Something experimental - A5000 mouse ball replacement.

[peters]

Checking the density, nylon 1.15g/cm³ versus delrin 1.44g/cm³, so it's worse.

[rubber_jonnie]

Checking the density, nylon 1.15g/cm³ versus delrin 1.44g/cm³, so it's worse.

Oddly I thought nylon would be denser, but there you go.

[rubber_jonnie]

OK, next run through has been a bit more successful:

IMG20240811113045.jpg

The left hand ball is from my own mould, the ball in the middle is from a new single piece silicone mould, and the right hand ball is from the existing 2 part silicone mould.

The 2 part mould was more of a 'let's try it again for luck' as I had spare material, but the seams are too much to work with, so I won't use that again, but the other two look good.

However I discovered another issue I'd not noticed before, and that is that the iron particles sank to the bottom as visible here:

IMG20240811113108.jpg

Which is a problem as they all have a 'heavy end' and roll to one specific position. Not good for mousage.

:dizzy:

I suspect part of it is that the resin isn't that thick, which means it's easy to pour, but the particles have time to sink before it sets enough to prevent it. Perhaps I need to look at thicker resin, or another filler material. Or something else entirely.

Not giving up though, just need to think on what's next.

[stephen_usher]

Or have a mould which you keep tumbling while it sets so that the particles never have time to settle in any one place.

[rubber_jonnie]

Or have a mould which you keep tumbling while it sets so that the particles never have time to settle in any one place.

I think that is a tough option tbh.

[rubber_jonnie]

OK, so I had a weird thing the other morning. I woke up and thought 'what if I tried to make a mouse ball from hot glue. I have zero idea why I thought that, but given I'd thought it I ought to try it!!!

So I did using the new mould and this is the result:

IMG20240910092357.jpg

And it actually works!!!

Is it perfect? Not 100%, no, as on my slippery desk there is a bit of skidding, but it is actually working if I use some sort of mouse mat like an A4 pad.

Not perfect but it is progress. I need to improve how I can clean up the bit that comes from the top of the mould, and possibly see if I can make it a smidge heavier and make it a bit rougher for better grip, but that really isn't a bad replacement, I'm a bit shocked just how well it's worked out.

[stephen_usher]

Progress at last. Just don't get your mouse warm. :-)

[rubber_jonnie]

Progress at last. Just don't get your mouse warm. :-)

:lol:

I think it'd have to get pretty warm to be a problem given hot glue melts around 135C...

I can't imagine the rest of the mouse handling that too well.

[alexh]

Well done. Interesting stuff.

[rubber_jonnie]

Well done. Interesting stuff.

Honestly, I'm shocked it worked. Needs more work but definitely a positive step.