got a centipede tb that was locked up solid on ebay for like $4. I put plenty of elbow grease into it and had it rolling great. Keep your eye out and you can find a cheapo to get working for next to nothing.

IG-88 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 08, 2007, 08:55:45 pm »

I agree with phines. I'd like to see how this comes out.

And take lots of pics.

The_Burninater · « **Reply #6 on:** March 08, 2007, 09:01:13 pm »

How do you post pictures? I made a rough sketch on paint but when i tried to post it I get the X in a box. how do i keep that X out of my box?

leapinlew · « **Reply #7 on:** March 08, 2007, 09:05:18 pm »

The picture needs to be smaller size (I think under 1024k maybe 512)

CheffoJeffo · « **Reply #8 on:** March 08, 2007, 09:29:26 pm »

While I share in the curiosity, cheap trackballs are out there. My local arcade op pulls them out of the Golden Tees when they come back off route ... picked up 6 for $50 and once I cleaned and lubed them, all work like champs. Just have to keep an eye out and be patient.

In either case, good luck!

Cheers

Xiaou2 · « **Reply #9 on:** March 08, 2007, 10:21:32 pm »

Sometimes it does cost more to try to build your own than to actually
fork over the money you saved for a bit longer... and the results
are more durrable and accurate.

Still, its always fun to make your own equipment too.

If you are serious, you may wish to look at the guys of a real
trackball to see how they work. Using rollers with Rollerblade
bearings is much more realistic that trying to use only
ball bearings.

ANother thing you will need is a decent Laser mouse. Optical
mice usually are not accurate enough, and will cause problems
when the ball is spun quickly.

Ohh, I just remember another thing... the Other reason people
use Roller bars in Tballs, is because they amplify the input
mechanically... thus giving you a higher resolution. IE: the ball
turns once, while the small shaft turns 4 times. *that wouldnt
be easily possible on a laser mouse... which has only one input.

A really High resolution laser mouse Might not need and additional
resolution enhancements... but, Im not 100% positive.

And finally, actually, trackballs use mini-bearings, not skate bearings.
Smaller bearings seem to spin much better with less resistence. Just
FYI.

theendisnye · « **Reply #10 on:** March 09, 2007, 02:13:54 am »

I am a bit new to this what is a mouse hack and where can one find out how to do it? Steve

CheffoJeffo · « **Reply #11 on:** March 09, 2007, 06:38:06 am »

Quote from: theendisnye on March 09, 2007, 02:13:54 am

I am a bit new to this what is a mouse hack and where can one find out how to do it? Steve

danny_galaga · « **Reply #12 on:** March 09, 2007, 08:36:31 am »

i posted this in another thread but damned if i can find it now (could it have been post helled?)

a scratch built joystick in australia. so i say 'go for it!'

The_Burninater · « **Reply #13 on:** March 10, 2007, 08:06:01 pm »

I was looking at some pictures of trackballs taking apart. I noticed that the rollers serve as the bearings for the trackball. What i dont understand is if i roll the forward, wouldent the left roller slow it down, disallowing the ball to move very long?

EDIT: Heres a rough drawing of the rollers, and a VERY rough drawing of my bearings idea. Excuse my MS paint skills

DrewKaree · « **Reply #14 on:** March 12, 2007, 02:51:11 am »

Quote from: CheffoJeffo on March 09, 2007, 06:38:06 am

Quote from: theendisnye on March 09, 2007, 02:13:54 am
I am a bit new to this what is a mouse hack and where can one find out how to do it? Steve

Welcome!

Be sure to check out the wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki wiki

Cheers

So CJ, what you're saying is there's no place around here with that info?

PoDunkMoFo · « **Reply #15 on:** March 14, 2007, 01:32:03 am »

If your gonna build one why not go unique and go big. How bout if you got an undrilled bowling ball at a yard sale and mount it up with some rollerskate bearings.

The_Burninater · « **Reply #16 on:** March 14, 2007, 03:21:47 pm »

I would love to do something big and use a nice trackball. But since I have a very limited buget im just gonna start of small.

