Custom Design Stringing Machine from Eagnas

[Pete LSD]

Does Eagnas really make custom-made stringing machine to the buyer's specification? What if I just want one? The buyer just want one badminton specific machine with the Easy-3's mounting system but the swivel clamps and turnable are in stainless steel. The turntable is the usual two track one.

[taneepak]

Does Eagnas really make custom-made stringing machine to the buyer's specification? What if I just want one? The buyer just want one badminton specific machine with the Easy-3's mounting system but the swivel clamps and turnable are in stainless steel. The turntable is the usual two track one.

I did ask them more than a year ago for a 2-swivel or 2-fixed clamp Easy-3 badminton-only stringing machine and they say no. Perhaps if you make them an offer they cannot refuse they may be tempted. :D Another alternative is to look at the high end Babolat machine but with the optional accessories for badminton stringing like side arm supports and the two posts that are designed specificall for badminton. But these are options which you have to pay extra.

[Pete LSD]

The Babolat Sensor and Sensor Expert use four add on side-arm supports and two badminton billiards. Other than that, there is nothing special about them except for the outrageous price. Yeah, the constant pull and excellent clamps are nice too.


I did ask them more than a year ago for a 2-swivel or 2-fixed clamp Easy-3 badminton-only stringing machine and they say no. Perhaps if you make them an offer they cannot refuse they may be tempted. :D Another alternative is to look at the high end Babolat machine but with the optional accessories for badminton stringing like side arm supports and the two posts that are designed specificall for badminton. But these are options which you have to pay extra.

[Pete LSD]

Going through Eagnas's long list of stringing machines, I notice the ARC-Top 21. It has head and throat clamp down, plus adjustable external supports! :) And notice the external supports have multiple mounting holes. Just wonder if the Easy-3's C clamps can fit into those holes? And yesssss, it get a very nice turntable with 2 swivel clamps!!!

[taneepak]

Going through Eagnas's long list of stringing machines, I notice the ARC-Top 21. It has head and throat clamp down, plus adjustable external supports! :) And notice the external supports have multiple mounting holes. Just wonder if the Easy-3's C clamps can fit into those holes? And yesssss, it get a very nice turntable with 2 swivel clamps!!!

No, it will not fit. The Easy-3 "C" support is an assembly of male/female sliding (a bit like a drawer) contraption, one fixed and one free, with the "C" clamp screwed down through this assembly with a knob at the bottom. The "C" clamp has a shaft with spring that goes through the tightening assembly.
Also, the holes nearer the throat on the arms of the AR-Top 21, when shortened to mount a badminton frame, will be unusable as they will go into the inner side of the racquet frame, if you want the supports to be at near grommets #11 or #12. However, this is academic as the "C" clamps cannot be transplanted to the AR-Top 21.

[Pete LSD]

Yeah, a metal machinist is required to retrofit the AR-Top 21 to accept the "C" clamps from the Easy-3. In the end, no single machine is perfect :D .


No, it will not fit. The Easy-3 "C" support is an assembly of male/female sliding (a bit like a drawer) contraption, one fixed and one free, with the "C" clamp screwed down through this assembly with a knob at the bottom. The "C" clamp has a shaft with spring that goes through the tightening assembly.
Also, the holes nearer the throat on the arms of the AR-Top 21, when shortened to mount a badminton frame, will be unusable as they will go into the inner side of the racquet frame, if you want the supports to be at near grommets #11 or #12. However, this is academic as the "C" clamps cannot be transplanted to the AR-Top 21.

[taneepak]

Yeah, a metal machinist is required to retrofit the AR-Top 21 to accept the "C" clamps from the Easy-3. In the end, no single machine is perfect :D .

I thought you already have a stringing machine. Mind you, a 6-point machine like the Easy-3 is a slow machine, with the tight four side supports trying their best to slow you down. You won't make a living with this machine. :D

[DinkAlot]

I thought you already have a stringing machine. Mind you, a 6-point machine like the Easy-3 is a slow machine, with the tight four side supports trying their best to slow you down. You won't make a living with this machine. :D

Eepak: what stringing machine do you have and why?

[Pete LSD]

Yeah, I am just gathering information. And please enlighten everyone here how the tight four side supports try their best to slow you down? I thought you like them tight and secured ;).


I thought you already have a stringing machine. Mind you, a 6-point machine like the Easy-3 is a slow machine, with the tight four side supports trying their best to slow you down. You won't make a living with this machine. :D

[Pete LSD]

Did Eepak says he has an Easy-3?


