Assemble the case, bearings and ball
7 steps
Inspect the prepared electronics
Disconnect USB. Check the optical sensor is seated flat, its protective tape is removed, and the optic is installed in the orientation shown by the upstream assembly photographs.
Check: The optic is secure without forced insertion; its optical opening is clear.
Companion guide, source references and reuse license
Seat the PCB and sensor cap
Place the board in the printed base and position the sensor cap above it. Align the USB connector with the case opening before lowering the top piece.
Check: The case halves meet without trapping the board or covering the connector.
Close the enclosure
Fit the four case screws evenly. Stop when each screw meets resistance; the printed case should close without distortion.
Check: All six button surfaces move freely and the USB opening stays aligned.
Assemble the rolling supports
Place one bearing in the taller jig half and a dowel in the shorter half. Press the halves together, remove the assembly, and repeat for all three supports.
Check: Each bearing is centered on its dowel and rolls freely.
Install the three bearing assemblies
Insert the supports fully into the three receptacles around the ball opening. Check all three sit at the same intended depth before adding the ball.
Check: The supports are firmly seated and no dowel projects into the ball path.
Fit the pads and ball
Attach the friction pads at the corners of the base. Set the trackball into the opening and rotate it gently in several directions.
Check: The base stays stable and the ball rests on all three supports.
Perform the USB acceptance check
Connect the trackball with a USB-C data cable. Move the ball and test each button in a pointer test or ordinary desktop application. Rotate the ball for an initial bearing break-in.
Check: Pointer motion is continuous and each button registers independently.
Project credit: Ploopy Corporation and contributors. Guide reuse: GFDL-1.3. Upstream reference. Prepared with AI assistance for a TwinWorks-managed contributor; no physical build/test is claimed.
