Dude You WIN ! AS far As I Know You Are The First To Build A Fully Operating Bowling Lane And Real Pin Setter. I love your hybrid cross of AMF ball gated lift and Brunswick pinsetter. Your double action/single arm ball lift design made me very happy and I am impressed by the smoothness and travel of your pinsetter.
I found your video really fascinating. I noticed particularly, on one strike ball, the ball could actually be made to hook. This is the first time I have ever seen this on such a machine like this. I remember back in my child hood days, several time I bowled on one of those coin operated ball bowling machines. But up until now I had never seen one where the ball would actually hook. I'd have to say that actually adds more realism to the machine. This is really something, and the pin setter too!
I'm impressed and amazed I understand what I'm looking up and I can't believe it! ... I'm sure all the patents of run from the old pin setting machines this is beautiful work ! and a huge investment of time thanks for sharing...
When I worked as a mechanic for Brunswick and other private bowling centers I experimented with more pins as much as 26 pins.it just created more no ball return calls.21-22 pins are more than enough you need to increase the speed of the ball wheel and cross conveyer by say no more than 20 percent
The ideal speed of pins in the turret is one pin delivered to the cross conveyer every two seconds ideally but every 2.5 seconds is acceptable. Nice job on a very complicated machine.
When I worked at Brunswick as a mechanic I experimented with how many pins I could have in the machine without slowing down the ball return. Remember the Brunswick uses a ball wheel separate from the pinwheel and 22 pins was the maximum without slowing the ball return but your machine is a hybrid of mostly Brunswick and an AMF style ball return without the ball return belt hence I would try up to 25 pins per machine and I don't think it would affect ball return but would give a faster cycle time of a full rack because if the bowlers aren't speed bowling it would only need 5 pins to dump a full rack instead of 8 pins while keeping the extra pins behind the ball cushion so they don't interfere with the balls movement. The only other mod I'd make is between each pocket for a pin on the pinwheel if you watch a video of a full size Brunswick machine there is a high section of the pinwheel between each pin pocket, this high section prevents a pin from getting in and preventing a pin from properly setting into the pin pocket. Given your plastic construction pinwheel it shouldn't be difficult to add a piece between each pocket to improve the pin handling. Just thinking of ways that may improve on what you've built. JMHO May production when you start go smoothly as that can be as big a pain as what you've already done. Sir, my hat is off to you for a job well done. Jim
It would be nice if he offered a version where you set the pins by hand. There's a video of an old bowling alley on here where there's a foot operated mechanism that pushes metal rods up to locate the pins in position. It would be like a base model or even an out door version. Also a diy kit would be nice. Now that would be cool!
Holy crap. That is amazing. Some suggestions, 12:14 cap those two ball rails. The square edge will mess up the balls. Try Running 21-22 pins. You should fail test it. Push it to its limits so you know when it breaks. The gap between lane and shaker board looks big, if a pin got caught what would happen?
Please see my other videos. I actually show some failure testing. As for your other concerns, many of those have been addressed in re-designs. Link to my channel: th-cam.com/channels/UAJJawe-JDXvYt6-9oEW0w.html?view_as=subscriber
Hey Phil love the lane but u should buy another set of pins so when your bowling the machine is filling and ready to be put down instead of waiting for the pins that u hit
I think I see a solution. To make it load faster you need more pins to get up to the setter. Try to make more spaces in the wheel to get more pins to the setter. And have any extra pins fall through back to the bottom.
The pins are wooden. They are half scale duplicates of real pins. They even have the plastic ring pressed into the bottom like you find on full size pins. If you would like to buy a set, you can purchase them here: www.minibowlingpins.com/
Nice. Reminds me a little of the Brunswick ones I worked on in 1972. Those had a ball wheel right next to the pin wheel. I wonder if this one has any mechanism to spot pins or reset the pins.?
How the pin setter works is it collects the pins brings them up a wheel then it drops into a metal bucket then it spins to the next hole and kleeps going to the last one, on the last one a divider in the middle sends the pins in the setter then it goes down and releases them.
