Measurement Systems 3" Trackball and RAM Optical Instrumentation Controller

[Rayndalf]

There is an orbit "mouse" for $175 shipped on the bay.. very cool vintage pointing device.

Skill level required and dollar level required to get it going both too high for me.

272688588455

I guessed at "former military use" and I was right.

4" L x 2.3" H x 4" wide. Trackball is 3.328" diameter. That's pretty big.

I saw mention of a Measurement Systems trackball in the great finds board, and being who I am I spent the next few hours comparison shopping. After purchasing a completely different device (A RAM Optical Instrumentation control panel), a seller of a significantly cheaper Measurement Systems ball tempted me with a small discount. I was powerless to resist.

The listing quoted the size as 2.5" in diameter and the housing featured buttons. The ball I received was 3" like the other listings.

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The ball is massive compared to the Compaq 11800

The build quality of the device is the real appeal. The lower shell is welded aluminum, the top plate is a machined casting, the buttons "plate" is machined, the switches are massive, click, and seem to have lights to illuminate the white buttons. The mechanism is also different from conventional track balls as it uses servos(?) or some other sealed component instead of spoked wheels and optical encoders.

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A brass plate is installed between the top assembly and the PCB with screws and plastic standoffs.

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The ball spins on a total of 6 bearings, which are tightly screwed down, but it is possible to clean some debris off them from the other side when the ball is removed. Some lubrication and or new bearings would likely make it even better.

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The ball is uncomfortably tall when placed on a desk, and the top of the housing features threaded holes and the button assembly and retainer ring have pronounced ridges, so I believe this module was designed to be installed inside of a desk similar to modules installed into some arcade machines. I am not sure what protocol this device uses (only some of the pins on the connector are used, so it might be serial or something completely proprietary. In any case there is more than enough space to hand wire the components to a teensy or internally convert it.

If I successfully convert it or drill some holes in my desk I'll proudly share the results.

Sorry for the false advertising, I'll take some better pictures of the RAM Optical Instrumentation controller tomorrow.

[Archie]

The mechanism is also different from conventional track balls as it uses servos(?) or some other sealed component instead of spoked wheels and optical encoders

Actually, no difference here. They're the same quadrature encoders, just in different (sealed) form, like this:
https://www.bourns.com/products/encoder ... l-encoders

You've got an interesting model: my 2.5" Measurement Systems XCL-250 trackball uses 3 bearings, not 6...

[Rayndalf]

Honestly a 2.5 inch ball sounds like a good size, 3 inches is extremely entertaining, but could be a pain in daily use. The button caps are all brittle and the clips that hold them are cracking (probably fixable), but the switches are backlit and stupidly tall for the amount of travel.

The encoders being sealed makes sense since most of the design (brass plate between the ball and PCB) is designed to prevent ingress of water or dirt. It's bizarre to me that the internal wiring is tied down with finely braided cord (like dress shoe laces) complete with a slightly oily/waxy texture.

Did you manage to get yours working? I'm hoping it's serial, but if it's something else it should still be doable.

[Archie]

3 inches is extremely entertaining, but could be a pain in daily use.
-snip-
the switches are backlit and stupidly tall for the amount of travel.

Depends on particular use case, I believe. Trackball of such size/shape probably was never intended to be used as a pointing device for computer GUI control.

It's bizarre to me that the internal wiring is tied down with finely braided cord (like dress shoe laces) complete with a slightly oily/waxy texture.

It was military/industrial standard for ages. Cables were prepared by dedicated worker and passed to the assembly line in "ready to solder" state, with appropriate length for each wire.

Did you manage to get yours working? I'm hoping it's serial, but if it's something else it should still be doable.

Mine have quadrature output (raw signals from encoders & switches), and works just fine. Conversion to USB and review on my blog is scheduled for this year...

[Rayndalf]

Judging by the raised lip around the ball and buttons I'm fairly confident it was meant to live inside a metal "desk" that has matching holes, probably a radar system (I was surprised to learn that trackballs were around as early as 1946 for exactly that purpose). I guess I still want to get it working with a modern computer, it might be a piece if history, but it has years of life left... and it reminds me of those arcade golf or bowling games.

I know tie downs were extensively used in analog synthesizer montrosities like the Yamaha CS-80, but the frequency (and precision) of the tiedowns impressed me (I guess softer tiedowns won't cut into wires if the device vibrated).

Do you mean replacing the controller with a microcontroller or reading the outputs at the plug? (I gotta make sure I get the backlighting works)

I'll patiently wait for a writeup before I break anything.

Any idea what to do about the disintegrating roller foam? I'm thinking glue or doublesided tape and a strip of similar foam I got in a headphone box, but it have a seem so I wouldn't be perfectly circular.

