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Cursor Controls P16 Trackball
Designed for industrial installations where space and reliability are crucial, the Cursor Controls P16 Trackball provides precise pointing in a compact, robust design. Its mechanical construction features a removable ball and top ring for straightforward maintenance without complex tools. This trackball is built with an impact-resistant ABS polycarbonate housing and a corrosion-resistant coated steel ball, ensuring durability against continuous use and environmental stress.
Suitable for field-ready applications operating between -10°C and +55°C, the P16 supports installation from horizontal to vertical with a rear mount configuration, giving versatile positioning options in rugged control panels. The device includes dual USB and PS/2 interfaces that auto-select for easy integration and consistent operation. Its photo-optical encoders provide stable resolution with an IP40 ingress rating, complemented by resistance to mechanical shock and vibration common in industrial environments.
P16 Features
- Ultra-Compact Design
- USB & PS2 (Auto-Select) Or Sun Systems
- Jewel Bearing Suspension System
- 16mm Steel Core Ball For Precise Control
- Custom Connector Options
- Custom OEMSolutions Available
- USB & PS2 (Auto-Select) Or Sun Systems
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Product Type
Manufacturer
Ruggedness
Mounting Format
Country Of Manufacture
United Kingdom
Case Material
ABS Polycarbonate
Certifications
CE, RoHS compliant
Custom Options Products
Cable Type,Cable Length,Interface,Trackball Colour
Housing Colour
Black
Humidity
30% min, 95% max, non-condensing
Lifetime
> 1 million ball revolutions
Temperature Rating
Operating Temperature -10C to +55C Storage Temperature -40C to +85 C
Ball
Coated Steel, 16mm, 0.8"
Ball Load
10N Maximum downward pressure (1Kg) @ 20C
Ball Rotation
Continuous and reversible in any direction
Ball Speed
300 RPM maximum
Housing Material
ABS Black
Interface Filter
USB & PS2 (Auto Select)
Mounting Filter
Rear Mount
Mounting Position
Horizontal to 0 to vertical 90C
Power
5 V DC +/- 5%
Quadrature format 6ma typical
PS/2 & USB - 12ma typical
Resolution
800 +/- 30 counts per ball revolution (other options available upon request)
Tracking Force
8gms Nominal continuous no seal (IP40)
Transducers
Photo-optical encoders with LED
The Cursor Controls P16 Trackball is designed and engineered for use in demanding environments where reliability, durability are essential. The P16 supports a wide range of industries and operational applications.
Common deployment industries include: Construction, Energy and Utilities, Healthcare And Medical, Industrial Manufacturing, Logistics And Supply Chain, Public Sector, Rail And Transport, Security And Surveillance.
Across these sectors, the P16 is typically used in applications such as Construction Site Supervision And Reporting, Health, Safety, And Compliance Inspections, Industrial HMI And Machine Interfacing, Process Control And Shop-Floor Monitoring, SCADA And Control-Room Access, Security And Surveillance Operations.
These examples demonstrate the versatility of the P16 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 P16 is appropriate for your specific application, please contact us.
The Cursor Controls P16 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 P16 Trackball, must be presented to RUGGED in the United Kingdom.
For more information about the Cursor Controls P16 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 P16 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 P16 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.
E50-Panel
- IP68-rated dust and moisture sealed
- Industrial-grade optical sensor with hall-effect scroll wheel
- USB & PS/2 auto-select interface
- Abrasion-resistant ABS polycarbonate housing

R60-Backlit
- High-mass 60mm ball for precise control
- IP40 sealed housing for dust resistance
- Over 10 million ball revolutions lifespan
- Rear mount with adjustable installation angle

- Impact-resistant ABS polycarbonate housing
- Coated steel ball for corrosion resistance
- USB and PS/2 auto-select interfaces
- Rear mount configuration for flexible installation

- IP68 dust-sealed and waterproof design
- Over 1 million ball revolutions testing durability
- Solid-state optical navigation technology
- USB and PS2 interface auto-select

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 excel in applications requiring precise control, operating like an upside-down mouse where the user moves the ball to control the cursor. This design eliminates the need to move the entire device, which is particularly beneficial in environments with limited workspace or for users who need to maintain a fixed arm or wrist position. The smooth, consistent movement of a trackball allows for highly accurate cursor placement and manipulation, making it ideal for tasks that demand fine motor control. Many professionals prefer a rugged trackball for its durability and sustained precision in demanding conditions.
Rugged Limited offers a variety of trackball designs, some of which are specifically engineered for environments where operators need to wear gloves. Our industrial trackballs can feature larger ball diameters and specific dome designs that facilitate easy and accurate manipulation even when wearing protective equipment. These design considerations ensure that productivity and precision are maintained in demanding work settings where gloves are a necessity.
Many of our standalone and panel-mount trackballs are also available with IP65 sealing, meaning they are protected against dust and water ingress, which further enhances their suitability for harsh environments encountered across various industries.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.