The biggest issue I can see here, is the price. I'd be impressed if they can get one of these out for under 10k, which may make this hard to compete with the current mini-full-size hybrid setups which have become popular on TH-cam, of late, which can use full-sized off the shelf commercial pinsetter units.
As promised, I am posting to let people who have asked how to get a mini-lane that ballbowler.com/ is LIVE. A BIG thanks to Mickey for doing this video and everyone who has posted on it over time.
This is AWESOME!!! Unfortunately, Linds stopped making those half-size pins and balls. Have you found any other manufacturer who has started making them?
Have you considered adapting this to a full scale duckpins lane? Those machines are getting rarer and rarer because they haven't been made since 1958. I'll bet there are a lot of east coast owners that would kill to be able to buy new machines.
I would be more than willing to develop a duckpin machine if I knew for sure the interest in purchasing them were there. I have had others ask about them too.
The Brunswick model A Jetback or A-2 uses generally 21 pins per machine though some centers use 22 pins. Nice little machine you got there I worked for brunswick as a mechanic and at a privately owned center. How are you making the Pins? Turn them on a lathe? Nice job again.
Thanks for the kind words. I always ran my machines with 22. As for the pins, they are available here: www.bowltech.com/forum/small-scale-bowling/small-scale-bowling-aa/66366-new-mini-pins-are-here
coasterp I have noticed in one of the two videos of your Pinsetter a pin got stuck in the pinwheel coming up headfirst. It was leaning out of the pinwheel and jammed on the cross conveyer take a piece of the same thickness plastic sheet you used to allow a pin to get outside of the cross conveyer and making it curved to conform to the pinwheel temporarily clamp it to the machine side of the guide that holds the pins in place in the pinwheel so it acts like a spring to keep the pin in proper position so it doesn't jam against the cross conveyer. Don't have to be long or go into the pins path too far simply a guide to prevent a jam though it's more difficult to explain it with a keyboard than tell you how I'd go about it. Whenever I had a problem Pinsetter that was driving me nuts trying to figure out the problem I generally find the fixes while sleeping. First time my boss arrive at the center to find me up to my armpits in grease ( 2 to 1 change out one tooth 90% broken) and asked when I got there I just smiled and told him 2:30 this morning. What's the problem? He told me you know we have a state tournament today starting at 8? Yup that's why I got in early when I finally figured out what was causing the machine to jam occasionally and pointed out the defective gear on the 2-1 I had on the bench. I powered up the lane and tested it out with 35 minutes to spare. I tend to get real dirty when doing a major change out but when I'm done the machine is nice and clean. Imagine the look on the visiting bowlers when I walked up to tell them it was back in service. Then used the shower at the center to clean up. Other than a occasional pin jam didn't have any more gearbox trouble with that lane. All 24 lanes were model A's converted to A-2 and to make it better all of them were built by Otis Elevator.. Ok I type too much hope my suggestion helps.
you say that there is no scoring system but i see a sensor plate that look very similar to the gsx's plate so i confused of why there need to be a plate
There is CURRENTLY no scoring. The machine does have things built into it to allow for scoring in the future. All the programming needs to be completed for that however. I am working on diagnostics programming first, as I feel that is more important. Scoring will come eventually though.
Always wanted something like this.I dislike traditional bowling machines.* This didn't exist 50yrs ago. If my dad were here, he would do anything and everything to get one. For 👪 not just myself.
Just a thought program the ball return to cycle a second time just after the ball return lifts the ball to the return rails it tries to return a second ball just in case a ball doesn't make it out for whatever reason saves the home owner from sticking his arm where it don't belong to retrieve a second ball. It came to me as I was sleeping a brunswick or AMF would automatically return a second ball but I don't think yours does if I'm wrong I'm wrong just trying to help. Jim
The machine is currently programed to return one ball as you said. It is easy to reprogram to have it return multiple balls and actually something I am considering. The way it operates currently has not been any issue though.
The final pricing has not been fully determined yet. But yes, 30k would get you the entire machine and lane package. It will also have diagnostics to tell you whats wrong with it and I am working on scoring. Not sure if the scoring will be included at this point though.
did I read the description right? You are charging 30 thousand for these? How much for the lane without the pin setter? I'm guessing this could be built without pinsetter for about 500-1000 in material?