[Archie]

Do you mean replacing the controller with a microcontroller or reading the outputs at the plug?

In case of quadrature output, there's no controller in device typically - so I'll have to add one.

Any idea what to do about the disintegrating roller foam? I'm thinking glue or doublesided tape and a strip of similar foam I got in a headphone box, but it have a seem so I wouldn't be perfectly circular.

I've ordered thing like this:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33011627135.html

[Rayndalf]

Mine seems to have a few chips inside, but they might for be the buttons, guess I need to break out a voltmeter.

That's a good idea for replacing foam. Did you use one with an opening that size (8 mm) and stretch it over the roller or would something closer to the roller size work better?

[JP!]

My trackball just arrived. It is so comically large in person though. My hands are minuscule in comparison. I tried getting the bearings freed up (5/6 so far) and will clean the ball with some isopropyl alcohol. A bit of cleaning, new bearings and fresh grease this thing should be decently smooth. Not sure how practical this will be on a modern system though if it can be converted.

Also my trackball has a bit of wear and small gauges from the seized bearings. It looks like 3'' replacement trackballs are available but of course not cheap.

[Rayndalf]

https://usamagictricks.com/contact-jugg ... 37458.html
I was thinking about getting a ball like this (or maybe an interesting natural stone). The mechanism is optomechanical instead of using a mouse sensor, so it will work even if I backlight it (I'm worried about the foam gripping it though).

The bearings should be replaceable/serviceable but they were screwed down tight (and I don't have a screwdriver big enough to rotate that tight without damaging it).

Edit: Also it might be tacky, but replica Dragon Balls from the franchise of the same name are sold in the 76mm size for even less.

[Rayndalf]

This might work and it's only $7 https://www.amazon.com/YeahaWo-Gazing-G ... 07S94MMQF/

[JP!]

The bearings should be replaceable/serviceable but they were screwed down tight (and I don't have a screwdriver big enough to rotate that tight without damaging it).

The bearings will pop right out on their own sort of. No need to unscrew anything. If you rub a ball bearing a while it will loosen up. Once you have one rolling free enough take a magnet and you should hopefully see the ball bearing lift up a bit Well at this point you should be able to pry the bearing out if you have long enough fingernails. I was able to pop most of mine out.

[Archie]

Mine seems to have a few chips inside, but they might for be the buttons, guess I need to break out a voltmeter.

The only quadrature trackball with microcontroller I'm aware of is DT-225 where Microchip PIC16C55 is used for axis rotation, pulse rate (i.e., sensitivity) change, and button function handling. In your case, pictured Intel 8031 with separate ROM chip have way too much power for simple operations, so I'm pretty sure it provides some complicated protocol output, most likely serial.

BTW, identical controller is used in my Fulcrum Trackball Plus, where it's capable to emulate almost anything:
https://forum.trackballs.eu/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=83

That's a good idea for replacing foam. Did you use one with an opening that size (8 mm) and stretch it over the roller or would something closer to the roller size work better?

We have to experiment, I think. In my case, original foam is still provide enough contact (sensors have good bearings, and rotate essentially without resistance), and foam mentioned above isn't arrived yet. Probably, I'll cut it into the rings of appropriate size; let's see...

[Rayndalf]

Mine seems to have a few chips inside, but they might for be the buttons, guess I need to break out a voltmeter.

The only quadrature trackball with microcontroller I'm aware of is DT-225 where Microchip PIC16C55 is used for axis rotation, pulse rate (i.e., sensitivity) change, and button function handling. In your case, pictured Intel 8031 with separate ROM chip have way too much power for simple operations, so I'm pretty sure it provides some complicated protocol output, most likely serial.

BTW, identical controller is used in my Fulcrum Trackball Plus, where it's capable to emulate almost anything:
https://forum.trackballs.eu/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=83

That's a good idea for replacing foam. Did you use one with an opening that size (8 mm) and stretch it over the roller or would something closer to the roller size work better?

We have to experiment, I think. In my case, original foam is still provide enough contact (sensors have good bearings, and rotate essentially without resistance), and foam mentioned above isn't arrived yet. Probably, I'll cut it into the rings of appropriate size; let's see...

Only 5 of the pins in the connector in my ball are actually connected to the controller (which is consistent with integrated balls which eventually terminate to a 9 pin plug and use serial).

Similar to your Fulcrum ball (I love that chunky bezel, it reminds me of chording keypads like the BAT), the connector has a total of 15 pins instead of the 9. Hopefully it still uses a standard serial protocol (and isn't relying on a strange pin for additional power). I really need to get a decent serial to USB converter, I have too many boards with serial balls or track points that I need to get working.