Eepak: what stringing machine do you have and why?

[Pete LSD]

Did you talk to Eagnas in Shenzhen or in Taiwan or both?

Can the Easy-3's mounting arms and posts be separated from the turntable bar? Do Eagnas sell individual stringing machine components (guess not)?


I did ask them more than a year ago for a 2-swivel or 2-fixed clamp Easy-3 badminton-only stringing machine and they say no. Perhaps if you make them an offer they cannot refuse they may be tempted.

[scchang]

I would say the mount on ST-250 is much better than the ones on ST-200/Easy-3

http://www.eagnas.com/lilylee/st250.html

-SC

[ryeung]

Eagnas does sell certain components. For example, I bought a set of single action clamps from them with the intention of making a glide bar system for the flex740. However, they will not support hardware that is not made for the machine it is intended to go on and the items are not returnable. At least that was what they told me when I called them to order the clamps.


Did you talk to Eagnas in Shenzhen or in Taiwan or both?

Can the Easy-3's mounting arms and posts be separated from the turntable bar? Do Eagnas sell individual stringing machine components (guess not)?

[Pete LSD]

Did you have any success with the conversion? Can you post pictures of the new single-action clamps, bars and cradle?


Eagnas does sell certain components. For example, I bought a set of single action clamps from them with the intention of making a glide bar system for the flex740. However, they will not support hardware that is not made for the machine it is intended to go on and the items are not returnable. At least that was what they told me when I called them to order the clamps.

[Pete LSD]

But the side supports do not have spring-loaded clamps.


I would say the mount on ST-250 is much better than the ones on ST-200/Easy-3

http://www.eagnas.com/lilylee/st250.html

-SC

[DinkAlot]

But the side supports do not have spring-loaded clamps.

Looks can be deceiving too, until you actually try them. :p

[taneepak]

Did you talk to Eagnas in Shenzhen or in Taiwan or both?

Can the Easy-3's mounting arms and posts be separated from the turntable bar? Do Eagnas sell individual stringing machine components (guess not)?

No, the Easy-3 arms are fixed. The "C" mounts or clamps at the end of the arms can be adjusted by a sliding action to handle different racquet widths. They sell stringing tools and will replace parts free of charge but you pay for the return courier costs.
I have talked to Eagnas in both Taiwan and Shenzhen but I have difficulty with my mandarin.
The Easy-3 is similar to the ELF. Also the Easy-2 is the same as the ELF-1, and both are similar to the Easy-3 except that the former are smaller because they are drop-weight machines with tension scales upto the mid 30lbs, and presumably more accurate. There are also two similar drop-weight machines, Easy-1 and ELF-2 but these two have no swivel clamp.
The ST-250 is a slightly different machine, using supports that brace inwards like those V-shaped or K supports. I have another machine, an Exthree, with similar supports. Personally, I prefer the "C" supports or clamps to the V-shaped ones.
6-point machines are slow because the 4 side supports, especially those on the Easy-3, get in your way. Even using dental floss can be a hassle. Pre-stringing would be better with this machine.

[DinkAlot]

6-point machines are slow because the 4 side supports, especially those on the Easy-3, get in your way. Even using dental floss can be a hassle. Pre-stringing would be better with this machine.

Ding! I always pre-string or have a friend (who I taught) pre-string for me. Might as well, most of the time we're waiting for a court, just biding time. :D

[Pete LSD]

It seems that one can transplant the posts and support arms of the Easy-3 onto a stainless steel turntable :cool: .
Maybe S4madman, Dan, can help out with Putonghua :D .
Actually, dental foss is quiet easy to use. It is the next fastest method of tackling the shared grommets next to the awl (:crying: = ouch for the racquet . . . mercy, mercy).

No, the Easy-3 arms are fixed. The "C" mounts or clamps at the end of the arms can be adjusted by a sliding action to handle different racquet widths. They sell stringing tools and will replace parts free of charge but you pay for the return courier costs.

I have talked to Eagnas in both Taiwan and Shenzhen but I have difficulty with my mandarin.6-point machines are slow because the 4 side supports, especially those on the Easy-3, get in your way. Even using dental floss can be a hassle. Pre-stringing would be better with this machine.

[ryeung]

I have to get the base plate remachined as the original design was binding when the clamp assembly slid. I will post pics when I get it done and hopefully working.


Did you have any success with the conversion? Can you post pictures of the new single-action clamps, bars and cradle?

[DinkAlot]

Maybe S4madman, Dan, can help out with Putonghua :D .

