Skytrak Armour

[DirtyGarry24]

Ok, I'm starting this thread to see if protecting the Skytrak box is still a must for some people.

I have read countless posts on this subject and generally feel that this is a need for users. I have owned the Skytrak for a couple of months and agree for the most part. Honestly, it doesn't seem an issue for myself, however I couldn't possibly let my kids, favorite friends, or even a touring pro use it without completely freaking out!!!

My question is this. Is this a need for users that still exists for a reasonable enough amount of people?

I am a manufacturing engineer and have all the available information and software to develop a legit protective case that can make the Skytrak bulletproof. I can integrate leveling devices, locating devices, and alignment aids into the case. Basically whatever a user wants.

I can have these produced at a reasonable cost and shipped to a user. This is what I can do.

I have a desire to this, have started on a prototype for myself, but am really looking for more interest than personal use. Time is a huge motivator for me as I'd rather be hacking away on the TGC. LOL!

If you are interested, please PM me or just reply to this thread so I can get an idea of the need.

Disclaimer: yes I have the Davray sketch and will use some of that information in whatever design I come up with. My plan would be to optimize and improve overall function of whatever case I come up with. I see location, leveling, protection, and consistency of setup being the utmost importance.

[wbond]

Keep in mind with any alignment tool/idea that may be designed for the box, not all skytraks front faces of the boxes are aligned straight down the target line. Some are more open or closed based on what people say using the skytrak alignment aid.

[DirtyGarry24]

That's an excellent point that you bring up wbond. I have wondered about this myself. I am hoping that the threaded holes in the bottom of the box are used for calibration in some way. Of course I have no way of knowing this. I do know that they wouldn't put them in there for no reason. They could be for inspection, not sure.

The only part of the box that I am using is the bottom undercut for orientation. I could use another pin in one of the other threaded holes, but I worry about the location of those threaded holes being accurate enough for a pin from one Skytrak box to the next. I hope this makes sense. In short, this method gives you more room for error. Please let me explain this a little more.

I could double pin the skytrak box and thru trial and error, I could make my skytrak box fit my case within a very tight tolerance. But it would be almost impossible to ensure those tolerances would then fit several other skytrak boxes. So, I want this to be very accurate with enough error to fit other peoples boxes as well. It gets a little tricky in that regard.

Lastly, I may need to engineer in more error into the case to allow for what you mention above. To simplify, the skytrak box may need more rotational freedom to properly align each individual box.

[DirtyGarry24]

Furthermore more on the point that wbond has made, we will have to trust alignment points in the alignment mode for accurate alignment. With an additional alignment tool, it would then need to be mounted to the skytrak case. Then, you would need some rotational adjustability to then align the case face with the alignment points provided by skytrak. At that point I'm not sure an additional alignment aid would be needed. That is up for you guys to decide.

I hope I'm not boring everyone with this, but I want to be clear on the true capabilities that this case can provide.

[Shardak]

I dont think any extra alignment aid is needed.

I align using a laser line and the skytrak alignment mode. Then verify by hitting straight putts in TGC. Then I mark on the floor the position of the feet of the Skytrak case.

Now if the skytrak moves at all, I can just move it back to the pre-marked position on the floor and its good.

[DirtyGarry24]

I like your method Shardak. I think that is adequate enough for me as well.

Couple questions for you. What do you think of the concept that I have presented? Would you add anything? I'm not sure if you read it, but someone was concerned with shock being transferred to the skytrak since the box is attached to the case. I can't argue that point, it will transfer. I'm not sure if it is dangerous though. Any thoughts?

[FaultyClubs]

I dont think any extra alignment aid is needed.

I align using a laser line and the skytrak alignment mode.

I understood that Skytrak had said the alignment mode isn't trustworthy. Align with case instead. See post here http://golfsimulatorforum.com/forum/...9611#post79611

[DirtyGarry24]

N54TT, I agree with your thinking here. The laser placement is supposed to be tied closely with ball position, so that is a huge flaw if they are not tied to the cameras. This could explain why some guys have to position the ball back and forward of the laser dot for different shots. Disappointing in my opinion. I have not experienced this though.