(+_+) · « **Reply #17 on:** March 14, 2007, 03:54:49 pm »

Quote from: PoDunkMoFo on March 14, 2007, 01:32:03 am

If your gonna build one why not go unique and go big. How bout if you got an undrilled bowling ball at a yard sale and mount it up with some rollerskate bearings.

Now your just being a CrazyMoFo.

Apollo · « **Reply #18 on:** March 14, 2007, 08:15:05 pm »

if its going to be built from scratch you should really carve your own trackball from a whale tooth or some such thing

blueznl · « **Reply #19 on:** March 14, 2007, 09:20:42 pm »

I don't have the tools here, but I could imagine one would take a cheap optical mouse (very cheap these days) and turn it upside down. Now put a large ball above it (which has to run on something, look at old ball mouses for ideas how to do that) and tada, you have an oversized trackball.

I just tried it here with a mouse and a ping pong ball. Works. Tried other objects

as well, and they work just as fine. Now there's a challenge

Who's going to build the first 10" trackball?

Crowquill · « **Reply #20 on:** March 15, 2007, 02:12:47 pm »

Quote from: blueznl on March 14, 2007, 09:20:42 pm

I don't have the tools here, but I could imagine one would take a cheap optical mouse (very cheap these days) and turn it upside down. Now put a large ball above it (which has to run on something, look at old ball mouses for ideas how to do that) and tada, you have an oversized trackball.

I just tried it here with a mouse and a ping pong ball. Works. Tried other objects as well, and they work just as fine. Now there's a challenge

The trickiest part with that is finding an optical mouse that's sensitive enough. I was going to use a hole saw with an optical mouse to make a spinner, but none of the 3 I have at home (made by Inland and 2 Kensingtons) would work unless it was about a milimeter from the sensor. That is some strict tolerances for homemade gear. The Dell optical mouse at work can get 2-3mm from the counter before it stops tracking. It might work OK.

knave · « **Reply #21 on:** March 16, 2007, 12:25:44 am »

Seems to me that you could put some teflon pads on the bottom part of the mouse and have the parts touch gently. That way it would be close enough to track and you don't have to worry about spacing issues.

blueznl · « **Reply #22 on:** March 16, 2007, 03:37:37 am »

Tried two Dell and two Logitech moused and they all worked fine. (Well, those Dells look like they are rebranded Logitech, so maybe that's not that surprising

)

psychotech · « **Reply #23 on:** March 20, 2007, 08:36:13 pm »

..?

Quote

..a milimeter from the sensor. That is some strict tolerances for homemade gear..

I'd think that if you built a fixed (static ..whatever) "ball assembly" and used the method I used with my CP wip, the one millimeter tolerance wouldn't be an issue. Keep the ball mechanism in place and fine tune the sensor distance...?

Anyway, it's just plastic ..& they're cheap ..like me

The_Burninater · « **Reply #24 on:** May 16, 2007, 08:47:17 pm »

its been a LONG time since my grades have been up in school (Darn American history) but ive FINAL started on the ball, got all my parts just need the time. Ive made the bearings which are now beads on a ring. Figured out the deminsions and roller design in spanish class. Ill post the pics once I get back to my grandparents.

shardian · « **Reply #25 on:** May 17, 2007, 08:49:51 am »

Quote from: The_Burninater on May 16, 2007, 08:47:17 pm

Ive made the bearings which are now beads on a ring. Figured out the deminsions and roller design in spanish class. Ill post the pics once I get back to my grandparents.

Do you mean the plastic beads used to make necklaces? Those will not be very durable. You really need to use steel ball bearings. Your best bet is to go to the junk store/ goodwill and scavenge until you find some things that use ball-bearings somewhere in them. Cd players would have high speed bearings which spin the disc. I believe even walkman tape players would have servicable bearings in them.

The_Burninater · « **Reply #26 on:** May 17, 2007, 08:08:54 pm »

bead bearing idea is toast, need a new one. Ill probably head out to goodwill and snatch some rollerblade bearings of some roller blades.

DrewKaree · « **Reply #27 on:** May 17, 2007, 09:49:19 pm »

Quote from: The_Burninater on May 17, 2007, 08:08:54 pm

bead bearing idea is toast, need a new one. Ill probably head out to goodwill and snatch some rollerblade bearings of some roller blades.

http://www.sciplus.com/


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