3D Printed stimpmeter

iusedtoberich

iusedtoberich

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I designed and 3D printed a stimpmeter. This is the first one. It needs a few improvements but its a good start.

1695740650981.png




16 second video of it in action:

The second one will look like this. A wider base (first one was difficult to hold straight to the rail). More clearance for the ball in the front so it transitions smoothly onto the cloth. Pointers on the front and back if you wanted to align it to a line drawn on the cloth. A bit taller and longer than V1.
1695741512150.png


1695742086063.png


Version 3 I'll probably add some stops so so the ball can be dropped from different heights reliably. I might also change it to a straight top instead of an arched top. It was difficult to hold the ball against the end at the exact spot, I think due to the sharp upward angle. That would require a longer ramp which may not fit on my printer. I may also add a cradle to hold an iPhone from the side for slow-motion recording, and lines on the side to measure how far the ball bounces back up the ramp when placed against a cushion. A cushion testing version would also need to register the front of the ramp against the cushion nose. (the slow motion video V1 is too high).
 
iusedtoberich said:
I designed and 3D printed a stimpmeter. This is the first one. It needs a few improvements but its a good start.

View attachment 720834



16 second video of it in action:

The second one will look like this. A wider base (first one was difficult to hold straight to the rail). More clearance for the ball in the front so it transitions smoothly onto the cloth. Pointers on the front and back if you wanted to align it to a line drawn on the cloth. A bit taller and longer than V1.
View attachment 720835

View attachment 720837

Version 3 I'll probably add some stops so so the ball can be dropped from different heights reliably. I might also change it to a straight top instead of an arched top. It was difficult to hold the ball against the end at the exact spot, I think due to the sharp upward angle. That would require a longer ramp which may not fit on my printer. I may also add a cradle to hold an iPhone from the side for slow-motion recording, and lines on the side to measure how far the ball bounces back up the ramp when placed against a cushion. A cushion testing version would also need to register the front of the ramp against the cushion nose. (the slow motion video V1 is too high).
Click to expand...
If you need an unbiased 3rd party to provide a review, I'd be happy to do so.
 
rexus31 said:
If you need an unbiased 3rd party to provide a review, I'd be happy to do so.
Click to expand...
Any ideas what you'd like it to do? 3D printing means features are free. Just design time, not building complexity.

I was going for maybe testing table straightness, testing cloth speed, testing rail rebound angle, testing rail rebound speed. Any other ideas?
 
iusedtoberich said:
Any ideas what you'd like it to do? 3D printing means features are free. Just design time, not building complexity.

I was going for maybe testing table straightness, testing cloth speed, testing rail rebound angle, testing rail rebound speed. Any other ideas?
Click to expand...
Some go/no-go ball gauges would be cool. Used to be a guy on ebay that sold a set of three but no longer made. Even top quality balls get out of spec and some simple ways to measure would be handy.
 
garczar said:
Some go/no-go ball gauges would be cool. Used to be a guy on ebay that sold a set of three but no longer made. Even top quality balls get out of spec and some simple ways to measure would be handy.
Click to expand...
I was working on that a year ago with laser cut metal but shelved it for a bit. The eBay guy used a PCB vendor.
 
garczar said:
Look at the golf version. It has hole at the end that the ball will stay in til its raised up enough. this pretty much ensures that the ball leaves the gizmo at same speed.
Click to expand...

Yes, I use a little 3d printed ramp as well and how I release the ball will greatly impact its roll distance. The pinecar derby design can work to hold the ball in place with a rod so it can be repeatedly replaced.
 
iusedtoberich said:
I designed and 3D printed a stimpmeter. This is the first one. It needs a few improvements but its a good start.

