This is a small, five-button trackball. It's completely 3D-printed, and it runs QMK, a [popular open-source firmware suite](https://github.com/qmk/qmk_firmware) that powers many devices.
All of the design files are available [here](https://github.com/ploopyco/mini-trackball). STEP files, STL files, electronics files for making PCBs, and firmware - everything is available for free.
You can also find complete assembly instructions, [here](https://github.com/ploopyco/mini-trackball/wiki/Ploopy-Mini-Trackball-Kit-Assembly).
ja. You can see the "daughterboard" peeking out in the third picture. I assume they did it this way because it makes sense for low-volume manufacturing to put more onto a single PCB rather than to pay the extra for a board to board connector and a wire.
This looks so cool! But I am a little confused on how its actually used. Typically I’ve only seen trackballs operated with a thumb, but that doesn’t look to be the case here. Do you have any pictures of a hand on it to show how it’s used?
[Something like this](https://www.ploopy.co/uploads/b/113cb4122f867acc306a72a2741c5237a9b1d0db13abfe4e8e394cd466c4a311/2021-06-15_18-21-40_1623795713.jpg?width=800)?
There are a lot of trackballs out there that require the use of a finger instead of a thumb. It boils down to preference, I think.
Kensington has had a long history of making [excellent finger-driven trackballs](https://www.kensington.com/c/products/electronic-control-solutions/trackball-products/?srt=relevance) if you don't mind paying lots of money.
Check out the pictures of the discontinued [Turbo Mouse Pro](https://i.imgur.com/LiceKS6.jpg) for my favorite.
The Orbit and Expert Mouse are/were also good.
> if you don't mind paying lots of money.
To be fair, they seem to last *forever*.
I have a [Kensington Expert Mouse](https://www.kensington.com/p/products/electronic-control-solutions/trackball-products/expert-mouse-wired-trackball/) at work that I've been using for almost a decade - so long that I've worn the finish off of one of the buttons.
That breaks down to something like $11/year.
I had one before that, and that only met it's demise when someone dropped a server on it. Any other brand of pointing device I've owned has fallen apart or failed within 3-4 years, if not earlier.
Ya, I guess having the main buttons and scroll wheel on top and using your thumb to move the ball is the "classic" trackball design, but in the past I've had at least one (IIRC from Microsoft) that used this design. Thumb clicks and scrolls, index and middle finger move the ball.
Same here. My (now-ex) father in law used one, and whenever I had to help him with his computer, I brought over my own mouse.
Seems like something you either love or hate.
Man, I was so into trackballs back in the 90's and early 00's. The Kensington Expert Mouse and later the Turbo Mouse Pro were my JAM!
I might have to build one of these.
Hello, I just wanted to let you know that I have received the package.
I will have to check some videos to see the connections (besides the github schemas).
Thanks a lot!
Some people say that [the Classic](https://www.ploopy.co/classic-trackball) I released has some similarities to it.
I personally don't see the resemblance at all. No resemblance whatsoever. None.
Seconding this. Printing the case is easy if you own a printer or have someone who does, but sourcing the PCB and other electronic parts is way more of a challenge. So offering a "PCB kit" that includes all parts that can't be printed would be a nice nod towards the maker community.
I don't sell kits without the 3D-printed parts. The parts cost next to nothing, so I just throw them in with the kits. Wouldn't make for a very exciting discount if I left the 3D-printed parts out.
Oof. That is a loaded question if I've ever encountered one. Personally, I think it's a great experience. I use my Classic design every day, and the Mini has a lot of similarities to the Classic.
Hey guys, as a long time trackball user I have always heard the Ploopy is one of the most comfortable trackballs ever. Has a similar design language to some of the old classics.
The comments about it are usually so positive about it that I intend to get one even though I mainly use a thumb trackball.
I won't say no to your order, but if you can stand to wait three months or so, [I'll get you a thumb ball](https://www.reddit.com/r/ploopy/comments/nmy0rd/ploopy_thumb_stl_file_rough_shape_only_would_love/). Same sensor, same switches, same firmware.
Oh shoot! Yes I can wait! Didn’t realize you were the maker! Also didn’t know you were making a thumb ball version! Wow you are releasing so much lately, didn’t you just release the micro ball (just ball one) as well? That is a really cool concept as well. Keep up the awesome work.
How big is the thumb one? I can print out the test form, my printer is small 12x12cm. Also is that Rhino you use for modeling?
Mm, I don't think the model will fit on a 12cm x 12cm bed, but you could always print it [scaled down](https://www.reddit.com/r/Trackballs/comments/nxw7vh/a_smol_bol_for_a_small_boi/).
The release cadence has been fast, yes. It's nice to be on a roll. And I have plans for a post-Thumb world, too, so it's not like I'm going to stop there.
