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CST Laser Trackballs
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CST Laser Trackballs
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Product Description
You’ve grown tired of the standard Apple trackpad or the cheapo Windows mouse. Function keeps petering out, the scrolling never satisfies, and you’re ripe for an upgrade, you can feel it in your fingers Read More
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icexe
13
Feb 9, 2017
ArmswieldTrackballs can be superior to mice for several reasons
1. It's stationary, so can be used in limited spaces
2. Requires less hand/wrist movement, which vastly reduces carpal tunnel and other repetitive stress injuries that can occur from long hours of computer use.
3. Many people find them to be a lot more accurate for certain tasks like graphics/CAD work.
With that being said, if you have never used one, a trackball can have a slightly frustrating learning curve, but once you get over it, you'll wonder why mice ever got so popular. In addition, even among trackball lovers there's the eternal debate over which type is better, thumb operated, or finger operated. Personally I cannot stand thumb operated trackballs.
With that being said, if you have never used one, a trackball can have a slightly frustrating learning curve, but once you get over it, you'll wonder why mice ever got so popular. In addition, even among trackball lovers there's the eternal debate over which type is better, thumb operated, or finger operated. Personally I cannot stand thumb operated trackballs.
yanfali
1544
Feb 9, 2018
There are comments about how some people are using standard 2.25" billiard balls with varied success. And then I went searching and found these http://www.twistedquarter.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=113_119 I'm not sure how well they'll work but they sure look pretty. The purple one would sure go well with GMK Laser.
Ughh
118
Jun 16, 2018
All three LED diodes on the CST board have two wires each that are very short. Do I just strip and cut the long wires that I got off eBay to a very short length and solder them on? (See picture I posted.) I'd appreciate any tips you have on de-soldering the ones that are currently on the CST board. Afraid of frying it. Thanks!
yanfali
1544
Jun 16, 2018
UghhHey ughh. I hang out on the qmk discord, swing on by and I can talk you through it.
Elrick
2105
Dec 30, 2016
If and when this order goes through to CST insist upon the "R2.1" label on the bottom of the Trackballs, letting everyone know that these do come with upgraded Stainless Steel Rollers.
So for the Organizer of this Group Buy please make sure this happens, rather than off loading their older stock onto us here on MassDrop.
So for the Organizer of this Group Buy please make sure this happens, rather than off loading their older stock onto us here on MassDrop.
Anzial
1494
Sep 10, 2017
Wow, now MD removed international shipping on this, too. There's really very little point in coming back here any more for international customers.
yanfali
1544
Mar 7, 2018
Just got my trackball, thanks MD. Fedex spent 3 days shuffling it around CA, I love those guys. Anyway, if anyone is interested, I ordered the non-glow model. It's possible to flash the glow firmware onto this one and add LEDs. I just confirmed it today by re-flashing mine and then testing the diode spots with a multimeter. Works great. Now just to pick some LEDs and get a translucent trackball.
yanfali
1544
May 26, 2018
5mm might be a bit big. 3mm should get ok. I used 1.8mm and 2x3x4mm in both mine and they worked well enough.
Daed
574
Feb 6, 2018
The best thing IMO about CST's trackballs is how moddable they are. Didn't get the glow? You can solder on your own LEDs. Or swap the colors. They take a 2-1/4" ball, standard billiards ball size. I had a machinist turn a stainless steel cylinder for my roller, and 3D printed a housing for mechanical keyboard switches.
og._.lj
4
Mar 8, 2018
Awesome, thanks man!
I've only ever held a soldering iron for pyrography on wood - I'm sure a good youtube session can teach me the rest. Access to a 3d printer / other tools via my uni's makerspace. Thinking I'll try arcade button switches come summer.
How did you map the buttons?
Edit: found your posts on Reddit. Much appreciated!
Cheers,
I've only ever held a soldering iron for pyrography on wood - I'm sure a good youtube session can teach me the rest. Access to a 3d printer / other tools via my uni's makerspace. Thinking I'll try arcade button switches come summer.
How did you map the buttons?
Edit: found your posts on Reddit. Much appreciated!
Cheers,
Daed
574
Mar 8, 2018
og._.ljI originally used CST's software, "Superior-X Button Control" to swap the middle and right buttons for CAD panning, and used my two sidecar buttons for Esc and Del -- again, CAD :). But the utility seems to crash out on me a few times a week, and the button swap fails. Autohotkey seems to be a little more reliable for button mapping.
KingOfChaos
1
Apr 30, 2017
$110 for trackball? My Logitech works great at $40. I don't see paying nearly three times for a trackball with a weird 1980's shape. Not conducive for good gaming.
Daed
574
May 5, 2017
There seems to be a little bit of a market for them. I know of two guys on Reddit who want one, and I'm interested in a more "advanced" version, with a bit of texture, and some chamfering. If you find it's worth doing again, let me know and I can get you at least a couple orders!
I understand the tiny axle hole is a difficult task. the axle measures 1/16" and I've been told it can be challenging to keep such a narrow hole straight. I was considering widening the hole to 1/8" -- I found some o-rings that should fit to snug up the difference.
I understand the tiny axle hole is a difficult task. the axle measures 1/16" and I've been told it can be challenging to keep such a narrow hole straight. I was considering widening the hole to 1/8" -- I found some o-rings that should fit to snug up the difference.
j.a.l
716
May 5, 2017
DaedLet me see what I can come up with, and I'll get back to you if I end up with something worthwhile.
That sort of thing does get difficult at tight tolerances. I don't have my own lathe yet, but I'm thinking drilling it on a lathe is probably the best approach. The other thing that occurred to me was basically your idea, but was with a nylon or perhaps PTFE sleeve instead of O-rings. Might be worth experimenting; it probably isn't going to effect the feel too much with the inertia of a steel cylinder behind it, but I've been surprised before.
That sort of thing does get difficult at tight tolerances. I don't have my own lathe yet, but I'm thinking drilling it on a lathe is probably the best approach. The other thing that occurred to me was basically your idea, but was with a nylon or perhaps PTFE sleeve instead of O-rings. Might be worth experimenting; it probably isn't going to effect the feel too much with the inertia of a steel cylinder behind it, but I've been surprised before.
DancingKeyboard
14
Jan 3, 2017
Massdrop, please let us know if the new rollers are used in the trackballs sold in this drop.
Tweaky
40
Dec 30, 2016
Could MD please clarify whether these come with the new redesigned rollers?
<http://clearlysuperiortech.com/redesignedsteelrollersforltracs.html>
tangerinepulsar
9
Sep 12, 2015
Can somebody here speak to the "external switches?" They just look like 3.5mm jacks to me? I couldn't find any info on their website.
EDIT: Never mind, I did some more googling and answered my own question. The first link below explains it well enough. http://ilcaustralia.org.au/products/7843
This is a modification called switch adapted input, often made after market, to allow connection of generic peripherals such as the second and third link below. http://store.ergoguys.com/sw-0100.html http://store.ergoguys.com/foot-switch.html
As such, I will pick a model without these as I am confident I wouldn't ever use them.
Hope this helps somebody else!
EDIT: Never mind, I did some more googling and answered my own question. The first link below explains it well enough. http://ilcaustralia.org.au/products/7843
This is a modification called switch adapted input, often made after market, to allow connection of generic peripherals such as the second and third link below. http://store.ergoguys.com/sw-0100.html http://store.ergoguys.com/foot-switch.html
As such, I will pick a model without these as I am confident I wouldn't ever use them.
Hope this helps somebody else!
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