tekHedd – the blog

I’ve just posted an update for my VCI-400 mapping script for Mixxx version 2. If you’ve been using version 1.0.1 of the scripts, you have probably noticed that the Browse wheel and the other encoders get glitchy if you spin them too fast. That’s fixed! Hooray?

So, that’s all there is to it. I’ve developed and tested it using Mixxx 2.3.2 on Linux. Tell me if it works for you!

Download the packages (“source”–there is no compiled version lol) from the Releases page at gitlab (https://gitlab.com/byteheaven/bhvn-mixxx-vci400/-/releases) or directly here:

• bhvn-mixxx-vci400-v1.0.2.zip

Share and enjoy!

The new bearings

For the first time in my life I get to say “New and Improved” unironically!

After months of prototyping, I finally have the new trackball bearing kits up for sale on eBay. And they are both new, as in completely redesigned, and improved in several ways. They are also significantly cheaper, which is definitely an improvement.

How are they better?

The new kits are 3D printed with a shape that exactly fits the factory bearing supports. This brings several benefits:

First, this means they fit perfectly without any play, and the trackball is now supported at exactly the same height as it was with the factory flanged bearings. With the original brass-sleeve bearing kits, it was raised 0.2mm. This doesn’t sound like much, but it caused some 8-ball style trackballs to fail to track.

Second, 3D printing is a lot more fun than hand-shaping tiny bits of brass as spacers. Sure, I’ve spent several months and a lot of trial and error getting them to print correctly, but it was still fun. This means they are a lot cheaper! Because I really wasn’t having fun sitting in the garage with a respirator on, covered in brass dust.

So much error

Finally, they’re purple. Matte purple, even. The matte filament is a pain to work with, but it’s very pretty. I do like purple.

It’s really more of a lavendar

My biggest problem now is that my supplier of awesome high quality bearings has started sending me awful low quality bearings, so supplies may be limited until I find a new supplier. But at least the bearing rests are sorted out.

Buy some now

So, if you have a CST2545 or compatible laser-tracking trackball, and it needs bearings, my ball bearing kits are now cheaper, fit better, and they’re purple. Go buy one now before I run out of smooth bearings! https://www.ebay.com/itm/133327761655 Do it! Click! Quickly! The link’s right there! I know you can hear me!

As I wait for replacement parts I thought I’d post a quick update on the state of CST trackball bearing replacement kits. In short: new 3D printed kits are in the works. This has absorbed a lot of my time and put me behind schedule with the new guitar pedal prototypes.

Right now, on eBay, is the last of the hand-machined brass kits. These have great bearings in them and work just fine, but they are very not-fun to make. I started charging more for them just to make it worth the time I spend wearing a respirator in the garage, but people wanted them so I kept making them. Even so, I think they’re too expensive. I started thinking: what if the little adaptor bushing spacer thing was 3D printed?

Advantages:

• Can offset the height so the trackball will no longer be 0.2mm high
• Pretty
• Can be the exact diameter and shape of the bearing holder slot
• Easier to assemble – I can sell them cheaper!

So, I bought a used printer off eBay, which immediately needed new bearings, new fans, and a lot of modification. The first thing I learned is that printing tiny parts with exact dimensions is more of a craft than a science. But I’m using prototype bearings now and they are very cute.

So, after much trial and error, new bearing kits should be ready soon, in quantity, at reasonable prices. Of course, I’ve been saying this every day for a month now, but I’m almost there!