Are you familiar with any smaller active serial converters that could be installed inside a device so that the keyboard + trackball connections could be internally converted and combined using a small USB hub so the whole thing would only use 1 USB port? I wonder is a promicro could serve as an active PS/2 converter and a serial converter as the same time (and remove the need for a USB hub as well).

I look forward to hearing if the foam is the right size. Luckily pop-filters are probably the cheapest source of foam I can think of.

[Archie]

Are you familiar with any smaller active serial converters that could be installed inside a device so that the keyboard + trackball connections could be internally converted and combined using a small USB hub so the whole thing would only use 1 USB port? I wonder is a promicro could serve as an active PS/2 converter and a serial converter as the same time (and remove the need for a USB hub as well).

IMHO, most elegant solution would be, to replace trackball's serial controller with PS/2 one (for example, use old ball mouse as a donor), and connect its output & keyboard to the standard cheap dual-PS/2 to USB dongle. With connectors and shell removed, it's pretty small - no problems to mount inside. You'll get single USB output without any hubs that way.

BTW, similar method I've used to modify Logitech Marble FX:
https://forum.trackballs.eu/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=3

[Rayndalf]

That's a good idea. I have a box of old mice, some in various states of disassembly, so I'll see if I have any that'll fit.

I really wish I knew how to put have my own 3360 sensor daughter boards made, I have a whole box of Logitech M-S48 mice ready to be retrofit.

One of the intregrated ball modules is even smaller than the one in a 11800 so replacing encoders would be painful and I'd also like to keep the measurement systems ball original. Has anyone seen a serial convertor built with a promicro?

[samlrs]

The ball is uncomfortably tall when placed on a desk, and the top of the housing features threaded holes and the button assembly and retainer ring have pronounced ridges, so I believe this module was designed to be installed inside of a desk similar to modules installed into some arcade machines. You can get here quick 1000 dollar loan I am not sure what protocol this device uses (only some of the pins on the connector are used, so it might be serial or something completely proprietary. In any case there is more than enough space to hand wire the components to a teensy or internally convert it.

This thing is huge
I think that you could easily operate it with your feet with even good precision

[mr_a500]

I saw mention of a Measurement Systems trackball in the great finds board, and being who I am I spent the next few hours comparison shopping. After purchasing a completely different device (A RAM Optical Instrumentation control panel), a seller of a significantly cheaper Measurement Systems ball tempted me with a small discount. I was powerless to resist.

The listing quoted the size as 2.5" in diameter and the housing featured buttons. The ball I received was 3" like the other listings.

20201013_191647.jpg
The ball is massive compared to the Compaq 11800

Thanks very much, Rayndalf for posting this. I got one and it's everything you've said.
(although, being in Canada, with shipping & exchange it ended up being 5 times the listed price!)

Someone once said, the CH Products DT225 is like "the Model M of trackballs" (and I agree). I'd say the Microspeed/CST is like "the Alps of trackballs". Well then, this trackball is "the beam spring / Teletype Model 40 of trackballs". The build quality is amazing. I think it matches the Teletype Model 40 quite nicely.

Measurement Systems trackball and Teletype.jpg

I think this is the keyboard/trackball combo Darth Vader might use.

Yes, the trackball is basically useless right now - until there's an easy way to convert it. But I have hope. I bought a beam spring keyboard years before anybody figured out how to convert one. (back when the average price was around $60 or less)

[Rayndalf]

This thing is huge
I think that you could easily operate it with your feet with even good precision

It's sitting on my desk (quietly reminding me that I need to find a way to convert it), and the 3 buttons remind me of some sort of guitar effect pedal or something. If I was an electronics guru and knew how to play the guitar I guess I'd be in business

Thanks very much, Rayndalf for posting this. I got one and it's everything you've said.
(although, being in Canada, with shipping & exchange it ended up being 5 times the listed price!)

Someone once said, the CH Products DT225 is like "the Model M of trackballs" (and I agree). I'd say the Microspeed/CST is like "the Alps of trackballs". Well then, this trackball is "the beam spring / Teletype Model 40 of trackballs". The build quality is amazing. I think it matches the Teletype Model 40 quite nicely.

I think this is the keyboard/trackball combo Darth Vader might use.

Yes, the trackball is basically useless right now - until there's an easy way to convert it. But I have hope. I bought a beam spring keyboard years before anybody figured out how to convert one. (back when the average price was around $60 or less)

Glad I helped someone make an informed decision. I notice you have an Apple II(?) in the background, is it for parts or does it run?

