my new Gamma 6004 6pt SC Stringing Machine.

Discussion in 'Badminton Stringing Techniques & Tools' started by kwun, Mar 29, 2012.

  1. kwun

    kwun Administrator

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    so excited about my new toy. just collected it from racketsupply.com who ordered it for me from Gamma.

    the machine comes in 2 huge boxes, the larger one holds the turntable and the smaller one holds everything else.

    at this point i have only taken photos and it is still un-assembled. i just want to share the pics with you all.

    the quality of the machine is as expected top notch. beautiful engineering which i am a bit of a sucker for. but it is not all form, function is also top notch. all the controls are smooth as butter and solid as a rock.

    i took the time to take some photos of the whole thing and sorry for the huge photo dump here. every piece of it have been well made and is worth sharing.

    these boxes are pretty big:

    DSC02382.jpg

    the turntable. i love the black/silver color combo:

    DSC02384.jpg

    the end posts are in black.

    the 3 knobs are (from top to bottom): symmetric side support adjust, 12/6 o'clock support adjust, and symmetric post adjustment. together they offer full adjustment of the size as well as the positioning of the side support.

    DSC02386.jpg DSC02385.jpg

    DSC02393.jpg DSC02411.jpg

    the posts opens up pretty wide for tennis. i doubt i will see it in this config that often.

    DSC02398.jpg

    some closeup of the support and the clamp base:

    DSC02390.jpg DSC02389.jpg DSC02387.jpg

    positioning of the clamp base:

    DSC02401.jpg DSC02399.jpg

    bottom of the turntable, you can see the side handle can be taken out and also the wormscrew to adjust the end posts:

    DSC02410.jpg DSC02409.jpg DSC02408.jpg

    some pics with a racket mounted:

    DSC02404.jpg DSC02402.jpg DSC02407.jpg DSC02412.jpg

    i am going to miss the super close frame to clamp distance of my WASE.

    DSC02405.jpg

    the factory side support with the badminton sleeve. aside being way too tall, the clearance is actually not too bad. i will have to bear with this until something better come along.

    DSC02406.jpg DSC02403.jpg

    this is the new compact low profile universal clamp that Gamma came out with this year. only machines that was purchased in the last few months comes with it.

    DSC02414.jpg DSC02416.jpg DSC02415.jpg DSC02418.jpg DSC02422.jpg DSC02421.jpg DSC02419.jpg

    this is is how the clamp looks like on the turntable:

    DSC02425.jpg DSC02423.jpg

    these are the legs. 3 short and one long to go below the tensioner bar:

    DSC02430.jpg

    the main post. i swear this is so heavy and solid just this piece alone is probably heavier than my Alpha Shuttle Express.

    DSC02435.jpg DSC02434.jpg

    the bar is height adjustable. this sleeve hides the opening:

    DSC02454.jpg

    the horizontal tensioner bar. similarly, this is solid and heavy. this is also new in the latest revision. i think the revision is done to accomodate for the new brake mechanism.

    DSC02436.jpg DSC02438.jpg

    2 huge bearing supports the turntable mounting plate.

    DSC02437.jpg DSC02439.jpg

    the tool tray that sits below the table. it is lined with some foamy stuff.

    DSC02428.jpg DSC02426.jpg

    the crank tensioner. i doubt i will see much of this in action with my WISE. i might take it out to play with it. it is also solidly built and designed. maybe overly engineered a bit considering how heavy this is:

    DSC02453.jpg DSC02450.jpg DSC02447.jpg DSC02446.jpg DSC02445.jpg DSC02443.jpg

    and lastly some of the tools supplied with the machine. the quality is better than the ones supplied by the Alpha. the pliers are suprisingly ok and the cutter cut. i do have better cutter though. and i don't think these are as nice as the ones from Victor.

    the awl i haven't tried, the pathfinder awl will probably not useful for badminton.


