Appendix C: Hardware

Buying hardware from us

Getting all of the hardware on your own can be tricky because the parts you select may not fit perfectly. That's why we sell kits with everything you need to build a Ploopy Mini Trackball. Here's why that's great for you:

• Everything is guaranteed to fit together perfectly
• Everything is guaranteed to work as intended
• You'll end up saving money - probably quite a bit of money - by not spending on extra parts

Your call. You'll sort it out.

Getting your own hardware

This guide was a bit light on detail in the other sections, and that's because the hardware has to conform to many specifications. They'll all be listed here.

First, a complete list of all the hardware you'll need:

• 8x M3x8mm flat-countersunk machine socket head screws
• 3x MR63ZZ roller bearings
• 1x 3mm x 18mm metal dowels
• 3x 3mm x 12mm metal dowels
• 1x silicone ring
• 4x friction pads
• 1x snooker ball

We'll be going over all of them in detail. There will be mentions of critical specifications; if you're going to be sourcing your own parts, you must get parts that conform to the critical specifications. If you go off-menu, the parts will not fit the way that we intended when we designed the trackball. That might mean that your trackball doesn't work.

Let's get cracking.

M3x8mm flat-countersunk machine socket head screws

Here are the critical specifications:

• M3
• 8mm length
• 5.6mm head diameter
• 1.7mm head height
• 90 degree countersink angle

MR63ZZ roller bearings

Here are the critical specifications:

• MR63ZZ bearing
• 3mm inner diameter
• 6mm outer diameter
• 2.5mm thickness

3mm x 18mm metal dowels

Here are the critical specifications:

• 3mm diameter
• 18mm length

3mm x 12mm metal dowels

Here are the critical specifications:

• 3mm diameter
• 12mm length

Silicone ring

We use decorative rings for this. Here are the critical specifications:

• Size 10 (19.8mm diameter)
• Width between 8.0mm and 8.7mm

Friction pads

Here are the critical specifications:

• Circular shape
• Up to 3/4" diameter
• Up to 1/8" thickness
• Non-slip

Snooker ball

We use 1.5-inch diameter (38.10mm) miniature snooker balls. Any ball between 37.60mm and 38.30mm will work.