Protecting Skytrak

[Wev]

As promised lads please see attached photos. I have made an adjustable base for when been used off the mat to make sure it's level and correct height. Not had chance to try it yet and have left the Lexan so it's removable if it doesn't work. Once I'm happy with it I'll get it all filled and painted.

Looks good TWiG, one question though, is that MDF glued together? Can that take the impact of a ball?

[TWiG]

Glued and tacked, I'm hoping I never get to find out haha.

My though in leaving it loose from the base and also no back as the shock would just knock it backwards.

The mdf is 6mm thick.

[doublebogey]

Guys, if don't wanna spend time and effort building your own protective case, try this from Rakuten (will ship to U.S. and internationally):

http://global.rakuten.com/en/store/atomicgolf/item/1507-ajpd/

Rakuten also sells I guess the Japan SkyTrak unit for actually slightly less than the U.S. SkyTrak:

http://global.rakuten.com/en/store/atomicgolf/item/1507-akiv/

Can also come packaged with the protective case:

http://global.rakuten.com/en/store/atomicgolf/item/1507-akiw/

[Stiggity]

What I've noticed on all the marketed protectors in Japan that have been posted as well as home built have the camera section open. I have had a ball go off the camera part with no damage but anyone have a way to enclose the unit entirely and have it still register shots? Last thing I want is a 2000 dollar paper weight

[Ironstrokes]

Anyone know what kind of plastic/glass is over the front of the skytrak? If everything obviously reads well through that, couldn't another sheet of that material just be placed in front of that to protect it more or do you guys think it would not get through two sheets of it?

[davray666]

The black plastic that is in front of the sensor in the Skytrak is an IR pas filter.
It does reduce the light that passes thru so my guess is that you can't have 2 of those. But more importantly it needs to be very close to the camera lens so that reflections from the light don't bounce back in to the camera.
If I had to guess I would say that the biggest issue is to get the IR line laser and corresponding sensor openings right. It's difficult to figure out what the laser line looks like and what the sensor opening should be by just looking at it.

[Stiggity]

Just a follow up post...I will have to confirm that lexan from Home Depot does not work. I Put a piece with both sides of film removed and hit a few shots. Nothing registered. I took it away and shots registered. So first hand I have experienced this. I wonder if Par2Pro can tell us or show us what they used for the demo video they shot at e6, especially the front to see if it had holes cut out of where the laser and cameras are.

[m3w]

Did you try it with the Lexan on an angle? So that the light going through it is on a more direct/perpendicular path. There should be a lot less internal reflection that way. If you figure out the angle from the lenses to the ball position, you should try placing the Lexan on the exact perpendicular plane. The light will have the least amount of refraction in that case.

[DeaconBlooze]

Guys, if don't wanna spend time and effort building your own protective case, try this from Rakuten (will ship to U.S. and internationally):

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Thanks, I didn't know that option existed! I'm buying one. I can at least screw it down to the wood I have it sitting on, and provide reasonable peace of mind. I'll post a review after it comes in.

[luv2golf]

Thanks, I didn't know that option existed! I'm buying one. I can at least screw it down to the wood I have it sitting on, and provide reasonable peace of mind. I'll post a review after it comes in.

Did you order it yet? I just looked and the website stated "SOLD OUT"

[DeaconBlooze]

I placed the order, and got a confirmation. I haven't paid yet, as they're supposed to calculate shipping. I chose paypal as a payment method, and it hasn't provided me a payment link, nor an email to make payment. It's pretty cryptic..

[Rcush88]

I feel that might be ok for protection BUT what about the stability and Leveling aspect which is the most important thing. I think your still better off making your own.

[davray666]

The quest for a shank proof protection is 1 step closer.
The paper cut out experiment you see in the picture works. (for right handed players only, the lefty line laser is covered) I have to do a bit more work to figure out what the real protection should look like and try to reduce the openings a bit more.
The way they are now the shield will stop a ball as long as the shield is at least 10mm away from the ST body.
If the shield is farther away the holes need to be bigger. How much? Don't know yet.
If I could only get a little bit of info from Rapsodo I would solve this in 5min with an optimized design.
They way it is now we have to waste time and reverse engineer everything and do their job for them.
The reason it did not work before was that the line laser sensor hole needs to be way much bigger than I initially anticipated.
The camera holes can probably be smaller and if I use a transparent shield then the middle hole where the LED FLASH is, can probably be left closed.

[SkyTrak_Seth]

It's been a long time coming, but these will be here soon. Manufacturing started several weeks ago. Please don't ask for pricing/delivery as I can't answer that right now, but I did want to share that there is progress on this front. Thanks everybody for your patience.

[Hoosierdaddy]

Now that looks nice. Makes the jap versions look like a POS. I just wish there was some way of protecting that window. But this looks like a quality piece. Thanks Seth or who every you are.

Now was that worth waiting for boys? I think so.

[SkyTrak_Seth]

Yep, still Seth Unfortunately the technology just doesn't allow anything in front of the window. Yep, the wait was worth it, these cases are really nice!

[davray666]

That enclosure really looks nice. Especially if has the announced bubble level built in.
I have managed to cover the window enough so a ball can't get thru and the unit works fine.
Since you obviously know this better than I do I am a bit confused. Will have to do a few more experiments...