trackball :D

[Genome]

i know this is unrealistic, but i want to make an arcade trackball for under $20.
(actually i want to keep it under 10 but 20 makes me sound less crazy)

is it dumb to assume i could just use a optical mouse and build a casing from scratch for it?
honestly i cant figure out why i couldnt just hack up an optical mouse (or even a ball mouse) and get rollers and make a housing for it. i was thinking this seemed logical. but of course as is my luck there is some reason this isnt. so can someone tell me what it is?

and if by some chance this is possible can i get some direction on how?

[FatTrucker]

If you're handy with a soldering iron, mouse hacks are easy enough.

Bear in mind though that while using the optical interface from a mouse to connect a TB to a PC is perfectly viable, you will still need a proper trackball, housing, rollers and bearings to use it with, as standard mouse rollers and bearings won't take the weight and punishment of an arcade trackball.

There's one of many how to's HERE with some handy step by step photos further down the page. You can find many more online how to's by googling for 'Trackball Mouse Hack'.

Hope that helps.

[Genome]

thanks, just confirms what i was already assuming