Hao shao! Ha! Ha! Ha! :p :D

[ryeung]

Did you have any success with the conversion? Can you post pictures of the new single-action clamps, bars and cradle?

Here are a few pics of the glide bar conversion to my flex740. Everything looks ok but have not strung a racket on it yet. The glide uses ball bearings so there is no play when the string is clamped. It is a little tight but is tolerable. The only problem I can see right now is that the mains cannot be clamped as close to the frame as I would like. Could've gained a quater inch if I had used steel instead of aluminum.

[Pete LSD]

Great effort! Do you think the clamps sit too high?

Man, you get a machine that has both types of clamps!

[ryeung]

Great effort! Do you think the clamps sit too high?

Man, you get a machine that has both types of clamps!

Don't think so. I did mount a strung racket and the strings sit just a little above the bottom of the teeth.

[taneepak]

Can the two glide bars be moved towards, and away from, each other? If yes, then there should be no problem with the clamp gripping the string as the reach to the string for the clamp is fixed, with the two moving glide bars doing the necessary adjustment. Also can the turntable and the glide bars be removed and then rotated 90% for stringing the crosses?

[DinkAlot]

Here are a few pics of the glide bar conversion to my flex740.

MMMMmmmmmmm, fixed clamps. :D

[Pete LSD]

I see the rollers attached to the glide bars! Did you mill that piece of aluminum base plate yourself?

[ryeung]

Can the two glide bars be moved towards, and away from, each other? If yes, then there should be no problem with the clamp gripping the string as the reach to the string for the clamp is fixed, with the two moving glide bars doing the necessary adjustment. Also can the turntable and the glide bars be removed and then rotated 90% for stringing the crosses?

Yes, the table is slotted and the clamps slide in them. They can be removed and turned to do the crosses. The only glide bar system I have seen is one from Victor and I really did not like the play in the glides. That's one reason I used bearings which eliminate all slack.

[ryeung]

I see the rollers attached to the glide bars! Did you mill that piece of aluminum base plate yourself?

No, I have a friend who has a milling machine so he was able to do it for me as a favour. That saved me a pile of money as it was done twice. The first time I used a brass piece for the end plate but it bound and was not usable. Probably because the bas was aluminum. I then had to redo the end plates and used ball bearings instead. That way, the play in the slides can be eliminated as you can be off by a few thou and the bearings wll still allow the carriage to slide. The slide is a little rough but that could be because there is only a few thou clearance in the width of the slot. Hopefully after some use it will smooth out. If not I guess I could use a file and put a slight chamfer in the slots.

[DinkAlot]

No, I have a friend who has a milling machine so he was able to do it for me as a favour. That saved me a pile of money as it was done twice.

Nice, hope the clamps work well for you. :)

[ryeung]

Nice, hope the clamps work well for you. :)

Well just strung a racket with the new clamps and it worked quite well. It will take me a couple of tries to get the best orientation but I do love the fact there is no play at all when the clamps tighten up. With the swivel clamps, there was always a little movement but these are rock solid. Also the clamps don't get in the way when doing the crosses like the swivel clamps did. All in all, quite happy with the way it turned out.

[Pete LSD]

Are the steel ones thinner?

[ryeung]

Are the steel ones thinner?

The clamps are not any smaller. It's just that you only need one clamp to do the crosses. And I find that the clamp does not get in the way on the last string at the top for tying the finishing knot.

[CKsweden]

The clamps are not any smaller. It's just that you only need one clamp to do the crosses. And I find that the clamp does not get in the way on the last string at the top for tying the finishing knot.

Hi there!
Well I have been reading your mess, I wonder if you are satisfied with your Flex 740, cause I might buy one of this. from eagnes, also buy some xtra badminton clamps, so any suggestions of extra tools I can order from them.

this is my first machine, I just want to hear your thougts.

Thnx
:D

[ryeung]

Hi there!
Well I have been reading your mess, I wonder if you are satisfied with your Flex 740, cause I might buy one of this. from eagnes, also buy some xtra badminton clamps, so any suggestions of extra tools I can order from them.

this is my first machine, I just want to hear your thougts.

Thnx
:D

I wouldn't say I was in any kind of mess. What I described was the modification of my flex740 to use single action badminton clamps. I did a fair amout of research when I was contemplating purchasing a stringing machine. With tons of help from this forum, I settled on the flex740 as the best price for the features. There have been lots of people who have had bad experiences with Eagnas but I was not one of them. I may have just been lucky. My machine came and worked great right out of the box. Assembly took just minutes and it was pretty accurate based on my digital fish scale. All in all, I found the machine more solid that I thought it would be and I would recommend it. Your mileage may vary as I received an email from someone who bought a flex740 and found that the pivoting mechanism was bent or something.