Cursor Controls is a UK specialist focused solely on rugged pointing devices, so its trackballs, touchpads and scroll wheels are engineered for environments where a consumer mouse would fail. Sealed ABS polycarbonate housings, IP68 ratings on models such as the X50 and X25-Halo, contactless laser tracking that avoids mechanical wear, and tolerance to vibration, temperature extremes and electromagnetic interference make the devices suitable for defence, marine, aerospace, medical and industrial use. Removable top rings simplify cleaning, and OEM versions integrate cleanly into custom consoles with selectable interfaces. You get a purpose-built, integration-ready device rather than an adapted office part. Exact ratings vary by model, so confirm on the product page.
Cursor Controls is a UK manufacturer of rugged pointing devices, principally trackballs, alongside touchpads and scroll wheels, designed for harsh and mission-critical environments. The range covers panel-mount and OEM trackballs from compact 25mm units to larger 50mm and 60mm formats, sealed touchpads, and modular scroll wheels for integration into consoles and keyboards. Many trackballs use contactless laser tracking to eliminate mechanical wear. Its devices serve defence, aerospace, marine, medical, industrial and control-room applications where reliable cursor control is essential. The specialism is durable, integration-ready pointing hardware rather than complete keyboards. Sealing, tracking technology and mounting differ by model, so confirm details on the relevant product page.
Cursor Controls builds trackballs in industrial-grade ABS polycarbonate housings with sealed construction that resists dust and moisture, and several models are rated to IP68 for dust-tight and immersion-grade protection, such as the X50 and X25-Halo. Many use contactless laser tracking, which removes wear-prone mechanical parts and maintains accuracy over long service life. A removable top ring allows cleaning and decontamination without breaking the seal. The devices are also built to tolerate vibration, temperature extremes and electromagnetic interference for continuous-duty use. IP rating, tracking technology and mounting vary across the range, with some models semi-rugged rather than fully sealed, so confirm the rating on the specific product page.
Cursor Controls offers both finished panel-mount trackballs and OEM modules intended for integration into a customer’s own console, keyboard or control panel. OEM units, such as the X and Z series, typically use rear-panel mounting so the ball sits flush in a host enclosure, with selectable electrical outputs, interfaces and tracking forces to match the target system. Panel-mount and desktop formats suit standalone fitting. Both share the same rugged ABS polycarbonate construction and laser tracking options. The choice depends on whether you are building the trackball into your own product or fitting it directly. Mounting style and interface options vary by model, so confirm on the product page.
Cursor Controls devices serve defence and military, aerospace, marine and offshore, emergency services, energy and utilities, healthcare and medical, industrial manufacturing, oil and gas and pharmaceutical sectors. Typical applications include aircraft cockpit and avionics support, marine bridge and vessel control, SCADA and control-room access, secure command-and-control terminals, medical workstations and industrial HMI. The common requirement across these sectors is precise, reliable cursor control in environments with vibration, contamination or strict hygiene needs. Backlit and halo-illuminated models also suit low-light control rooms and night operations. Sector suitability and environmental ratings vary by model, so check the listed industries and certifications on each product page.
Cursor Controls offers both, depending on the model. Many trackballs use contactless laser tracking, which reads the ball surface optically and removes mechanical encoders and rollers, reducing wear and maintaining accuracy across long service life and varied ball surfaces. Models such as the X50, X25-Halo and Z50 use laser tracking, while mechanical and optical variants are also available within the wider trackball range. Laser tracking is well suited to sealed, continuous-duty and contamination-prone applications because there are fewer parts to clog or wear. The tracking method, resolution and output options vary by model, so confirm the technology on the specific product page.
Yes. Cursor Controls offers backlit and halo-illuminated trackball variants for control rooms, cockpits and night operations where the operator needs to locate the device without flooding the area with light. Halo models such as the X25-Halo use an illuminated ring around the ball to aid visibility without distracting glare, and backlight colour is often a selectable custom option. These illuminated variants retain the same rugged ABS polycarbonate housing, sealing and laser tracking as their standard counterparts. Backlight availability, colour options and any minimum order conditions vary by model, so confirm the illumination specification and choices on the relevant product page.
Cursor Controls supports OEM integration with selectable options including cable type, cable length, interface, trackball colour and, on illuminated models, backlight colour. Touchpad models add custom logo and case colour options. OEM trackballs offer selectable electrical outputs and tracking forces so a device can be matched to the host system’s interface and feel. Rear-mount designs are made to seat cleanly into a customer’s panel cut-out. This flexibility lets integrators specify a pointing device tailored to a console, keyboard or vehicle system rather than adapting around a fixed product. Available options and any minimum quantities differ by model, so confirm the specifics on the relevant product page.