If you bought a beamspring for $60 I guess you were collecting vintage hardware back when people thought it was worthless. The ball looks great next to that Teletype, I can only imagine them installed inside a custom slightly angled black metal desk in front of a "massive" 20 inches CRT to control the mainframe that controls the world. I doubt I'll ever find a beamspring for a fair price, are Teletype Model 40s any more affordable? For some reason I'm not particularly hopeful

[mr_a500]

If you bought a beamspring for $60 I guess you were collecting vintage hardware back when people thought it was worthless.

I didn't say I paid $60, but that was the average price at the time. I was in Canada, so it cost 5 times the price. Actually, it was the first APL version I ever saw on eBay, so that drove the price up a bit. People thought I was a fool to pay that much.... well who's laughing now?! MUAHA HA HA HA!!! HA! uh.. he hee... uh.. ahem.... (cough)...

Yes, that's an Apple II and it works. And yes, the Teletype Model 40 is rare and expensive, probably even more rare than beam springs (though not as expensive). They're all in my "Command Centre", as seen in the Desktop thread:


Name every computer and WIN a FREE Apple II! (*you must correctly identify ALL computers and keyboards - including ones out of shot under the desks)

A lot of the stuff I have is because I'm fucking old and had it forever. I first used a large trackball 40 years ago - on the Centipede arcade game. Time files.

[Archie]

Nice collection! You might consider selling entrance tickets for viewing it...

Once upon a time, I've had a kind of small 'home museum' of ancient computers, but discarded them due to the space problem. Sometimes I regret that...

[Rayndalf]

Name every computer and WIN a FREE Apple II! (*you must correctly identify ALL computers and keyboards - including ones out of shot under the desks)

The last thing I probably need is an Apple II, but I can't name all of that stuff anyway (especially those things that I can only hope are TV radios).

On the left I see what I hope is a standard Bell rotary telephone (never knew the model names for these but I picked up a beige one when I was young... probably the first piece of junk I convinced my parents to buy me), then the magic wifi monolith, the aforementioned Model 40, a reel to reel machine, a piece of test equipment with a CRT, a Dasher terminal board (D2), an oscilloscope, a complete IBM 3270 (nice) and a mysterious luggable (Kaypro 4?).

On the right something against the wall I can't make out (bent metal case, knob on the top left, black keys? I'm guessing a character generator for something) Kaypro 2, an IBM 5155 a DEC VT100, something I totally can't make out, a TV radio, a Memotech MTX500 (I've been meaning to pick one up), a Wyse 60 Terminal and a white keyboard with black keys that I can't identify.

In the middle it's a similar rotary telephone, a bad ass keypad, another TV radio, and Imsai board (I recognize the "swish" from the computer in Wargames, but I don't recognize that model), a bench power supply, an IBM 3278, a Decision Data 8010, another keypad I can't make out, and a rather interesting reel to reel (do the heads pop out of the front?)

I'm sure there's even more stuff I'm missing. Do either of those reel to reels work? I've been meaning to pick one up, but most (cassette) tape players I've found don't work (even if I remember when they did), so I'm pretty worried I'd be left with a rather chunky paperweight.

[mr_a500]

Ha! Nice work. You were close.

The first phone is Stromberg Carlson, not Bell, the IBM terminal is 3279_2C, the Kaypro is a "New 2" (strange Kaypro naming), not 4. On top is an Atari 600XL. (under the table is a barely visible NeXTstation, unseen: TV from Blade Runner and TRS-80 Model III with UNIVAC keyboard on top... but yes, you were supposed to guess those )

The "character generator" is a "MORSE-A-KEYER" Morse code generator. That's a Kaypro II, not 2 (yes, they're two different models) and a WYSE 50. On top of the Kaypro is a TI-99/4A. The "white keyboard with black keys" is a Victor 9000. On top of the 5155 is an unseen DEC GIGI and beside is a Mac SE with M0116.

The second phone is Bell (1953). That's an IMSAI badge, but it's a TEC terminal keyboard (1974). Beside is not a reel to reel. That's just where I leave the tapes. They're sitting on a TV/scope. The second keypad is 1971 Micro Switch.

Well done on everything else though. Now guess what's in my closet!

Nice collection! You might consider selling entrance tickets for viewing it...

Once upon a time, I've had a kind of small 'home museum' of ancient computers, but discarded them due to the space problem. Sometimes I regret that...

Except for this trackball, my "museum" hasn't increased for years. I had to trash a bunch of stuff when I moved years ago and I regret that, but I think I've reached a balance: "excessive, yet not insane".

[Rayndalf]

I'm sure I have more to say, but that MORSE-A-KEYER is a gorgeous machine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrhGWR4PxVE

It reminds me a lot of my Ultratec Minicom IV only it makes cooler sounds.

Pointing devices are slightly cheaper and (usually) pretty compact so I don't feel too bad about buying them.