    DSC02456.jpg DSC02455.jpg DSC02457.jpg
     
  2. kwun

    kwun Administrator

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    and the last two pics. more tools and some of the extra end support padding for badminton, squash and tennis...
    DSC02458.jpg
    DSC02459.jpg
     
  3. kwun

    kwun Administrator

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    i will post more pics and videos when i have this thing assembled.
     
  4. visor

    visor Regular Member

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    sexy! ...... :)
     
  5. yan.v

    yan.v Regular Member

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    Congratz on the new machine!

    I don't know about you, but I would probably run around the house and cut every stringbed I see just to test out the machine if I just received one! lol
     
  6. kwun

    kwun Administrator

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    i am tempted to do that!
     
  7. redskins009

    redskins009 Regular Member

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    Congrats on the new machine. I have the Gamma 5003, and from the look of it theres a lot of stuff thats new and upgraded, and some are pretty much the same. I love the gamma machine and its very well put together. Are you going to put your wise on it or you going to use the crank? It will take about 1 hour to put this machine together, and yeah i cut up like 5 rackets and tested it out the first day i got it. I love this machine...so well put together.
     
  8. kwun

    kwun Administrator

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    more pics. assembled.

    DSC02464.jpg DSC02463.jpg DSC02462.jpg DSC02460.jpg DSC02465.jpg DSC02466.jpg
     
  9. kwun

    kwun Administrator

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    so here is the problem with the Gamma 6004 with the WISE head.

    with the standard mount that comes with the WISE, the tensioner is sitting too low. in fact, i think low enough that i think the string will hit the support tower on the middle mains.

    WISE sells an adapter that raises the head higher, but aside from costing $30, the adapter raises the head too high and it will lose 360 rotation.

    DSC02471.jpg
     
  10. kwun

    kwun Administrator

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    so i didn't exactly come to the battle unprepared. thanks to PeteLSD and DarthHowie, who had/has the 6004 with the WISE, i was totally aware of the issue. DarthHowie uses the WISE adapter, but i want 360 degrees. so in advanced i ordered a piece of 1/4" 6064 Aluminum plate that i drilled a couple of hole and mounted on the WISE/6004.

    it took a little bit of care as i want the WISE to be as high as possible and still get 360 and as close to the turntable as possible to minimize string length.

    the result is the i ended up with a tiny amount of tolerance, around 1mm between the WISE and the tower adjustment knob, and a few mm between the gripper and the handle, depending on the racket and amount of grip.

    the Aluminum plate is mounted using the existing screw holes at the bottom of the WISE and the existing tensioner bar thread holes.

    DSC02472.jpg

    the tolerance is around 1mm. and the 6004 is so well built that tensioning the racket doesn't draw the table towards the WISE.

    DSC02473.jpg

    slightly more gap for the gripper/racket side as there are more variation there.

    DSC02474.jpg

    not the prettiest but can be made more pretty later.

    DSC02475.jpg

    SUCCESS!!!!

    DSC02477.jpg
     
  11. kwun

    kwun Administrator

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    without the WISE and the crank, it took me less than 15mins to put together. some screws here and there.

    but to make the plate to custom mount the WISE as described above, it took around an hour to do. lots of measurement and drilling a few holes. in the end the result is as best as it can get without going into even more involved machining which will for sure come a bit later.

    meanwhile, i am going to string a racket.

    now where are my scissors...
     
  12. kwun

    kwun Administrator

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    oh. one last thing. i don't have the badminton specific 3 fingers 12 o'clock mount yet. Gamma forgot to send it to me. so meanwhile i need to figure out how to mount the MBS load spreader on the 12 oclock support.
     
  13. redskins009

    redskins009 Regular Member

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    I didnt realize such item existed cuz I didnt get any from Gamma either.

    Where can you order one?
     
