trackball VS rp2040-pmw3360

For an even more configurable mouse, check out the Ploopy mouse and trackballs: https://ploopy.co/

Fully open source, the mouse (that I own) uses QMK for its firmware. Which means I can use key binding layers rather than single buttons. In other words, one button acts like a shift button that modifies the action of the other buttons. So I have easy access to page up/down, mission control (what was exposé in macOS), paste plain (shift+option+cmd+v), etc etc. I don't have anything Emacs specific on the mouse, but my keyboard (Keychron Q10) has several macro keys that I have meta-x and ctrl-g bound to.

If you truly want a mouse built to last, look into a Ploopy (https://ploopy.co/). You can get trackball ones, or a classic style mouse. It's fully open source and uses 3D printed parts, so not only can you easily get it repaired, you can also modify it to your hearts content. Also possible to remap the buttons or even program the microcontroller with custom code to do specific tasks if you wish.

I have no affiliation with https://ploopy.co, but as an enjoyer of their products, I'd urge you to take a look at their mouse & trackball if you want a proper custom mouse/trackball made for keyboard enthusiasts. 10/10 stuff.

Check out the Ploopy options. https://ploopy.co/

You might be interested in the very unfortunately named ploopy.

Print this to be as loud as possible.

I haven’t gotten around to trying anything from fingerpunch yet (I think their faux fox series is probably their most popular) but I don’t imagine any of their cases meant for trackballs is all that hard to work with (and if you just want a trackball, Ploopy seems to be the go to)

Not sure what issue you're referring to. Making a 1000Hz trackball? Yes, of course it's possible. I've made several. Any decent sensor (e.g. PMW3360) and microcontroller will do.

One example: https://github.com/jfedor2/rp2040-pmw3360

It might be helpful to use jfedor's PMW3360 + RP2040 PCB - it has a Raspberry Pi RP2040 chip on it as well as a PMW3360 mouse sensor. Then they also designed some smaller PCBs for mouse switches.

Quite a lot of work seems to have been done to allow PixArt PMW3360 (or similar) .. https://github.com/jfedor2/rp2040-pmw3360 … https://www.printables.com/model/131450-trackball-15

Guy on the right is a Trackball 7 by u/jfedor. I had the RP2040+PMW3360 pcbs printed out and added Kailh GM 8.0 switches in there. The billiard ball is an Amarith Black cue ball (not an 8-Ball) I got off of ebay. Due to a parts shortage it's actually missing a few SMD parts that I'm having a hard time tracking down.

It's worth asking /u/jfedor if he has used the nice!nano in his builds. I know his dual-trackball build uses a Raspberry Pi Pico.

I've been into spheres lately and I've made this trackball. It doesn't sit on a desk, you have to hold it in your hand. It only has one button, but it totally works. The ball is 57.2mm and it sits on 2.5mm zirconium oxide bearing balls. 3D models, electronics and code.

If anyone's curious I put the 3D models here and the files for the PCB and code are on GitHub.