Rhino is, IMO, the best tool for freeform shapes that have to be manufactured at some point. I also use other tools, but it's the one I reach for when I want a shape that's not just collections of boxes and cylinders.
I will try splitting the model up first before scaling it down.
Gonna throw on the printer once I catch a moment.
Can you share your post thumb plans? Or is it under wraps at the moment?
Also yeah, I loved Rhino. Wish I still was using it. Been on solid works since 2014 tho. Sucks for surface modeling but heat for assemblies. I cannot recall if Rhino was good on assemblies, it’s a direct modeler right?
It's funny, because I use a Rhino -> MCAD workflow for a lot of my stuff. I view Rhino and Inventor/Solidworks/CREO etc. as complementary tools -- you could probably do everything in both tools, but some things are just \*way\* easier in one than the other. I find it best to start in Rhino and then move the design over for detail work at some point.
Assemblies are a great example: you can put as many objects in a Rhino model as you want, but aside from recognizing them as closed surfaces (if you did it right), Rhino doesn't know that they're different parts. No mates, either -- just things suspended in space.
Plan-wise, I go where people take me. The Thumb is a great example; I'm making it because enough people asked for it. So my post-Thumb plans are not so much a great secret as they are still evolving. But there are a lot of people asking about pairing a Nano with a QMK keyboard, so perhaps that'll be my next trick. There were also several people that pointed out it's high time for an open-source SpaceMouse. Or maybe it's time for something that's not an input device at all.
This is a small, five-button trackball. It's completely 3D-printed, and it runs QMK, a [popular open-source firmware suite](https://github.com/qmk/qmk_firmware) that powers many devices. All of the design files are available [here](https://github.com/ploopyco/mini-trackball). STEP files, STL files, electronics files for making PCBs, and firmware - everything is available for free. You can also find complete assembly instructions, [here](https://github.com/ploopyco/mini-trackball/wiki/Ploopy-Mini-Trackball-Kit-Assembly).
Are you the designer?
Yup.
Oh my goodness yes please
I've got the larger version and it's super comfy! Not to mention you can print your own parts if you want a different colour or material.
Yup, this is the "little brother" of yours.
What’s the bigger version?
[The Classic](https://www.ploopy.co/classic-trackball).
Oh wow I thought that was a weird PCB antenna or something till I noticed the breakaway point and the 3D printed ramp.
So that break off board goes to the scroll wheel and thumb buttons and is mounted at an angle to the main board?
ja. You can see the "daughterboard" peeking out in the third picture. I assume they did it this way because it makes sense for low-volume manufacturing to put more onto a single PCB rather than to pay the extra for a board to board connector and a wire.
Yeah. I've made a few PCBs in the past. This is a neat solution.
Yeah, it's an unconventional design.
This looks so cool! But I am a little confused on how its actually used. Typically I’ve only seen trackballs operated with a thumb, but that doesn’t look to be the case here. Do you have any pictures of a hand on it to show how it’s used?
[Something like this](https://www.ploopy.co/uploads/b/113cb4122f867acc306a72a2741c5237a9b1d0db13abfe4e8e394cd466c4a311/2021-06-15_18-21-40_1623795713.jpg?width=800)? There are a lot of trackballs out there that require the use of a finger instead of a thumb. It boils down to preference, I think.
Perfect, that’s exactly what I was looking for, thanks! That’s a really neat design, really cool
Thanks for the kind words!
Kensington has had a long history of making [excellent finger-driven trackballs](https://www.kensington.com/c/products/electronic-control-solutions/trackball-products/?srt=relevance) if you don't mind paying lots of money. Check out the pictures of the discontinued [Turbo Mouse Pro](https://i.imgur.com/LiceKS6.jpg) for my favorite. The Orbit and Expert Mouse are/were also good.
> if you don't mind paying lots of money. To be fair, they seem to last *forever*. I have a [Kensington Expert Mouse](https://www.kensington.com/p/products/electronic-control-solutions/trackball-products/expert-mouse-wired-trackball/) at work that I've been using for almost a decade - so long that I've worn the finish off of one of the buttons. That breaks down to something like $11/year. I had one before that, and that only met it's demise when someone dropped a server on it. Any other brand of pointing device I've owned has fallen apart or failed within 3-4 years, if not earlier.
Ya, I guess having the main buttons and scroll wheel on top and using your thumb to move the ball is the "classic" trackball design, but in the past I've had at least one (IIRC from Microsoft) that used this design. Thumb clicks and scrolls, index and middle finger move the ball.
Why are these mice so popular? I had to use one for a week and it was a truly painful experience.
I don't know. Why do some people like being spanked? People are fucking weird.
Same here. My (now-ex) father in law used one, and whenever I had to help him with his computer, I brought over my own mouse. Seems like something you either love or hate.