The final price has not been set yet but will be based on material costs. Just for reference, a new single synthetic lane panel cost close to $2000 (with shipping). That does not include any of the hardwood lumber needed to make the lane bed either.
i would love to have one of these but 27 thousand? yikes. How many of these have you sold? I think its the coolest thing ever btw...I am in rochester NY too.
I have a ton of controller from old spray booth that I redone now I have a whole room of those and more controller sitting around now I have something to do with them
I've been watching Phil's channel: coasterp where he has been posting updates showing the evolution of this awesome creation. And check out a lot of other cool stuff he makes as well. Go check out his videos and sub to his channel.
Just thought I would post a link to a new video showing how things are working after some improvements. As you will see, the machine is running much faster than before. th-cam.com/video/IG02oVET9D4/w-d-xo.html
You can find someone selling them on bowltech.com under the small scale bowling section: www.bowltech.com/forum/small-scale-bowling/small-scale-bowling-aa/66366-new-mini-pins-are-here
I am not currently using oil. I have used Pledge in the past to try and create a "condition". I then used Swifter floor cleaning pads to "strip" the lane. It worked OK.
Final price is TBD due to revisions to the machine still taking place. Once everything has been finalized, I will be able to provide quotes based on your desires. All contact for quotes will be handled through ballbowler.com once I take the website live in 4-6 months.
Final pricing has not been determined at this point. I am still in prototype phase. Once everything is finalized, I will be able to determine final cost. All quotes will be handled through ballbowler.com when it goes active in 4-6 months.
I will have other options available for lower cost. You will be able to contact me for a quote at ballbowler.com hopefully starting around the end of August.
ayden gaines he’s not interested in doing that. He is building these for home use and they have to be smaller. anyone can get a used full size pinsetter. Plenty for sale from bowling alleys that closed down.
Dude You WIN ! AS far As I Know You Are The First To Build A Fully Operating Bowling Lane And Real Pin Setter. I love your hybrid cross of AMF ball gated lift and Brunswick pinsetter. Your double action/single arm ball lift design made me very happy and I am impressed by the smoothness and travel of your pinsetter.
Just genious how someone can think of building that!!! Awesome!!!
Thanks. It has taken quite a bit of time to get it this far. Getting REALLY close to having it complete.
I found your video really fascinating. I noticed particularly, on one strike ball, the ball could actually be made to hook. This is the first time I have ever seen this on such a machine like this. I remember back in my child hood days, several time I bowled on one of those coin operated ball bowling machines. But up until now I had never seen one where the ball would actually hook. I'd have to say that actually adds more realism to the machine. This is really something, and the pin setter too!
I'm impressed and amazed I understand what I'm looking up and I can't believe it! ... I'm sure all the patents of run from the old pin setting machines this is beautiful work ! and a huge investment of time thanks for sharing...
When I worked as a mechanic for Brunswick and other private bowling centers I experimented with more pins as much as 26 pins.it just created more no ball return calls.21-22 pins are more than enough you need to increase the speed of the ball wheel and cross conveyer by say no more than 20 percent
The ideal speed of pins in the turret is one pin delivered to the cross conveyer every two seconds ideally but every 2.5 seconds is acceptable.
Nice job on a very complicated machine.
You are a genius I wish I had room for one of these things, what a great thing to have when peole come over.
This is just like the Brunswick A2. Amazing
When I worked at Brunswick as a mechanic I experimented with how many pins I could have in the machine without slowing down the ball return. Remember the Brunswick uses a ball wheel separate from the pinwheel and 22 pins was the maximum without slowing the ball return but your machine is a hybrid of mostly Brunswick and an AMF style ball return without the ball return belt hence I would try up to 25 pins per machine and I don't think it would affect ball return but would give a faster cycle time of a full rack because if the bowlers aren't speed bowling it would only need 5 pins to dump a full rack instead of 8 pins while keeping the extra pins behind the ball cushion so they don't interfere with the balls movement.