  14. kwun

    kwun Administrator

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    i am not sure which support the 5003 takes, as the turntable is different than the 6004.

    for the 6004, this one fits:

    http://www.gammasports.com/gamma.cfm?product=2296

    y
    ou might want to call them up and ask them. there are 3 of them in the catalog.
     
  15. kwun

    kwun Administrator

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    so i just strung my first racket on the 6004. my SW35 with ZM65@29lbs (i know, i know. but what the heck...)

    i love it!

    the machine is rock solid. i thought my ASE is pretty decent machine, but this one, nothing gives. pulling at 29lbs the turntable stays put and doesn't bend, sway or anything like that.

    the table is more sticky than my ASE so it makes weaving easier. even when pulling and tightening knots i don't feel like the machine is going to tip over any time soon.

    didn't time myself but i am sure it was over 30mins. i had to abort a few times coz i forgot to tighten the clamp base. and it took a bit getting used to dealing with the clamp and bases. flipping around, finding the right orientations.

    a few observations.

    i had to use the MBS load spreader as my badminton one didn't arrive with the machine. it turned out the support posts is thinner than the older 6004. the total thickness isn't much more than my ASE post. i am getting the badminton one anyway but this may mean i can use the MBS one in 6 oclock.

    DSC02478.jpg DSC02479.jpg DSC02480.jpg

    the huge side supports are actually ok. i was expecting them to be really annoying. but aside from bumping my hands a few times, they are fine. the clearance is way better than my ASE's one. and it never caught the string despite being so gignormous. it means that i can wait a little for the Chudek or any other type of support.

    i used to get my string wrapping around all those knobs and screwed and posts and every where on my ASE. for the Gamma. i only had the string caught twice. once on the little lever of the brake, the other time on the WISE gripper. yes. nothing else catches the string on the turntable at all. this is going to lengthen my lifespan by at least 2 yrs.

    the tool tray is fine. it is around 6-7 inches below the turntable and i don't have to bend down to get to any tools. originally i was going to mount a tray just below the WISE for tools but i have scrap that ideal now. the only issue with the tool tray is that the turntable kinda blocks the view so i cannot see what is in the tray. minor inconvenience i guess.

    and also, for the very very often used tools. i find that i can even just leave it on the turntable itself!

    DSC02481.jpg

    anyway, my SW35 turns out perfect, it came out the same exact shape as it went in. no sign of shorten/fatten/skinnien/lengthen at all.

    very happy right now.
     
  16. redskins009

    redskins009 Regular Member

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    Okay I found out that my 5003 needs a MBFS-11, which is different from yours.

    Also, I really like your base clamp as my 5003 base clamp can get pretty tight at some section of the racket, but I got two floating clamps so I was able to get by all the trouble spots.

    Anyways, MBFS just got ordered from ATS sports, and it should be on its way. I will probably do a setup of the Gamma head clamp at the 12, and load spreader at the 6.

    Congrats on the new machine once again. The 5003 was my first machine and I love it. Next step is to save up for a 2086 or just get permission from the banker (aka the wife)

    :D
     
  17. Alexccs

    Alexccs Regular Member

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    Welcome to the Gamma 6004 + Wise club. I really miss this Gamma new 5 fingers diamond coated universal clamp. Oh also that 1/4" aluminum custom made plate, except I would made it level up with the racket.
    BTW, please post a picture with the clamp on the main and cross string to show the space of the teeth. and other one with the clamp on the last tie off main string to see how close is to the frame and side support. Thanks.
     
    #17 Alexccs, Mar 30, 2012
    Last edited: Mar 30, 2012
  18. twang338

    twang338 Regular Member

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    makes me want to get a new machine.. must... resist.... urge...
     
  19. Mark A

    Mark A Regular Member

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    Now you can do some of those weird ten niss rackets!
     
  20. yan.v

    yan.v Regular Member

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    I like what you did with the aluminium plate. I may need to do the same thing once I get my WISE since it doesn't fit many Gamma machines, can that be found in pretty much any hardware store ?
     

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