Difference between revisions of "Trackballs"
(→4.5" Atari Trackballs (Missile Command, Atari Football)) |
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== 4.5" Atari Trackballs (Missile Command, Atari Football) == | == 4.5" Atari Trackballs (Missile Command, Atari Football) == | ||
− | [[Image:bigballs.jpg|left|thumb|4.5" trackballs (w/o optical boards)]]These giant trackballs are sometimes known as 4-inch, but are actually four and a half inches in diameter. They were some of the first trackballs put into use, and are made of machined aluminum; clearly designed to survive intense abuse. | + | {| |
+ | |[[Image:bigballs.jpg|left|thumb|4.5" trackballs (w/o optical boards)]] | ||
+ | |These giant trackballs are sometimes known as 4-inch, but are actually four and a half inches in diameter. They were some of the first trackballs put into use, and are made of machined aluminum; clearly designed to survive intense abuse. | ||
Putting one of these in your control panel is quite a commitment in terms of real estate. The metal frame is 6" square, 3.5" tall, and the optical boards stick an aditional 2 inches beyond two of the corners, an effective 64 square inch footprint. | Putting one of these in your control panel is quite a commitment in terms of real estate. The metal frame is 6" square, 3.5" tall, and the optical boards stick an aditional 2 inches beyond two of the corners, an effective 64 square inch footprint. | ||
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Any 4.5" diameter ball, particularly a candle-pin and/or duck-pin bowling ball, is a swap-out replacement for the 25+ year old originals. | Any 4.5" diameter ball, particularly a candle-pin and/or duck-pin bowling ball, is a swap-out replacement for the 25+ year old originals. | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |[[Image:Atari_Steering.jpg|left]] | ||
− | The original optical boards on these are fairly easy to interface with an [[Optical_Encoders#Opti-PAC|Opti-PAC]] (and | + | |The original optical boards on these are fairly easy to interface with an [[Optical_Encoders#Opti-PAC|Opti-PAC]] (and probably most other [[Optical_Encoders|optical control interfaces]]). |
− | + | ||
− | + | This is the pin-out for the 10-pin molex plug found on the optical boards: | |
− | |||
{| | {| | ||
+ | |'''Pin''' | ||
+ | | | ||
+ | |- | ||
|1 | |1 | ||
|no signal | |no signal | ||
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On an Opti-PAC, the "A/HI" jumper should be set. | On an Opti-PAC, the "A/HI" jumper should be set. | ||
+ | |} | ||
There are a few [[Vendors|vendors]], particularly [[Vendors|The Real Bob Roberts]], that sell replacement bearings and steel roller-shafts for these (they are often referred to as 4" trackball rollers). | There are a few [[Vendors|vendors]], particularly [[Vendors|The Real Bob Roberts]], that sell replacement bearings and steel roller-shafts for these (they are often referred to as 4" trackball rollers). | ||
+ | <!-- MinerAl 2 March 2006 --> |
Revision as of 00:25, 3 March 2006
This page should contain brief descriptions of various trackballs available, and details of their setup. If any one portion of the page starts getting a little too long, a seperate page may be started for that topic.
Contents
Mini Trackballs
2.25" Trackballs
Available from Happ, Suzo, Ultimarc and others.
Two and a quarter inches is the same size as a (U.S.) regulation billiard ball.
3" Trackballs
Available from Happ, Suzo, Ultimarc and others.
4.5" Atari Trackballs (Missile Command, Atari Football)
Error creating thumbnail: Unable to save thumbnail to destination |
These giant trackballs are sometimes known as 4-inch, but are actually four and a half inches in diameter. They were some of the first trackballs put into use, and are made of machined aluminum; clearly designed to survive intense abuse.
Putting one of these in your control panel is quite a commitment in terms of real estate. The metal frame is 6" square, 3.5" tall, and the optical boards stick an aditional 2 inches beyond two of the corners, an effective 64 square inch footprint. Happ sells a 4.5" trackball. The ball itself is usable in an Atari 4.5" (a 4.5" diameter sphere is a 4.5" diameter sphere), but the mechanism itself is a different, less industrial design. Any 4.5" diameter ball, particularly a candle-pin and/or duck-pin bowling ball, is a swap-out replacement for the 25+ year old originals. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The original optical boards on these are fairly easy to interface with an Opti-PAC (and probably most other optical control interfaces).
This is the pin-out for the 10-pin molex plug found on the optical boards:
There were a number of slightly different boards with this same pin-out. On an Opti-PAC, the "A/HI" jumper should be set. |
There are a few vendors, particularly The Real Bob Roberts, that sell replacement bearings and steel roller-shafts for these (they are often referred to as 4" trackball rollers).