Looking at getting a trackball for MAME Cab

brianon

Guys.

I'm looking at getting a trackball for my MAME Cabinet. It's a 3/4 inch mdf panel. I'm looking at going as cheap as possible as I don;t plan on using it too much but would certainly be a nice option to have.

What about this ? How would I mount it though ?
http://www.arcadeworlduk.com/products/Mini-Illuminated-Trackball.html

This looks similar (the same) ...
http://www.ebay.ie/itm/LED-2-1-4-Trackball-MAME-PS2-Arcade-Pc-Not-HAPP-/120966914183#shpCntId
has a mounting plate...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-2-1-4-Arcade-Trackball-Mounting-Plate-for-LED-PS2-trackballs-Mame-/121103953119?

Any thoughts or recommendations ?

CathalDublin

I've this one
http://www.ultimarc.com/trackball.html
to be honest hasnt been plugged in for years

I had a Happ 3" in my first mame cab (longz now has it)
cost a small fortune but it was fantastic for about 5+ years and it got serious abuse .
It started to slow down and I bought a new bearing set for it (again a small fortune) but it was never as good as it was new.
But I dont know about the cheap ones.Id imagine old school mouse upside down!

brianon

CathalDublin wrote: »

I've this one
http://www.ultimarc.com/trackball.html
to be honest hasnt been plugged in for years

Bit dear for the use it might get. Thanks though.

Damien King

brianon wrote: »

Guys.

I'm looking at getting a trackball for my MAME Cabinet. It's a 3/4 inch mdf panel. I'm looking at going as cheap as possible as I don;t plan on using it too much but would certainly be a nice option to have.

What about this ? How would I mount it though ?
http://www.arcadeworlduk.com/products/Mini-Illuminated-Trackball.html

This looks similar (the same) ...
http://www.ebay.ie/itm/LED-2-1-4-Trackball-MAME-PS2-Arcade-Pc-Not-HAPP-/120966914183#shpCntId
has a mounting plate...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-2-1-4-Arcade-Trackball-Mounting-Plate-for-LED-PS2-trackballs-Mame-/121103953119?

Any thoughts or recommendations ?

I built a couple of bartops for a client using these exact same trackballs.

In order to get a really nice flush fit I made the most of the fact I was using an acrylic overlay for the control panel art.

First off I popped them open and fitted the the mounting bolts inside so there was around 40mm sticking out of the bottom. I then snapped the top cover back into place. This meant I had it nice and flush on the top.

A square was cut out of the control panel so the unit could slot in

On the underside of the control panel I fitted a shelf/bracket so support the trackball unit, this also had the 4 holes for the bolts to go into. The nuts tightened onto the other side and kept it all held firmly in place.

The acrylic overlay had the circle for the trackball cut out.

when fitted it was a super neat job with no bolts showing.

Hopefully the pics will give a better idea. one of them shows the trackball in place before the acrylic overlay was fitted.










bartop1.jpg

bartop2.jpg

bartop3.jpg

bartop4.jpg

brianon

Thanks for that. I might go ahead and pick one up so.