Rockston Cyclone Compact Ball Lifter

[rockston]

Testing a new Ball Lifter design and so far so good! I am utilizing some of the machine setups and sizing that I am already using for the current Sideloader. The PVC is adjusted to the height that's needed to close any gap and secured with 2 nylon screws. In this case the unit is basically spring loaded against the output hole by the narrow piece of 3/4 Birch it's resting on. It's not going anywhere until someone reaches in there and moves it. No balls are going to bounce out either because the machines output is now completely enclosed. It's shutting off just right, about 90 degrees before the exit where the sensor is looking at the first layer of balls in the sprocket. The entire hopper space can also be filled up and then started up with no issues. I hope to be offering these very soon ! Short Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUyoD1XPl0E

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[takethecastle57]

A secret side button to feed more balls in the front feed hopper ??

Bravo Brava

How much for a complete assembled version of this ball lifter ?

[MrGneiss]

Very cool!!

[rockston]

A secret side button to feed more balls in the front feed hopper ??

Bravo Brava

How much for a complete assembled version of this ball lifter ?

Have not done the price breakdown yet but it's a gem !

[rockston]

New Compact Digital Cyclone Ball Lifters are going into production
Special Introductory Holiday Pricing In Effect!
$199 Includes Unit, Protected Power Supply, Tubing and Shipping in Continental USA!
Powerful 12v DC Gearmotor and Tough Delrin Sprocket with Aluminum Hub
PM me to order Paypal Accepted and Satisfaction Guarantied!

[Ahab]

I just threw a few thousand balls through my new cyclone lifter. It worked great! Thanks Rockston.

[Atoombolle]

So I ran into a couple of issues today with my ball lifter:
- The hose kept coming out of the side after a while, so I had to brace it a little better (by taking the hose off the bracket to allow a more natural bend).
- The motor won't shut off because the white ring pipe is too low. So I made it be up a few more millimeters, which is all the space there was.
- Then my machine clogged up because the ball lifter is actively blocking the out chute of the pachinko machine if a couple of balls bounce incorrectly.

I've tried to make a wider chute to roll into the ball lifter and replace the white ring with it, but that didn't work (.75 wood was too thick). Then I tried leaving the ring out entirely. That works, but quite a few balls bounce on the wood of the lifter, then bounce into it. In a test batch of about 50 balls none actually rolled out of the back, but I had to push the lifter against the machine (the hose tried pulling it back a little since the hose curves behind the plastic back of the machine).
Tomorrow I'll try to make another brace out of thin plywood in a U-shape to guide the balls into the ball lifter. Not sure how to mount it. I may just try double-sided tape as a test. I'd prefer not to modify the ball lifter since it works great with my other machine as it is, but I may just have to cave and modify the top of it into a better channel for this particular machine.

All in all there's quite a bit of tweaking the installation to make it work reliably, but it's user error. If anyone has made any brackets or braces for their installations, I'd be interested to see them for ideas.

[rockston]

So I ran into a couple of issues today with my ball lifter:
- The hose kept coming out of the side after a while, so I had to brace it a little better (by taking the hose off the bracket to allow a more natural bend).
- The motor won't shut off because the white ring pipe is too low. So I made it be up a few more millimeters, which is all the space there was.
- Then my machine clogged up because the ball lifter is actively blocking the out chute of the pachinko machine if a couple of balls bounce incorrectly.

I've tried to make a wider chute to roll into the ball lifter and replace the white ring with it, but that didn't work (.75 wood was too thick). Then I tried leaving the ring out entirely. That works, but quite a few balls bounce on the wood of the lifter, then bounce into it. In a test batch of about 50 balls none actually rolled out of the back, but I had to push the lifter against the machine (the hose tried pulling it back a little since the hose curves behind the plastic back of the machine).
Tomorrow I'll try to make another brace out of thin plywood in a U-shape to guide the balls into the ball lifter. Not sure how to mount it. I may just try double-sided tape as a test. I'd prefer not to modify the ball lifter since it works great with my other machine as it is, but I may just have to cave and modify the top of it into a better channel for this particular machine.

All in all there's quite a bit of tweaking the installation to make it work reliably, but it's user error. If anyone has made any brackets or braces for their installations, I'd be interested to see them for ideas.

How about some pics of your installation, I am sure I can help. Thanks

[Atoombolle]

I ended up making a brace to hold the lifter in place. I messed up with the router but it ended up making a perfect fit so I didn't redo it. The top bracket I hacked together needs to be slid in first and only then can the lifter fit in.
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[rockston]

Nice work!

[Silverballs]

100_2867.JPG100_2868.JPGThis little lifter's got some serious torque. Stuck this on a cabinet I purchased from Bill in Tulsa thinking just maybe.... Tried to push the Cyclone to 45 inches in a solid piece of pex, hoping it would take the extra weight and luckily it panned out! On a roll, 1 in a row.. Now I have a lifter that should handle game play and fever modes,(cowcatcher/L channel for the door is next). BTW, awesome machine Rockston!

[rockston]

Theoretically it could lift a column of balls 100 feet! Which is approx 30 LBS of balls. The motor has 75KG/C tourqe. However the power supply will shut off at 2 amps. Dont be afraid to run 24VDC to it and get twice the output (bps). It can handle that easily.

[5150]

This is my Rocks ton Cyclone, it has been a starting point for my fabrication of the recycled ball system. I have worked out most of the issues of a lower ball storage, a tube drops down into the Rockston Cyclone, a micro switch is used with a weight type seesaw. From that point the tube goes to the upper ball tray. The tube can't get bound up or it causes issues, so I have it loose except for the ends they are locked down.

The only issue left is the lower ball tray, the balls sometimes bunch up and I am working on a solution.

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Lower ball tray for the ball lifter.

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Tube to the upper ball tray.

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The on, off, switch using gravity.

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Tube for the balls going to the upper tray.

[Silverballs]

Holy construction Batman! Don't forget to post your final pics please..

[takethecastle57]

Bravo, Brava ! I like your style and the cut of your jib !

[rockston]

5150 wanted just the " bare bones" of a loader so I sold him the business end of a one up test fixture that starred in my most watched youtube video ever. http://https://youtube.com/shorts/rh79pbgc3p0?feature=share I used it briefly in couple of tests but never imagined it would wind up in Alaska. Enjoy!

[5150]

5150 wanted just the " bare bones" of a loader so I sold him the business end of a one up test fixture that starred in my most watched youtube video ever. http://https://youtube.com/shorts/rh79pbgc3p0?feature=share I used it briefly in couple of tests but never imagined it would wind up in Alaska. Enjoy!

As you can see, I had a task at hand with the fabrication of the ball lifter into the pachinko machine, but I'm just pleased with it. Again, I still have a little bit left to do, however I have accomplished a lot.

[5150]

Finally, the ball lifter is working excellent. I am going to fabricate a better looking part for the pushing assembly.
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[rockston]

Are you planning on triggering the payout mechanism so you can buy balls in the front?

[5150]

Are you planning on triggering the payout mechanism so you can buy balls in the front?

This is the 1971 model, very basic.

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