The only other mod I'd make is between each pocket for a pin on the pinwheel if you watch a video of a full size Brunswick machine there is a high section of the pinwheel between each pin pocket, this high section prevents a pin from getting in and preventing a pin from properly setting into the pin pocket. Given your plastic construction pinwheel it shouldn't be difficult to add a piece between each pocket to improve the pin handling.
Just thinking of ways that may improve on what you've built.
JMHO
May production when you start go smoothly as that can be as big a pain as what you've already done.
Sir, my hat is off to you for a job well done.
Jim
Thanks for the kind words Jim. As for the pinwheel, lets just say there's a new design in development that should make things a whole lot faster.
I would love one of these in my basement provided it cost a fraction of what a full size bowling alley would run.
All home made unbelievable
It would be nice if he offered a version where you set the pins by hand. There's a video of an old bowling alley on here where there's a foot operated mechanism that pushes metal rods up to locate the pins in position. It would be like a base model or even an out door version. Also a diy kit would be nice. Now that would be cool!
Holy crap. That is amazing. Some suggestions, 12:14 cap those two ball rails. The square edge will mess up the balls. Try Running 21-22 pins. You should fail test it. Push it to its limits so you know when it breaks. The gap between lane and shaker board looks big, if a pin got caught what would happen?
Please see my other videos. I actually show some failure testing. As for your other concerns, many of those have been addressed in re-designs. Link to my channel: th-cam.com/channels/UAJJawe-JDXvYt6-9oEW0w.html?view_as=subscriber
This is pretty awesome Phil. Good luck with them. Love to have one.
Hey Phil love the lane but u should buy another set of pins so when your bowling the machine is filling and ready to be put down instead of waiting for the pins that u hit
Kinda like an A-2.. awesome
But a combination with a AMF ball return and pinwheel and a GS Sweep wagon
thats good for all the arcades of this part of bowling ever
4:40 missing the 6 pin
I’ve noticed that a lot of people model their pinseters of of the Brunswick A-2
That is so cool , I love bowling.
This be awesome for the basement
I think I see a solution. To make it load faster you need more pins to get up to the setter. Try to make more spaces in the wheel to get more pins to the setter. And have any extra pins fall through back to the bottom.
nice that the Pinsetter is based off of the A-2s.
bmhedgehog2 half gsx half a2 kinda thing
Gotta have one...or maybe even two if he decides to design a two lane system. Wonder if there can be wooden pins to be had for these lanes.
The pins are wooden. They are half scale duplicates of real pins. They even have the plastic ring pressed into the bottom like you find on full size pins. If you would like to buy a set, you can purchase them here: www.minibowlingpins.com/
Nice. Reminds me a little of the Brunswick ones I worked on in 1972. Those had a ball wheel right next to the pin wheel. I wonder if this one has any mechanism to spot pins or reset the pins.?
This is incredible how much dies this system cosr?
How the pin setter works is it collects the pins brings them up a wheel then it drops into a metal bucket then it spins to the next hole and kleeps going to the last one, on the last one a divider in the middle sends the pins in the setter then it goes down and releases them.
The biggest issue I can see here, is the price. I'd be impressed if they can get one of these out for under 10k, which may make this hard to compete with the current mini-full-size hybrid setups which have become popular on TH-cam, of late, which can use full-sized off the shelf commercial pinsetter units.
Home bowling alley? He needs to sell these to pubs and hotels. Kids would love this.
That is actually something I'm starting to work on.
Oh man! This is awesome! Would love to own one of these....too bad I live in an apartment.
As promised, I am posting to let people who have asked how to get a mini-lane that ballbowler.com/ is LIVE. A BIG thanks to Mickey for doing this video and everyone who has posted on it over time.
sweep does like Brunswick GSX
To phill what did you use for the gutters
This is AWESOME!!! Unfortunately, Linds stopped making those half-size pins and balls. Have you found any other manufacturer who has started making them?
Hey Coach Randy. The website of the new manufacturer of the pins was this: www.minibowlingpins.com/.
You dont need to look far for 4.5” bowling balls, just search for 5-pin bowling balls.
