Pitching Machine

[robotmickey]

Not sure what place this goes in, it's an electric project, but not a go kart. Anyway, I decided I wanted to make a pitching machine. So I looked on craigslist and got a treadmill for free. Unfortunatly it had this huge flywheel and an optical sensor so I couldn't really take it apart so I had to leave it like it was. So it's going to be big pitching machine, but it should do the job. The wheel is an 8" Harbor Freight trailer spare tire. Total spent so far: Wheel, hardware, ~$50. Just thought you guys would be interested.

 

[Bluethunder3320]

looking good... i think the balls will get alot of spin though because theres only one tire.

 

[robotmickey]

They are supposed to get a lot of backspin. That's how a pitcher throws them, that's how this throws them.

 

[fowler]

how do u aim it?

 

[robotmickey]

It needs to be redesigned because I can aim it a little but it doesn't work very well. The tube rides on a slot and can pivot on the front bolt.

 

[robotmickey]

Does anyone now where to get some things flow-jet/laser cut for cheap? I'm going to design the new machine in SolidWorks. I'm going to make it out of some 3/16 plate and I want it to be nice and accurate.

 

[bighead]

Interested in your project. A group of friends that I have send Softball stuff to the Philippines every year. Back in 2008 or 2009 a team from the Philippines was runner up in the Little League World Serries in Kirkland washington. We sent that team a pitching machine a few years before that. I know this is off topic. But amagine this team with this gear showing up at the world series and coming one out from taking it all. When they showed up to play. They were wearing wore out tennis shoes that were handed down. Gloves way to big. But yet placed 2nd in the world. They play on sub poar fields as well. In all my life. I never EVER EVER seen a dicplined team like this. Not to mention true heart. These same girls later on have played in 4 World series title games. Losing all of them. They have last chance this year in the Senior League world series. The pitching machine we sent years ago has paid off big. They played on ESPN 5 times now. Who would have thought after seing these pics.

My wife is Philipina. So we are a host family for 2 players every year they come. 3 of these girls will play in USA colleges starting next year. The girl in the red hat on the end. She could strike any of us out with ease. She was tossing the ball at 60mph at age 12. She will play for Tenn. next year. The last pic is them at the world series games at Kirkland Washington in the 14 to 15 class. The first 3 pics are when they were 12 and 13 class. Thay are now in the senior league series. They lost last years title game by a bad call at home plate. I was pissed and heart broken. While watching it on espn I was screaming my head off like it was the Super Bowl. But for me, it was.

The softball world has never seen a team come out of the Philippines like this one. There is lots online about them. Oh ya and everyone of them live in Nipa Huts. Very pore poverty striken area. look at how big the gloves were? We fixed that though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lp9OJh2sOHw

 

[robotmickey]

wow... that's pretty cool man.

 

[bighead]

One of them is called Smokey Moutain. For she come from a dump area they call smokey mountain. But she tosses smoke and stands on the pitching mound.

This is the area that she comes from. As you can see. Softball is a way out for all of them.

From a garbage pit so this.

Softball was they way out for all these girls. I seen it first hand. I like to think I did my part as well. again who would of thought they would go as far as they did. True heart is the only world I can use. They lived,breathed and sleeped softball 24/7.

There are sisters called smokey mountain. I think this is the older sister to the one I know. For the artical is in 2009. Same story though.

http://sports.inquirer.net/youthspo...032/Tondo-softbelle-finds-her-field-of-dreams

 

[bighead]

Here is this year Asia Pacific Champs. They won the asia region. China,japan,indonessia,Guam and so on. I will host two of them this August. Teams from all over the world come play in Portland Oregon for the World Series. I have a blast watching these games.

Sorry for jacking the thread. But as you can see I love my softball story. Also if I can make good pitching machines like you. It is something I would consider making for them. As you may know these good machines are NOT cheap.

 

[robotmickey]

Defiantly not cheap, I think that I can spend about as much as one of the cheap ones and end up with one that meets if not exceeds the performance of those mega expensive ones. Here is my new design. Still looking for a place to get the plates cut out with a laser/flo-jet. Any ideas?