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Cursor Controls E38-Desktop Trackball
This product has reached End of Life (EOL) status and is no longer in production. Manufacturer support, updates, and spare parts may be discontinued.
All information is provided for reference only. Availability cannot be guaranteed.
Please contact us to discuss current alternatives or recommended replacement models.
For teams working across industrial, marine, and control room settings, the Cursor Controls E38-Desktop Trackball offers precise cursor control with a sealed design rated to IP65 standards. Its ABS polycarbonate housing ensures impact resistance and chemical durability suitable for continuous-duty operations in demanding environments. The device integrates patented optical sensors and a hall-effect scroll wheel, delivering responsive input while reducing mechanical wear compared to traditional mice.
Featuring left, middle, and right switch functions, it supports comprehensive human interface control and enhances workspace efficiency through its free-standing, compact form factor. Certified to IEC 60945 and CE standards and RoHS compliant, this trackball meets strict maritime and industrial certification requirements, ensuring reliability and robustness in field-ready deployments where exposure to dust, water, and contaminants is common.
E38-Desktop Features
- Certified to the IEC 60945 Marine Standard
- Sealing to IP65
- Infra-red optical navigation technology
- Integrated hall-effect scroll wheel
- 38mm ball for precise cursor movement
- Smooth operation in rugged environments
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Product Type
Manufacturer
Ruggedness
IP Rating
Mounting Format
Country Of Manufacture
United Kingdom
Case Material
ABS Polycarbonate
Certifications
CE, IEC 60945, Rohs, IP65
Custom Options Products
Cable Type,Cable Length,Interface,Trackball Colour
Housing Colour
Black
Housing Material
ABS Polycarbonate
The Cursor Controls E38-Desktop Trackball is designed and engineered for use in demanding environments where reliability, durability are essential. The E38-Desktop supports a wide range of industries and operational applications.
Common deployment industries include: Control Room Environment, Energy and Utilities, Industrial Manufacturing, Marine And Offshore.
Across these sectors, the E38-Desktop is typically used in applications such as Aircraft Cockpit And Avionics Support Systems, Industrial HMI And Machine Interfacing, Marine Bridge And Vessel Control Systems, Process Control And Shop-Floor Monitoring, Robotics And Autonomous System Control, SCADA And Control-Room Access.
These examples demonstrate the versatility of the E38-Desktop across both industry sectors and real-world operational use cases. Its suitability extends well beyond the scenarios listed above, making it a flexible solution for a broad range of requirements.
For further information, or to assess whether the E38-Desktop is appropriate for your specific application, please contact us.
The Cursor Controls E38-Desktop Trackball comes with a 18 Month Limited Warranty With Option To Extend against defects in workmanship and materials, effective from the date of shipment (unless otherwise agreed in writing).
To receive service under this warranty, the eligible product, Cursor Controls E38-Desktop Trackball, must be presented to RUGGED in the United Kingdom.
For more information about the Cursor Controls E38-Desktop Trackball or to arrange repairs and services not covered by the warranty, please visit the warranty section on our website.
Do you need further details about the Cursor Controls E38-Desktop Trackball, or would you like to discuss a customised solution or demonstration?
At RUGGED, we recognise that every project has its own unique demands. If you have any questions about the Cursor Controls E38-Desktop or need a custom Rugged Trackball solution designed specifically for you, our team of technical experts are ready to assist you.
Alternative Products
Explore alternative products offering comparable features, performance, and build quality to the model you are currently viewing.
Our related solutions provide variations in configuration, functionality, and form factor to suit different application requirements. Each option has been selected to meet the same high standards of reliability and performance.
Browse the related products below to identify the most suitable fit for your deployment.
M50-Mechanical-Backlit
- IP65 sealed construction
- Backlit trackball for low-light visibility
- Removable top ring for cleaning
- USB and PS/2 auto-select interfaces

F50-Halo
- Patented anti-vibration technology
- Impact-resistant aluminium and stainless steel construction
- Sealed and corrosion-resistant design
- Rear panel mounting for easy integration

P25-Compact
- Compact, durable ABS polycarbonate housing
- IP40 ingress protection with floating seal
- Over 1 million ball revolutions lifecycle
- TTL Quadrature interface with photo-optical encoders

- Reinforced aluminium body
- Patented anti-vibration technology
- 100% humidity sealed
- USB and PS/2 auto-select interface