Have you considered adapting this to a full scale duckpins lane? Those machines are getting rarer and rarer because they haven't been made since 1958. I'll bet there are a lot of east coast owners that would kill to be able to buy new machines.
I would be more than willing to develop a duckpin machine if I knew for sure the interest in purchasing them were there. I have had others ask about them too.
Absolutely brilliant!!!
Phil is smarter than the average bear.
Good Job!!!
(To Phil) were you using the pins in this video that broken pin is selling? I saw a pin or two that had a blue logo on it so just wondering.
Yes, there are a couple in the machine currently.
Very fine! Wish I had $30k to spend on one!
The Brunswick model A Jetback or A-2 uses generally 21 pins per machine though some centers use 22 pins.
Nice little machine you got there I worked for brunswick as a mechanic and at a privately owned center.
How are you making the Pins? Turn them on a lathe?
Nice job again.
Thanks for the kind words. I always ran my machines with 22. As for the pins, they are available here: www.bowltech.com/forum/small-scale-bowling/small-scale-bowling-aa/66366-new-mini-pins-are-here
coasterp
I have noticed in one of the two videos of your Pinsetter a pin got stuck in the pinwheel coming up headfirst. It was leaning out of the pinwheel and jammed on the cross conveyer take a piece of the same thickness plastic sheet you used to allow a pin to get outside of the cross conveyer and making it curved to conform to the pinwheel temporarily clamp it to the machine side of the guide that holds the pins in place in the pinwheel so it acts like a spring to keep the pin in proper position so it doesn't jam against the cross conveyer. Don't have to be long or go into the pins path too far simply a guide to prevent a jam though it's more difficult to explain it with a keyboard than tell you how I'd go about it.
Whenever I had a problem Pinsetter that was driving me nuts trying to figure out the problem I generally find the fixes while sleeping. First time my boss arrive at the center to find me up to my armpits in grease ( 2 to 1 change out one tooth 90% broken) and asked when I got there I just smiled and told him 2:30 this morning. What's the problem? He told me you know we have a state tournament today starting at 8?
Yup that's why I got in early when I finally figured out what was causing the machine to jam occasionally and pointed out the defective gear on the 2-1 I had on the bench. I powered up the lane and tested it out with 35 minutes to spare. I tend to get real dirty when doing a major change out but when I'm done the machine is nice and clean. Imagine the look on the visiting bowlers when I walked up to tell them it was back in service. Then used the shower at the center to clean up. Other than a occasional pin jam didn't have any more gearbox trouble with that lane. All 24 lanes were model A's converted to A-2 and to make it better all of them were built by Otis Elevator..
Ok I type too much hope my suggestion helps.
I would replace that shaker board with a rubber conveyor belt.
Hi I love my bowling would not mind to have one too it's a pity he does not sell this in Cape Town South Africa
you say that there is no scoring system but i see a sensor plate that look very similar to the gsx's plate
so i confused of why there need to be a plate
There is CURRENTLY no scoring. The machine does have things built into it to allow for scoring in the future. All the programming needs to be completed for that however. I am working on diagnostics programming first, as I feel that is more important. Scoring will come eventually though.
Always wanted something like this.I dislike traditional bowling machines.* This didn't exist 50yrs ago. If my dad were here, he would do anything and everything to get one. For 👪 not just myself.
He would install overseas in you paid for the shipping and building a shipping create and his round trip airline accommodations
Just totally fuckingawesome
Use duckpins and duckpin balls you got it
This is Fantastic ! ! !
You could just use Open Score 2 with it .
Just a thought program the ball return to cycle a second time just after the ball return lifts the ball to the return rails it tries to return a second ball just in case a ball doesn't make it out for whatever reason saves the home owner from sticking his arm where it don't belong to retrieve a second ball.
It came to me as I was sleeping a brunswick or AMF would automatically return a second ball but I don't think yours does if I'm wrong I'm wrong just trying to help.
Jim
The machine is currently programed to return one ball as you said. It is easy to reprogram to have it return multiple balls and actually something I am considering. The way it operates currently has not been any issue though.
awesome stuff this is what i want and need haha. would give this 5 thumbs up if i could
Love to own one let us all know when ready for sale
This - is - amazing
30k for which components? Just the automatic pinsetter and lane? Had I were to buy everything from scratch, how much would that set me back?
