Alpha Power Pong User Manual

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Power Pong

Table Tennis Robot

User Manual

John Schmidt

Revision 1.0

Table of Contents

Troubleshooting

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Summary of Contents for Alpha Power Pong

Page 1 Power Pong Table Tennis Robot User Manual John Schmidt Revision 1.0...
Page 2 • The Ball Throw wheels rotate at high speed. Avoid touching during operation. IMPORTANT: This User Manual has been developed exclusively for the Power Pong Alpha table tennis robot. Copying this manual or any portion of it, without explicit permission in writing from Power Pong, is strictly prohibited.
Page 3: Table Of Contents
Connecting the Control Panel Cable .............. 10 2.10 Mounting the Control Panel ................11 2.11 Connecting the Alpha Robot to the Power Source ......... 11 2.12 Load the Alpha Robot with Table Tennis Balls..........12 2.13 Congratulations – Setup is Complete ............. 12...
Page 4 Section 4: Operation of the Alpha Robot Tips for Best Operation / Longevity ..............20 Starting the Alpha Robot ................20 4.2.1 Checking Throwing Head Center Adjustment ........20 Instant Play Mode ................... 21 4.3.1 Instant Play Mode Practice Ideas with One Ball ....... 21 Alpha Robot Drills ...................
Page 5: Congratulations
Back to Table Of Contents 1.1 Congratulations Congratulations on your purchase of the Power Pong Alpha Table Tennis robot, the “best in its class”, outstanding product, and top performing robot. The Alpha robot is ideal for every type of player and every level of play. With proper care and treatment this robot will give you years of quality practice time! 1.2 ALPHA Table Tennis Robot Features...
Page 6: Included Parts
1.3 Included Parts Robot with Net Assembly Power Supply (Input: 100-240V, Output: 24V DC, 3A) with cable Control Panel Power Pong User Manual Page 2...
Page 7 Control Panel Cable Control Panel Mounting Bracket 100 Power Pong Table Tennis balls Remote-Control FOB Adjustment Gauge/Tool Power Pong User Manual Page 3...
Page 8: Terminology Used In This Manual
Following is a list of terms that are used throughout this User Manual along with brief definitions. Ball Throw – the action of the Alpha robot throwing a ball to a location on the table Ball Throw Type - 4 controls affect Ball Type: Top Spin/Back Spin, Speed, Sidespin, and Trajectory.
Page 9: Setup Of The Alpha Robot
2.3 Rotating/Raising the Throwing Head into Play Position The flexibility of being able to adjust the Power Pong Alpha robot throwing height allows for a very realistic match experience. By adjusting the height of the head (from one of four different heights) together with the ball trajectory settings, you can have the robot throw you any type of ball from a low fast serve to a high lob.
Page 10 Pull the head upwards on the ball tube until the second ring on the tube is just visible (Photo 2-7). SLIGHTLY tighten the black knob to hold the throwing head in place - just enough to prevent it from dropping. Caution: Overtightening can damage the ball feed tube! Power Pong User Manual Page 6...
Page 11 2-8 thru 2-11. Before tightening the black knob, it is important that one of the ball tube rings be located just above the Ball Tube Locking mechanism. Never operate the robot with the height beyond the 4 red ring. Photo 2-9 Photo 2-8 Photo 2-11 Photo 2-10 Power Pong User Manual Page 7...
Page 12: Connecting The Throwing Head Communication Cable
2.5 Fully Opening the Collection Net 1. Standing behind the robot, grip the top points of the net and completely fold the net down on both sides until the net fully opens (Photo 2-15). Photo 2-15 Power Pong User Manual Page 8...
Page 13: Mounting The Robot On The Table-Top
Support Legs downward, and slip them under the end of your table. (Photo 2-16) 2. Gently push the robot onto the end of the table with the Power Pong logo aligned with the center line of the table. (Photo 2-17) 3.
Page 14: Securing The Side Nets
2. Extend the other end of the Control Panel Cable to the opposite side of the table and connect to the Control Panel (see Photo 2-22 and 2-23). Be sure to fully seat/insert this cable. Photo 2-22 Photo 2-23 Power Pong User Manual Page 10...
Page 15: Mounting The Control Panel