Having trouble finding what you're looking for?
Selecting the correct solution for your specific application and operating environment requires careful consideration.
At Rugged, our engineering and product specialists can advise on specifications, environmental suitability, mounting requirements, connectivity, and lifecycle planning to ensure the right fit for your deployment.
With extensive industry experience and a focus on reliability and performance, we help you select a solution aligned with your operational requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
RUGGED offers free technical support for the lifetime of products you purchase. This includes help with setup, troubleshooting, and integration. Support is available online or directly from the technical team
Trackballs are versatile and can be found in numerous applications, particularly where durability, precision, and hygiene are paramount. They are commonly integrated into industrial machinery, enabling operators to control complex systems with accuracy. In medical settings, the sealed nature of a trackball prevents the ingress of contaminants, making them easy to clean and sterilise, which is essential for maintaining hygiene standards.
Furthermore, trackballs are frequently used in marine and aviation environments due to their ability to function reliably in conditions with vibration and limited space. They are also prevalent in public access kiosks and ATMs, offering a robust and vandal-resistant input method. The compact and sealed design of these input devices makes them suitable for environments where a conventional mouse would be susceptible to damage or would not perform optimally. To explore a range of robust input solutions, including the rugged trackballs, Rugged Limited offers dependable options built for demanding use.
A rugged trackball is specifically engineered to operate reliably in challenging conditions. Unlike a traditional mouse, a trackball allows for cursor control by manipulating a ball with your fingers or thumb, which is advantageous in environments with limited space or where precise, stable control is crucial.
These devices are built with robust materials and often feature hermetically sealed designs to protect against dust, dirt, liquids, and extreme temperatures. This makes a rugged trackball ideal for use in industrial control systems, marine applications, military equipment, and public-access kiosks where durability and consistent performance are paramount.
Trackballs are often considered easier to clean than conventional computer mice due to their design. With a trackball, the ball is usually removable, allowing for simple cleaning of both the ball and the internal housing. This design minimises areas where dirt and debris can accumulate unseen. In contrast, mice typically have optical sensors and crevices that can trap dust and grime, making thorough cleaning more challenging.
This ease of cleaning makes a trackball a practical choice for environments where hygiene is a priority, such as medical facilities, industrial settings, or public access terminals. Rugged Limited provides trackball solutions that are designed not only for durability but also with maintainability in mind, ensuring they can withstand rigorous use and remain sanitary with minimal effort.
Trackballs are exceptionally well-suited for industrial environments, offering durability and precision critical for demanding applications. They are designed to withstand harsh conditions, including exposure to dust, dirt, liquids, and extreme temperatures, which are common in industrial settings.
Rugged Limited offers a range of industrial trackballs engineered for reliability and long-term performance. These devices typically feature robust construction and often incorporate sealed designs to protect internal components from environmental contaminants, ensuring consistent operation and minimal maintenance. The enclosed nature of a trackball also means that fewer moving parts are exposed, further enhancing its resilience in tough working conditions.
Furthermore, the stationary nature of a rugged trackball allows for precise control without requiring significant desk space, making them ideal for integration into control panels, kiosks, and compact workstations where space is limited. Their ergonomic design can also reduce operator fatigue during long shifts, making them a practical and efficient choice for various industrial applications.
Rugged Limited offers a variety of trackball solutions, and many of these are designed with USB connectivity. USB is a common and versatile interface that ensures broad compatibility with different systems, making it a convenient option for integrating a trackball into various setups.
A USB-connected trackball delivers a stable and consistent connection, crucial for applications requiring precise cursor control and responsiveness. This connectivity method simplifies installation as USB is often plug-and-play, allowing for quick setup without complex configurations.
When selecting a trackball, checking the product specifications for its connection type is always recommended to ensure it meets your specific requirements.
An Industrial Trackball is essentially an upside-down ball mouse. Instead of moving the entire device, the user rotates a ball set within a housing to control the cursor on a screen. This design provides several advantages, particularly for industrial applications, as the device itself remains stationary.
Rugged Limited offers a range of rugged trackballs that are designed to withstand harsh operating conditions. These Industrial Trackball units are typically built to a high specification, featuring robust materials and sealed constructions to protect against elements such as dust, water, and vibrations. This makes them ideal for environments where a traditional mouse would quickly fail.
The precision and compact footprint of an Industrial Trackball also contribute to its suitability in critical applications, allowing for accurate cursor control even in spaces where desk real estate is limited or in situations requiring stable input without the need for a flat surface.
Rugged Limited provides a selection of trackballs that are indeed designed for panel mounting. These robust devices are engineered to offer reliable cursor control in challenging industrial and public access applications.
Our panel mountable trackball units often feature a stainless steel or robust polymer construction, making them resistant to harsh conditions such as dust, dirt, and moisture. They are typically sealed to NEMA 4X or IP65 specifications, ensuring protection against environmental factors.
When selecting a trackball for panel mounting, it is important to consider factors such as the material, sealing, and the specific interface requirements for seamless integration into your system. To explore our full range of solutions, including panel-mountable options, you can visit our rugged trackballs page.
Trackballs are versatile pointing devices designed for a variety of applications, especially in settings where durability, precision, and space efficiency are critical. They are commonly used in industrial, marine, military, and medical environments.
Key uses for a trackball include:
- Industrial Control: For operating machinery and process control systems where gloves or harsh conditions are present.
- Marine Applications: Ideal for navigation systems, sonar, and communication on ships and boats, offering stability in moving environments.
- Military Systems: Employed in command and control centers, vehicles, and field equipment due to their robust construction and reliable performance.
- Medical Equipment: Used in diagnostic imaging and patient monitoring systems, providing hygienic and precise input.
- Public Access Kiosks: Found in ATMs, information kiosks, and public terminals due to their tamper-resistant design.
Unlike a mouse, a trackball remains stationary, which saves desk space and offers a stable platform for input, making them particularly suitable for situations where movement is restricted or the user needs to maintain a fixed posture. Many rugged trackball units are also designed to be resistant to liquids, dust, and vibrations, ensuring reliable operation in challenging conditions.