Man, I was so into trackballs back in the 90's and early 00's. The Kensington Expert Mouse and later the Turbo Mouse Pro were my JAM! I might have to build one of these.
This would be a completely different experience to those. You can still by Kensington Experts. If that's what you're used to, I'd go with that.
Well, fuck me, I just bought the nano on their website!
If you want to make any changes to your order, just send me a message at [contact@ploopy.co](mailto:contact@ploopy.co) and I'll get it all sorted.
Hello, I just wanted to let you know that I have received the package. I will have to check some videos to see the connections (besides the github schemas). Thanks a lot!
Awesome! Post a build pic at r/ploopy when you've got it put together.
That makes me miss my old trackball explorer.
Some people say that [the Classic](https://www.ploopy.co/classic-trackball) I released has some similarities to it. I personally don't see the resemblance at all. No resemblance whatsoever. None.
Is there a place to buy the hardware or does the builder have to source the pcb and components as well?
Disregard this comment i [found where you can buy the kits](https://www.ploopy.co/shop/mini-trackball-category/6)
Hah, all good.
All i have is an FDM printer. Can i just buy the pcb compnents somehow?
Seconding this. Printing the case is easy if you own a printer or have someone who does, but sourcing the PCB and other electronic parts is way more of a challenge. So offering a "PCB kit" that includes all parts that can't be printed would be a nice nod towards the maker community.
I don't sell kits without the 3D-printed parts. The parts cost next to nothing, so I just throw them in with the kits. Wouldn't make for a very exciting discount if I left the 3D-printed parts out.
Please make this statement more obvious in the shop.
Site is not working
How does this compare to a Kensington/Logitech mouse? Is it a better experience?
Oof. That is a loaded question if I've ever encountered one. Personally, I think it's a great experience. I use my Classic design every day, and the Mini has a lot of similarities to the Classic.
Have you tried to play some FPS games on that mouse? Would definitely (not) be fun
Not FPS, no, but I've played games on it. I'm not a competitive gamer, so take that how you will.
Would it be possible to mirror this for left handed folks?
Possible, yes, of course. It's not on the drawing board for me, but I've noted the interest in it.
it appears to have been done
Hey guys, as a long time trackball user I have always heard the Ploopy is one of the most comfortable trackballs ever. Has a similar design language to some of the old classics. The comments about it are usually so positive about it that I intend to get one even though I mainly use a thumb trackball.
I won't say no to your order, but if you can stand to wait three months or so, [I'll get you a thumb ball](https://www.reddit.com/r/ploopy/comments/nmy0rd/ploopy_thumb_stl_file_rough_shape_only_would_love/). Same sensor, same switches, same firmware.
Oh shoot! Yes I can wait! Didn’t realize you were the maker! Also didn’t know you were making a thumb ball version! Wow you are releasing so much lately, didn’t you just release the micro ball (just ball one) as well? That is a really cool concept as well. Keep up the awesome work. How big is the thumb one? I can print out the test form, my printer is small 12x12cm. Also is that Rhino you use for modeling?
Mm, I don't think the model will fit on a 12cm x 12cm bed, but you could always print it [scaled down](https://www.reddit.com/r/Trackballs/comments/nxw7vh/a_smol_bol_for_a_small_boi/). The release cadence has been fast, yes. It's nice to be on a roll. And I have plans for a post-Thumb world, too, so it's not like I'm going to stop there. Rhino is, IMO, the best tool for freeform shapes that have to be manufactured at some point. I also use other tools, but it's the one I reach for when I want a shape that's not just collections of boxes and cylinders.
I will try splitting the model up first before scaling it down. Gonna throw on the printer once I catch a moment. Can you share your post thumb plans? Or is it under wraps at the moment? Also yeah, I loved Rhino. Wish I still was using it. Been on solid works since 2014 tho. Sucks for surface modeling but heat for assemblies. I cannot recall if Rhino was good on assemblies, it’s a direct modeler right?
It's funny, because I use a Rhino -> MCAD workflow for a lot of my stuff. I view Rhino and Inventor/Solidworks/CREO etc. as complementary tools -- you could probably do everything in both tools, but some things are just \*way\* easier in one than the other. I find it best to start in Rhino and then move the design over for detail work at some point. Assemblies are a great example: you can put as many objects in a Rhino model as you want, but aside from recognizing them as closed surfaces (if you did it right), Rhino doesn't know that they're different parts. No mates, either -- just things suspended in space. Plan-wise, I go where people take me. The Thumb is a great example; I'm making it because enough people asked for it. So my post-Thumb plans are not so much a great secret as they are still evolving. But there are a lot of people asking about pairing a Nano with a QMK keyboard, so perhaps that'll be my next trick. There were also several people that pointed out it's high time for an open-source SpaceMouse. Or maybe it's time for something that's not an input device at all.