Beta testing an epee-only box design

[K O'N]

Hi

I have a web page I'm planning to put up that purports to show how to build an epee-only box, and how to build a set of bungee 'reels'. I have several of these boxes and reels set up, they've worked for a couple of years, and I've been meaning to put up a page so other people can build them. I thought, though, that it might be nice if I were to have a few people look at the page and try to build the box from the descriptions there. So, what I'm looking for is:

Someone who can read, write, solder, who has $80 or so to spend on a box, and who has ten or so hours to build and a place to test the box in use in the next couple of weeks.

Someone, either the same person as is building the boxes or not, who can read, write, tie a knot in a bungee cord, who has $30 or so to spend on a set of bungee 'reels', and who has two hours or so to build and a place to test the reels in use in the next couple of weeks.

I will provide you access to the web page, which is supposed to be self supporting. It includes the parts list with sources and the code. You provide me a detailed written critique, feedback, etc. If you have trouble I'll modify the page until it's clear.

I should be clear, if you build the box you will end up with a homemade, non-USFA approved, non-FIE, epee only box. I build mine in wooden cigar boxes. They work just like any other box, but I describe them as "Good Will Boxes", they're fine for club fencing where there's plenty of good will between fencers and you just want a box to see who hit who. For that, they're great. I'm much more leery about using them in competitions, if you need a three weapons box or if you want boxes you can use to host tournaments save your pennies and go buy a commercial box designed by a real engineer.

The bungee 'reels' should be fine even for real tournaments. They take a bit longer to set up and take down than do real reels, but they cost less and break less often.

Email me at K_S_ONeill@yahoo.com if you're interested.

thanks,

K O'N

[purpzeyFCLI]

Two quick things.

1) if it is a beta-test, it should be free. B/C Beta-Test implies it might not work right or it might have bugs therefore, why would anyone pay for it?

2) I learned myself this summer that building overhead reels is not as complicated as it seems. So, am I correct in understanding you want to sell me instructions to build what essentially amounts to an epee only test box? There's no way of insuring the timing in the machine is right, and frankly, I can't even see my own club, which by no standards is top of line, having a CIGAR BOX for a scoring machine.

Beta-Test 1 complete.

[epeeisky]

Originally Posted by purpzeyFCLI

Two quick things.

1) if it is a beta-test, it should be free. B/C Beta-Test implies it might not work right or it might have bugs therefore, why would anyone pay for it?

2) I learned myself this summer that building overhead reels is not as complicated as it seems. So, am I correct in understanding you want to sell me instructions to build what essentially amounts to an epee only test box? There's no way of insuring the timing in the machine is right, and frankly, I can't even see my own club, which by no standards is top of line, having a CIGAR BOX for a scoring machine.

Beta-Test 1 complete.

As for the $80 quote I believe that it is in reference to the amount it will cost for the parts. The way that I read it he is offering the plans for free.

There is a circuit, I think a 5-5-5 circuit but am rusty on electronics(it has been awhile since that class), that runs at about 1/25th of a second, and would be fairly accurate within a ms or two.

[K O'N]

Originally Posted by purpzeyFCLI

Two quick things.

1) if it is a beta-test, it should be free. B/C Beta-Test implies it might not work right or it might have bugs therefore, why would anyone pay for it?

2) I learned myself this summer that building overhead reels is not as complicated as it seems. So, am I correct in understanding you want to sell me instructions to build what essentially amounts to an epee only test box? There's no way of insuring the timing in the machine is right, and frankly, I can't even see my own club, which by no standards is top of line, having a CIGAR BOX for a scoring machine.

Beta-Test 1 complete.

It's free, it's going to be free, it's been free. It should cost you about $80 to buy the chip and the various bits to make the box. It costs about $30 to make a set of bungee reels. Yes, building bungee reels is pretty easy. No, I don't want to sell you instructions, but I've shown a few local people how to make them and they've seemed to appreciate it, so I thought I'd write up how I do it. Feel free to chime in if you have some special tricks.

No, it's not a test box, it's a scoring box. Since the builder would have to cut and paste the source code I give you to load it into the chip, the only way for you to figure out if the timing is right is if you can both read and count, so I suppose there's not just a huge chance for you, no. And sure, if your club is too snooty to have a homemade box, by all means go buy one. Buy several. Have a ball. I'm aiming this at clubs like mine, we needed several strips and didn't have $1000 a strip to spend on boxes and reels. If you do, more power to you, spend to your heart's content, it's good for the economy.

K O'N

[K O'N]

Originally Posted by epeeisky

As for the $80 quote I believe that it is in reference to the amount it will cost for the parts. The way that I read it he is offering the plans for free.

There is a circuit, I think a 5-5-5 circuit but am rusty on electronics(it has been awhile since that class), that runs at about 1/25th of a second, and would be fairly accurate within a ms or two.

Yes, the plans are free, the $80 is a parts estimate. I'm trying to help out little clubs like mine get started, the cost for a few strips can be prohibitive if you have to go buy all new stuff.

The boxes are digital, though I'm sure it's possible to build an analog foil-epee box if one wanted, I think I may have even seen an old one once. Mine is based on Parallax BS2 Stamp chips, which run about 4 lines per ms, they're accurate to within much closer than a ms or two. The timing is not really very demanding of the chip, and the BS2 isn't even a very fast chip.

K O'N

[purpzeyFCLI]

Originally Posted by K O'N

And sure, if your club is too snooty to have a homemade box, by all means go buy one. Buy several. Have a ball. I'm aiming this at clubs like mine, we needed several strips and didn't have $1000...

K O'N

My club is by NO MEANS snooty. I think if you spoke to anyone from the area you would quickly find the opposite.

Perhaps I misunderstood the issue of cost, I just envisioned machines out of cigar boxes and it wasn't an attractive picture. I understand it's an issue of economics.

Frankly, I thought you were looking to sell these things, or the plans, now that I understand your interest is just in helping anyone who wants the help more power to you and I apologize if I was crass.

--Purp

[Fishkillfencers]

Originally Posted by K O'N

I'm aiming this at clubs like mine, we needed several strips and didn't have $1000 a strip to spend on boxes and reels.
K O'N

Excellent! And the best part is it's epee only!

[brtech]

Have a look at this thread:
Early Christmas present, aka a free scoring machine!

It's a free three weapon box design. Also looks to be in the $80 or so parts cost.