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Thread: Ball lifter ideas

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    Tokie Owens lyo.1984's Avatar
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    Default Ball lifter ideas

    ok so I know this has been the elusive project on everyone list of MODS but here it goes.Tell me any ideas that I might be missing.Im planning on using a Bench Grinder from Harbor Freight $34.99 taking off both grinding wheels make an extension on the shaft to hook up the giant rotating wheel.It has a veriable speed from 0-10,000 rpm.110 Volt motor 60 Hz the arbor is 10 mm.Im planning on titling the grinder back 5-10 degrees so the balls wil not fall forward until they fall backward into a slide/tray.
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    Captain Weirdo Sid's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ball lifter ideas

    Looks interesting when can we see a prototype

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    Tokie Owens lyo.1984's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ball lifter ideas

    I think I can get the grinder tommorow and start.Does anyone think that this motor might have a problem with the load.Its a 110 V 60 hz the wheel will be approx. 4' Diameter with Id say 30-50 balls on the right side going up.I figure 4- 5 balls every foot

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    Captain Weirdo Sid's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ball lifter ideas

    cool

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    Gibisans - Japan West compirate's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ball lifter ideas

    Very interesting idea!

    Not sure if you can vary the speed that well, and have a lot of power at slower speeds with a direct drive. How about if you put some kind of rubber sheeting or something around the outer edge of the wheel and let the arbor run against that - slower speed, more power.


    Is this a plan to feed many machines?

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    Tokie Owens lyo.1984's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ball lifter ideas

    this plan is to feed one machine but realistically if I can get the balls up to 4 feet it could be for 2 in the future.I like the idea of putting the arbor onthe side to push the outer edge but would be concerned if the wheel were even the slightest bit outta round.I am gonna first do the height up then if all goes well Ill work on the trip to the top tray.

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    Super Turtle BigBearSteve's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ball lifter ideas

    Neat Idea!! What are you going to make the wheel out of?
    My favorite color is Ham

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    Master Inventor daverob's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ball lifter ideas

    You won't be able to get the grinder motor to go slow enough without gearing it down somewhat. You'll only want about 10 rpm for a wheel this big, so if you use a speed controller to slow it down without a gear box then you'll only get about 0.1% of the useable power of the motor which is unlikely to give enough torque to move the wheel at all.

    You'd probably have better luck with a motor from an electric screwdriver as this would be more controllable at a low speed and have a lot more torque.

    Either way, I'd prototype it without a motor first. This will give you a feel of how much force is needed to hand turn the wheel, and a good idea of the desired rpm range that will deliver enough balls, but not run it too fast to run into balance problems.

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    Mr. Pachitalk arbycoffee's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ball lifter ideas

    How big a circle of balls ?
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    Mr. Pachitalk arbycoffee's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ball lifter ideas

    one of the ball lifters from Japan will feed six machines sucking balls
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    Goodwill Ambassador luckydog's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ball lifter ideas

    they say a 4 foot circle of balls
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    Mr. Pachitalk arbycoffee's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ball lifter ideas

    Do you know the weight of that wheel and what is it made from and it will take up more room than two more machines
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    wearing a suit birdbrain's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ball lifter ideas

    4 foot in dia?


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    Goodwill Ambassador luckydog's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ball lifter ideas

    4 foot tall I think!!!
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    Tokie Owens lyo.1984's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ball lifter ideas

    yes we will use a gear reduction to slow it down and we are trying to locate a motor instead of using the grinder.The size of the wheel would be large thinking 4ft. in diameter and space isnt really an issue.After i get the thing running I would like to incorporate the mechanism with the pachinko somehow.What I mean by that is dress it up a bit with some chutes and eye candy.If we run it faster we would have to elongate the ovality of the pockets around the outter edge of the wheel.Im pretty good with woodworking and Ill leave the electrical stuff to my brother who knows alot about electrical and gearing.One thing I am a little conscerned about is the wheel itself being slightly warped.I will consider other options but the cost would be an issue I want to make this whole project feasible for under 100 dollars.If anyone wants a functioning ball lifter I strongly suggest just ordering one thru ARBYCOFFEE.I am trying this more as a side project of my endlessly tinkerin mind.Does anyone have any suggestion on the tilt angle of the wheel itself and also any suggestion on the side it will tilt leaning away from the machine or towards the machine and player.Im thinking away with the balls coming out above the destination loader tray and ramping it around each side of the top of the wheel.But yeah any way thanks to everyone who has chimed in and I know this is an endeavor that has been tried many times before and I appreciate anyones suggestions.TTYL,
    Matt

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    Goodwill Ambassador luckydog's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ball lifter ideas

    has anyone thought of using a vacuum system with a portable vac.

    think bank drive up aisle with a vacuum tube
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    Mr. Pachitalk arbycoffee's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ball lifter ideas

    Quote Originally Posted by luckydog View Post
    has anyone thought of using a vacuum system with a portable vac.

    think bank drive up aisle with a vacuum tube
    Now this idea is servesable, very cool LD
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  21. #18
    Gibisans - Japan West compirate's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ball lifter ideas

    but don't most of those say 'no change', an indication that weight is an issue?

    I would think compressed air would be better, although only a couple could go up at a time.

    人生は恐れなければ、とても素晴らしいものなんだよ。
    人生に必要なもの。それは勇気と想像力、そして少しのお金だ。

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    Blind Shooter Iguanaman's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ball lifter ideas

    Not sure (might be too noisy) but you might look at a rotisserie motor. I used one to rotate a wheel (slowly) that winds watches (automatic mechanical watches) The motor is slow and has a fair amount of torque.

    Here is a page showing what I did with it.
    http://showcase.netins.net/web/patri...%20Winder.html

    I got the motor from an attachment for a barbecue grill. The motor was pretty cheap.

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  24. #20
    Sphere Chucker fhagar's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ball lifter ideas

    Nice piece of engineering. I don't think noise is really a problem with pachinko machines. The speed of the motor may be a little slow for a ball lifter.
    Never met a Pachi I didn't like!

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