[awisnia]

The laser dot is not connected in any way to the camera or trigger functions of the SkyTrack - it's no more complicated than a three dollar laser pointer that does essentially the same thing as the cardboard locator template with the ES unit. It gets the ball approximately in the right spot so that it will travel through the trigger/capture zone. While the pointers are mounted to the case, there's probably internal variances in the pointer lenses that make it less than perfect for alignment when two are used. The case->camera reference is most likely tighter than the laser pointer->case->camera alignment..

[DirtyGarry24]

awisnia - In reference to your post, what would be your suggestion to aligning your ST case to the target line? You would align the ST box? This is very frustrating to me since we don't seem to know for sure.

[Jtangm04]

Count me in as very interested

[Shardak]

>>>someone was concerned with shock being transferred to the skytrak since the box is attached to the case. I can't argue that point, it will transfer. I'm not sure if it is dangerous though. Any thoughts?

It may be an issue, but I would think that preventing a ball from shattering the skytrak is good enough. Yes force will still be transferred to the skytrak, but there is not much to be done about that, except to scrap the idea of a case and instead build a free-standing shield that sits in front of the skytrak.

Maybe a 1 foot x 1 foot lexan panel in a frame with a wide base attached. That might be a decent idea..would work for any launch monitor and would not need to be that precise in its dimensions. Not sure if lexan will shatter if hit with a full shot, maybe stand up the lexan with some kind of spring-loaded mechanism so that it gives a little bit if hit with a ball.

[DirtyGarry24]

I like the idea shardak, however that doesn't fit in with the design intent that I was going for. This design needs to cover protection, leveling, and alignment. The alignment part being my biggest concern. Some guys need the ability to move their Skytrak back and forth for various reasons. I have this need as well. So I need to be able to set up my station daily and get up and going fairly quickly. With this in mind, the davray window opening idea that is small enough to not allow a ball thru needs a pretty precise alignment. I have read many guys struggle to get this alignment correct in order to capture all shots. Putting and hitting lofted pitches being the biggest issue. Therefore, I don't want to be fidgeting with this alignment everyday. I hope this makes sense and I don't want to put your idea down at all. I just want to stay within my original design intent. Once again, shock transfer could be a concern, however it is not to be avoided with this design intent.

If you don't need the alignment feature that I intend to put into my original design, I could probably design and build something along the lines that you are talking about. I would see it as something similar to the Japanese design with leveling feature and smaller window opening. Could be made out of lexan as well.

[Vincent_Vega]

Nice design, Gary. Depending on cost, add me to the interested list. I have to limit which friends get invited over to play, this would change that some.

[DirtyGarry24]

Thanks Vincent. I'm adding you to the list.

[weakhead]

I am interested as well.

[DirtyGarry24]

Good deal weakhead. I'm adding you to the list.

[ghopper8]

I'm interested

[DirtyGarry24]

Got ya down ghopper.

[elchocko]

I'm interested as well

[DirtyGarry24]

Put ya on the list elchocko

[Genghis]

I'm in too... add me to the list

[DirtyGarry24]

Sweet! Got ya down.

[teamacacia]

Certainly interested!

[DirtyGarry24]

I got ya down teamacacia.

[Thinman]

another flaw of the existing protective case is that the feet lose adjustment too easily when the unit is picked up or even bumped a little. the feet screws turn too easy. i have actually hot glued mine in place.

[DirtyGarry24]

Good call Thinman. The leveling feet that I have planned to use will thread into the case and then they have a locking nut. That will fix any backing off issues.

[N54TT]

Will they have the ability to go just as high? I'm at the last threads to keep it the height of my fiberbuilt mat.

[DirtyGarry24]

N54TT, I'm unaware of how high the Skytrak leveling feet will go. The leveling feet that I currently have in my concept have a base of approx. .5" tall and then 2" of adjustable threads. I would say without checking that you should have the full 2" of threads for adjustability since you could put the lock nut on the bottom for max height. I'd have to check to be sure, but that's the way I see it for now. So for now, I'm thinking the range would be .5 - 2.5 inches. Does that sound adequate?

[palms13]

I'm interested! Looks great.

[DirtyGarry24]

Thanks palms13. You're on the list.

[Doug Doty]

I am potentially interested as well.

[DirtyGarry24]

Got ya on the list Doug.

[CintiGolfer]

I would probably be interested.

[DirtyGarry24]

You've been added to the list.