The final pricing has not been fully determined yet. But yes, 30k would get you the entire machine and lane package. It will also have diagnostics to tell you whats wrong with it and I am working on scoring. Not sure if the scoring will be included at this point though.
Are they for sale yet
did I read the description right? You are charging 30 thousand for these? How much for the lane without the pin setter? I'm guessing this could be built without pinsetter for about 500-1000 in material?
The final price has not been set yet but will be based on material costs. Just for reference, a new single synthetic lane panel cost close to $2000 (with shipping). That does not include any of the hardwood lumber needed to make the lane bed either.
i would love to have one of these but 27 thousand? yikes. How many of these have you sold? I think its the coolest thing ever btw...I am in rochester NY too.
This was my favourite version of the pinsetter until it got changed
How many pinsetters are you selling
how much for just the pinsetter? i too built a half scale lane with a manual setter.
Please see the below reply to Conner Walsh.
I WANT ONE
I have a ton of controller from old spray booth that I redone now I have a whole room of those and more controller sitting around now I have something to do with them
I've been watching Phil's channel: coasterp where he has been posting updates showing the evolution of this awesome creation. And check out a lot of other cool stuff he makes as well. Go check out his videos and sub to his channel.
How much would it cost to build and ship one?
27 thousand dollars
we can order that bowling alley
Just thought I would post a link to a new video showing how things are working after some improvements. As you will see, the machine is running much faster than before. th-cam.com/video/IG02oVET9D4/w-d-xo.html
There's nothing to keep. He is going to mass produce them. this is the prototype. He will be making as many of them as people order them
Freakin amazing
are those duck pins?
No. They are half size bowling pins. They can be purchased here: www.minibowlingpins.com
It's actually Linds and they are no longer carrying them. braedan Brennaman where he got his pins from.
Where did he get thos Pins?!
You can find someone selling them on bowltech.com under the small scale bowling section: www.bowltech.com/forum/small-scale-bowling/small-scale-bowling-aa/66366-new-mini-pins-are-here
I'm gonna look. Thanks!
But where can I buy those Pins.
There is someone selling them via the link I posted. you will have to join bowltech in order to contact him.
Are you using duckpin balls and are you using real duckpin pins and how much are they
yes he could make it as small as 20 feet long
with the pins it comes or i have to make it
The pins are included. I will hopefully be able to start taking orders in about 4 months. You will be able to contact me on ballbowler.com
Any oil?
I am not currently using oil. I have used Pledge in the past to try and create a "condition". I then used Swifter floor cleaning pads to "strip" the lane. It worked OK.
Go Raiders!!!!
Really guys, manual score keeping is really easy. Now it's higher math? Geesh.
For someone who knows bowling he certainly doesnt know the the technical terms. Anyway, very cool.
I live in buffalo. What's the price for this?
Final price is TBD due to revisions to the machine still taking place. Once everything has been finalized, I will be able to provide quotes based on your desires. All contact for quotes will be handled through ballbowler.com once I take the website live in 4-6 months.
how much are they
Final pricing has not been determined at this point. I am still in prototype phase. Once everything is finalized, I will be able to determine final cost. All quotes will be handled through ballbowler.com when it goes active in 4-6 months.
I want this for like maybe 30 bucks
These lanes are actually $25,000 to $35,000 not 35$
$30k cost?
yes that's correct Around $30K
I will have other options available for lower cost. You will be able to contact me for a quote at ballbowler.com hopefully starting around the end of August.
Build a real pin seter
ayden gaines he did but it’s smaller in size so you can get it in a 30 inch doorway to use in your home.
I mean a full size pin seter
ayden gaines he’s not interested in doing that. He is building these for home use and they have to be smaller. anyone can get a used full size pinsetter. Plenty for sale from bowling alleys that closed down.
Theses machines all have patents. Sorry
You said nba bowlers it is PBA
He said MBA, not NBA
lmfao 27k..... half scale...