View attachment 720834



16 second video of it in action:

The second one will look like this. A wider base (first one was difficult to hold straight to the rail). More clearance for the ball in the front so it transitions smoothly onto the cloth. Pointers on the front and back if you wanted to align it to a line drawn on the cloth. A bit taller and longer than V1.
View attachment 720835

View attachment 720837

Version 3 I'll probably add some stops so so the ball can be dropped from different heights reliably. I might also change it to a straight top instead of an arched top. It was difficult to hold the ball against the end at the exact spot, I think due to the sharp upward angle. That would require a longer ramp which may not fit on my printer. I may also add a cradle to hold an iPhone from the side for slow-motion recording, and lines on the side to measure how far the ball bounces back up the ramp when placed against a cushion. A cushion testing version would also need to register the front of the ramp against the cushion nose. (the slow motion video V1 is too high).
Click to expand...

That’s a steep curve and I bet your testing will show the ball rattles and jumps as it comes down and hits the cloth. You might want to investigate a smaller slope. I think a target 10 foot roll (so you can measure bounce off the end rail) is idea for a 9 foot table. I use one with a 8 foot roll for the 7 footers I play on (8 feet being what I get on a diamond with 860 and old cloth on a winter day). My home table is like 7.5 feet.
 
kling&allen said:
That’s a steep curve and I bet your testing will show the ball rattles and jumps as it comes down and hits the cloth. You might want to investigate a smaller slope. I think a target 10 foot roll (so you can measure bounce off the end rail) is idea for a 9 foot table. I use one with a 8 foot roll for the 7 footers I play on (8 feet being what I get on a diamond with 860 and old cloth on a winter day). My home table is like 7.5 feet.
Click to expand...
I had a mistake at the bottom of the ramp and the ball had a small jump at the bottom. That should be gone on v2. I have it designed so the ball exits the ramp tangent to the table. That's why the ramp is touching the sides of the ball rather than the very bottom. If it was touching the bottom, there would always be a jump when it hits the table.

Length of travel is interesting. I think it would be useful to have a position on the ramp that only tested the bed speed, and did not touch the rails. Also have a higher position that can also take the rails into account.
 
kling&allen said:
Yes, I use a little 3d printed ramp as well and how I release the ball will greatly impact its roll distance. The pinecar derby design can work to hold the ball in place with a rod so it can be repeatedly replaced.
Click to expand...
I have noticed this also. Releasing the ball can impart spin, etc. Its something not obvious until its tried.
 
iusedtoberich said:
I had a mistake at the bottom of the ramp and the ball had a small jump at the bottom. That should be gone on v2. I have it designed so the ball exits the ramp tangent to the table. That's why the ramp is touching the sides of the ball rather than the very bottom. If it was touching the bottom, there would always be a jump when it hits the table.

Length of travel is interesting. I think it would be useful to have a position on the ramp that only tested the bed speed, and did not touch the rails. Also have a higher position that can also take the rails into account.
Click to expand...

I think that’s a good idea. Have different spots on the ramp where the ball can be retained with a pin (and launched by removing or pivoting the pin). That way your one design could be used on different sized tables as well.
 
I really like the idea of a pool stimpmeter, but every time I get around to building one, I can't figure out what I'd do with the info/data. Like, even if I knew my table was playing at X today, but at Y tomorrow [or even two tables playing at A and B], how would I use that knowledge. I always end up thinking "I guess that's what warm-up is for."

Your version looks cool.

-td
 
td873 said:
I really like the idea of a pool stimpmeter, but every time I get around to building one, I can't figure out what I'd do with the info/data. Like, even if I knew my table was playing at X today, but at Y tomorrow [or even two tables playing at A and B], how would I use that knowledge. I always end up thinking "I guess that's what warm-up is for."

Your version looks cool.

-td
Click to expand...
Yeah, agree. I don't know that it would have any practical use:)
 
td873 said:
I really like the idea of a pool stimpmeter, but every time I get around to building one, I can't figure out what I'd do with the info/data. Like, even if I knew my table was playing at X today, but at Y tomorrow [or even two tables playing at A and B], how would I use that knowledge. I always end up thinking "I guess that's what warm-up is for."

Your version looks cool.

-td
Click to expand...

The only benefit I had was it made me feel better about my home table once i quantified the difference between it and a Diamond. My home table is slower than I like, but not as much as I thought.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top