[Neil Nicholls]

I wouldn't say I was in any kind of mess.
I think that was short for message :D

[Pete LSD]

ryeung, I am wondering how your glide bar system is working out. Can you update us by posting photos of actual string job in progress? :D

[Pete LSD]

I figured a way to install two swivel fixed clamps onto the ST-200 and ST-250. The process involves a fair bit of machining of steel, nuts, bolts and maybe wielding. More details will come later.

I just posted a picture of the Hasegawa HS-1200 stringing machine that has very simple tracks for the swivel clamp bases to run on.

[jerby]

Pete, are you thinking of buying a cranky?

sinner....;)

[ryeung]

ryeung, I am wondering how your glide bar system is working out. Can you update us by posting photos of actual string job in progress? :D

The glide bars work better than the fixed clamps that came with the machine. It has some movement when the tensioner is released but not much. It took a bit of getting used to but after that it was fine. I added clamps at the head and throat positions as for some reason the racket went sideways once when I was pulling close to the head and scared the c**p out of me. Not sure what happened there but I added the clamps just in case. Probably doesn't hurt.

[Pete LSD]

I did for once :D. I just want to find out how good the Eagnas ST-250's six-point supports are. I I am thinking of modifying it later by screwing an/or wielding on a double-track metal plate like the Hasegawa HS-1200 in order to install two fixed clamps. But before that, I will incorporate the Stringway drop-weight tensioner to the ST-200 via a common metal base plate.

Don't worry. I haven't betrayed the cause :D :D :D ;) :p.

Note: I think the Eagnas ST-200 is easier to to modify than the ST-250.


Pete, are you thinking of buying a cranky?

sinner....;)

[Pete LSD]

Do you find the stringbed tighter when you use the glide-bar clamps than the swivel clamps? How much movement in mm are you talking about :D?

How much sideway movements are you talking about? Neil and others who have six-point suspension machines have had similar experience with the sideway movement.

Do you find the glide-bar system faster than the swivel-clamp system? Lots of big shops still use the Prince Neo 1000. The pros string bloody fast with the glide-bar system.

I notice that the straight column support posts don't go with the glide bar. As you mentioned earlier, you can not clamp close to the frame when you do the main strings.


The glide bars work better than the fixed clamps that came with the machine. It has some movement when the tensioner is released but not much. It took a bit of getting used to but after that it was fine. I added clamps at the head and throat positions as for some reason the racket went sideways once when I was pulling close to the head and scared the c**p out of me. Not sure what happened there but I added the clamps just in case. Probably doesn't hurt.

[Pete LSD]

I think the M-140 can be modified with a similar technique: one plate with double track sticking out on both sides. We just need a metal cutting, drilling and milling machine :D.

[ryeung]

Do you find the stringbed tighter when you use the glide-bar clamps than the swivel clamps? How much movement in mm are you talking about :D?

How much sideway movements are you talking about? Neil and others who have six-point suspension machines have had similar experience with the sideway movement.

Do you find the glide-bar system faster than the swivel-clamp system? Lots of big shops still use the Prince Neo 1000. The pros string bloody fast with the glide-bar system.

I notice that the straight column support posts don't go with the glide bar. As you mentioned earlier, you can not clamp close to the frame when you do the main strings.

I am guessing that the glide bar will give a slightly tighter string bed, because there is less play. The clamps pull back maybe half a mm? The clamp sorta rocks a little, it does not slide along the bar at all. If I remember correctly, the fixed clamps will rock a little beacuse of the play in the holder and also rotate a little. It's not a lot but more than the glide bar.

The sliding of the frame was not really a slide. More like a rotation. I seem to remember it was quite a bit. I was able to pull it back but it wasn't pretty. Now I clamp both top and bottom down.

I would say that the glide bars are a little faster. I'm pretty slow at the best of times but I find esp when doing the crosses that it is more convenient as I only need one clamp. It takes a bit to put the clamps on the slide because of the close tolerance when I have to reposition it. As far as how close it will clamp to the frame, it's not bad. If the end supports overhung more then I could've made the clamp tracks longer. You need different clamps for the glide bars.

[Pete LSD]

0.5 - 1.0 mm is very good already!

