So, now that I have a CST L-trac-5w on the way, can anyone here explain to me what I'm going to need to do to make some extra buttons for it? It should already have the jacks built in, but I'm really more of a software guy, so I'm not quite sure where to start.
I've got basic soldering and assembly experience, but I'm just not sure what pieces I need for this, or how I should put them together. Do I just get a male-male audio cable and cut it in half for connectors, or do I need to do something fancier? I clearly need some sort of switches, but I'm not sure what sorts of specs I need to look for. I know Ripster used cherry MX switches, but I'd really like something I can put right up next to the trackball, so that I can press the buttons without moving my hand (I'll probably put both of them on the "thumb" side, but putting one on either side would also work). I think that MX switches are going to be tough to mount in a way that makes them ergonomic to use with the trackball; if I'm wrong, let me know, but I'd like something that has a smaller profile, requires low force, and ideally something that will let me attach a custom "keycap" so that I can get something the same height as the trackball, and of a shape I can easily hit with my thumb. I guess I'll probably try to make a first version out of something like balsawood that's easy to carve, and then try to replace it with something more durable later on. Do I want some sort of "microswitch?"
Anyway, I'd appreciate any and all help or suggestions on this, and I know that at least a couple of others from the recent massdrop are interested in this subject as well.