Photo 2-25 2.11 Connecting the Robot to a Power Source 1. Insert the power connector from the power adapter into the power jack on the side of the Robot Base. (Photo 2-26) Photo 2-26 Power Pong User Manual Page 11...
Page 16: Load The Alpha Robot With Table Tennis Balls
2. Plug the power adapter into the wall power (110VAC) as shown in Photo 2-27. When you do this, you will hear the Alpha robot begin its startup process consisting of several clicking noises followed by the ball throw motors spinning for 1-2 seconds.
Page 17: Alpha Control Panel
Back to Table Of Contents 3.1 Control Panel Description The Alpha control panel is used to control all aspects of how the balls are thrown/delivered to you. This includes the placement of the ball on the table, as well as speed, spin and more.
Page 18: Ball Trajectory Buttons / Led Display
Using the buttons, we can change the amount of spin and whether the spin is left or right. The Side-spin LED will update with each click (left or right) and will apply to the active ball. Power Pong User Manual Page 14...
Page 19: Ball Back/Top-Spin Buttons / Led Display
The Speed buttons reduce or increase the speed of the ball. There are 19 increments of speed adjustment. The Speed LED will update with each click (left or right) and will apply to the active ball. Figure 3-6 Power Pong User Manual Page 15...
Page 20: Controls Affecting All Thrown Balls
Deactivate AFC by once again pressing the AFC button again. The AFC LED will turn off. Figure 3-8 Power Pong User Manual Page 16...
Page 21: Rnd Button / Rnd And Trnd Leds
3.3.3 RND Button / rnd LED and Trnd LEDs (Figure 3-9) The Power Pong Alpha robot provides the option for three types of randomizations (Random Sequence, Random Placement, Random Sequence + Random Placement) to make your practice sessions more realistic. The random functions are activated with the RND button.
Page 22: Drill Related Controls
The 22-position rotary dial is used to select an existing drill and also to identify the memory position in which you would like to save a new drill to. The Alpha robot comes with 12 drills pre-assigned and loaded to positions 11-22. These drills are covered in Section 4.
Page 23: Backstep Button
3.4.4 Sample / Pause Button (Figure 3-11) Press briefly to start or stop (toggles) ball delivery. While setting up a ball placement, speed, etc., holding this button down will cause the Alpha robot to throw samples of the current active ball, until released.
Page 24: Operation Of The Alpha Robot
See Section 5 (Maintenance) for instructions on cleaning the Alpha robot. • The ALPHA robot is designed for use in dry, indoor rooms. Do not use outdoors or in any wet or damp environment.
Page 25: Instant Play Mode
4.3 Instant Play Mode Upon power up of the Alpha robot, it is instantly ready to start throwing balls. Perform the following steps: 1. Set of the Ball/min rotary dial to a value greater than 0 2.
Page 26: Selecting/Starting A Drill
4.4.1 Pre-Configured Drills The Alpha robot comes with 12 pre-configured drills that can be easily accessed and used for training. The drills are designed to be used with the throwing head at the 2 ring/height however individual adjust may be utilized. Following is a listing/description of the drills.
Page 27: Creating A New Drill
4.4.3 Creating a New Drill Before programming the Alpha robot with a new drill, you may find it useful to design the drill ahead of time, on paper or in your head. Think about the number of balls that you want in your drill as well as the ball attributes including ball placement, ball speed, ball height, spin, etc.
Page 28: Using The Remote-Control Fob
4. Disconnect the side nets from the table center net supports. 5. Lift the Alpha robot from its mounted position on the table, set it on top of the table, and rotate 180 degrees to give you access to the front of the robot.
Page 29 14. Place the robot, along with all other pieces into a protective storage/transport box. 15. When transporting, exercise caution to prevent any damage to the robot. Power Pong User Manual Page 25...
Page 30: Maintenance And Repair
For best performance from the Alpha robot and for best longevity, the robot must be kept clean. The surface of the Alpha Robot may be cleaned with a moist cloth and a mild, water- based cleanser as necessary. Do not expose the Alpha robot to excessive amounts of liquid. Do not submerse any part of the robot in liquid.
Page 31: Deflector Strip Replacement