What kind of clamps are you using to hold the head and throat?


I am guessing that the glide bar will give a slightly tighter string bed, because there is less play. The clamps pull back maybe half a mm? The clamp sorta rocks a little, it does not slide along the bar at all. If I remember correctly, the fixed clamps will rock a little beacuse of the play in the holder and also rotate a little. It's not a lot but more than the glide bar.

The sliding of the frame was not really a slide. More like a rotation. I seem to remember it was quite a bit. I was able to pull it back but it wasn't pretty. Now I clamp both top and bottom down.

I would say that the glide bars are a little faster. I'm pretty slow at the best of times but I find esp when doing the crosses that it is more convenient as I only need one clamp. It takes a bit to put the clamps on the slide because of the close tolerance when I have to reposition it. As far as how close it will clamp to the frame, it's not bad. If the end supports overhung more then I could've made the clamp tracks longer. You need different clamps for the glide bars.

[DarthHowie]

0.5 - 1.0 mm is very good already!

What kind of clamps are you using to hold the head and throat?

I guess you talked to Mark and are abandoning the Alpha modification? Or are you looking at alternatives while you wait till Alpha gets their shipment?

[Pete LSD]

Ryeung,

Thanks to cooler, I get an idea. You can use two angled column posts (circled in the picture). With the two angled column posts, your glide-bar system will fit perfectly. I wonder if Eagnas sells individual-machine parts.

BTW, this Eagnas setup come close to being perfect for badminton, but the side supports suck and you can't clamp close to the frame near the head.

[Pete LSD]

Actually, I will get the Pioneer DC Plus too :D ;). I just can't get my hands off a drop-weight system. And I will also modify it by incorporating the Stringway drop-weight tensioner.


I guess you talked to Mark and are abandoning the Alpha modification? Or are you looking at alternatives while you wait till Alpha gets their shipment?

[ryeung]

0.5 - 1.0 mm is very good already!

What kind of clamps are you using to hold the head and throat?

What I did was to thread the top of the 2 end posts. Then I just made a couple of blocks out of oak and a knob to tighten down the blocks. I also had to make a block out of plexiglass to hold the end adjustment knobs so the end posts cannot move in or out. Seems to work ok. For some reason, it seems that adding 10% to the crosses do not seem to be enough and the frame seems slightly shortened (by maybe 1 mm). Don't recall that happening before.

[ryeung]

Ryeung,

Thanks to cooler, I get an idea. You can use two angled column posts (circled in the picture). With the two angled column posts, your glide-bar system will fit perfectly. I wonder if Eagnas sells individual-machine parts.

BTW, this Eagnas setup come close to being perfect for badminton, but the side supports suck and you can't clamp close to the frame near the head.

I don't know if they sell replacement parts. They might if you know the part number. They are not the easiest to deal with on the phone although to be honest I have not had any problems with them. When I ordered the glide bar clamps they asked me what they were for and I told them I was mddfying the 740. They made it plain that I could not return them if they did not work and of course I had no problem with that.
Worst case is the clamps are about 1" away from the frame and I'm happy with that.

[Pete LSD]

Wow, that sounds quite a job. Please take photos for us :D.

Master Dan doesn't have the shortening and widening problem as you described. Did you mount the side supports correctly? Are the side supports in contact with the frame square on without any space?


What I did was to thread the top of the 2 end posts. Then I just made a couple of blocks out of oak and a knob to tighten down the blocks. I also had to make a block out of plexiglass to hold the end adjustment knobs so the end posts cannot move in or out. Seems to work ok. For some reason, it seems that adding 10% to the crosses do not seem to be enough and the frame seems slightly shortened (by maybe 1 mm). Don't recall that happening before.

[ryeung]

Wow, that sounds quite a job. Please take photos for us :D.

Master Dan doesn't have the shortening and widening problem as you described. Did you mount the side supports correctly? Are the side supports in contact with the frame square on without any space?

As far as I can tell the side supports are right. I do not use the pins but rather a large washer and bolt. I initially loosen the supports, bring the side arms close and bring the supports to the frame and tighten. Do that for all 4. Then I give the adjustment knobs about an eighth of a turn.

I will try to remember to take some pics the next time I need to restring. Probably not for another couple of weeks or so. Or I can just mount a racket and show the set up.

[ryeung]

Wow, that sounds quite a job. Please take photos for us :D.

Master Dan doesn't have the shortening and widening problem as you described. Did you mount the side supports correctly? Are the side supports in contact with the frame square on without any space?

here are some pics