2. Push/hold the Trajectory UP button on the Control Panel, to move the Deflector Assembly to the maximum UP position. 3. Turn the Alpha robot OFF. 4. Disconnect the Throwing Head cable that plugs into the robot base. 5. Remove the Throwing Head assembly and lay flat on a work surface.
Page 32 Deflector Strip becomes worn (indentation or hole), you must remove BOTH strips and apply the replacement sponge-backed Deflector Strip. Perform the following: 1. Turn the Alpha robot ON. 2. Push/hold the Trajectory UP button on the Control Panel, to move the Deflector Assembly to the maximum UP position.
Page 33: Throwing Wheel Maintenance
5.3.1 Checking Throwing Wheel Clearance 1. Using a Power Pong supplied table tennis ball, insert into the space between the 3 wheels (Photo 5-6) and move it in and out. The ball should move in and out of this area with slight contact of the 3 throwing wheels.
Page 34: Wheel Removal/Replacement
4. Manually spin the wheel and ensure that it’s not rubbing on any surface. If it is rubbing, loosen the setscrew and slightly move the wheel’s position on the shaft. Slightly tighten the setscrew and test again to be sure that the wheel no longer rubs on any surface. Power Pong User Manual Page 30...
Page 35 5. Note how far the wheel was slid onto the motor shaft, and then slide the wheel off the motor shaft. 6. Slide the new replacement wheel onto the motor shaft positioned similarly to the wheel that was previously removed and slightly tighten the setscrew. Power Pong User Manual Page 31...
Page 36: Robot Base / Lower Ball Feed Path Cleaning
(See Photos 5-14 and 5-15) Photo 5-14 Photo 5-15 5. Remove 16 screws from the top of the robot base as shown in Photos 5-16 through 5-18. Photo 5-16 Photo 5-17 Power Pong User Manual Page 32...
Page 37: Calibration
Caution: Do NOT use a powered screwdriver as you re-insert the screws. The screws are inserted into plastic. To avoid stripping the plastic, only use hand screwdrivers. 5.5 Calibration 5.5.1 Checking Calibration The robot comes pre-calibrated from the factory. To test calibration, perform the following: Power Pong User Manual Page 33...
Page 38: Performing Calibration
1. Be sure that the robot legs are adjusted properly for the height of the table. (See Section 2 for details) 2. Turn off the Alpha robot (unplug power cord), wait 10 seconds, and turn the robot back on. 3. Set the throwing head to the 2 ring position.
Page 39 Photo 5-24. 6. Reinsert the battery holder into the circuit board. Orient as shown in Photo 5-25. 7. Reinsert the circuit board into the rubber button pad. (Photo 5-26) Power Pong User Manual Page 35...
Page 40: Replacing Main Circuit Board
2. Remove the four Phillips screws (Photo 5-28). 3. The circuit board is held in place with one Phillips screw. Remove that screw (Photo 5-29). Power Pong User Manual Page 36...
Page 41 Connector shown in Picture 5-30. Grasp the circuit board by the edges only to avoid static damage to components as shown in Picture 5-30. Photo 5-30 5. Unplug the flat ribbon cable from the circuit board as shown in Photo 5-31 and 5-32. Photo 5-32 Photo 5-31 Power Pong User Manual Page 37...
Page 42: Pairing A New Remote-Control Fob
To pair the new Remote-Control FOB with the Alpha robot, perform the following procedure. 1. Push and hold BOTH the RND button on the Alpha Control Panel, and the Start button on the Remote-Control FOB, and hold for 5 seconds.
Page 43: Troubleshooting
5. Lay the robot base on its side and push a pencil up into the access hole to free any stuck balls. Balls should move freely. 6. Plug the Alpha robot back into the power source which will restart robot. 7. Remove all the balls from the collection area so that you can see the springs moving 8.
Page 44: General Troubleshooting
Yellow lights may be flashing on the control panel. Note: If you are not able to solve a problem with the help of this Troubleshooting guide, please contact Power Pong support for additional assistance. Power Pong User Manual Page 40...
Page 45: Technical Data / Warranty Information
Conformity with Low Voltage Directive 73/23/EEC, as last amended by EEC Directive 93/68/EEC—Registration #: AN 50091861 0001, Report #: 17004848 001. Also Test Reports # NTEK2010NT1115351E and NTEK-2010NT1115353SS. The Power Pong ALPHA table tennis robot is permitted to bear the CE trademark. Manufacturer: LCS.kft Warranty Information FULL 3 YEAR MANUFACTURER’S WARRANTY...