Is there a need for claw crane control boards?

bungelowbill

bungelowbill

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I have a number of claw cranes. Some are skill cranes: Smart, Drew, etc, Some are winner-every-time cranes: A.G.E. programmable and non-programmable. I would like to know if there is a need for repairs and parts for these items. Right now I am trying to concentrate on the AGE programmable Snack Attack/Challenger programmable winner every-time crane. Years ago I designed and built a replacement circuit board for it. It worked, but I never went any further with it. I am thinking about building more since I have a few of these cranes with bad boards. For the most part - repair parts are not available for the boards (ie the NEC micro-controller) so I am forced to make my own. I am interested to know if I should make more than I need since the cost per board goes down in quantity. I am also looking into less expensive alternatives to the motors, claws, prize sensor, trolleys, and cabinets. Is there a need for repairs and parts for this type of crane? I will check for responses to see what our community has to say.
Thanks,
bungelowbill aka the craniac
 
bungelowbill said:
I have a number of claw cranes. Some are skill cranes: Smart, Drew, etc, Some are winner-every-time cranes: A.G.E. programmable and non-programmable. I would like to know if there is a need for repairs and parts for these items. Right now I am trying to concentrate on the AGE programmable Snack Attack/Challenger programmable winner every-time crane. Years ago I designed and built a replacement circuit board for it. It worked, but I never went any further with it. I am thinking about building more since I have a few of these cranes with bad boards. For the most part - repair parts are not available for the boards (ie the NEC micro-controller) so I am forced to make my own. I am interested to know if I should make more than I need since the cost per board goes down in quantity. I am also looking into less expensive alternatives to the motors, claws, prize sensor, trolleys, and cabinets. Is there a need for repairs and parts for this type of crane? I will check for responses to see what our community has to say.
Thanks,
bungelowbill aka the craniac
Click to expand...

I have several bad pcb's for those Challanger/Snack Attack cranes. And trolley parts as well.

Dave
COINOPSHOP
 
two bit crane board

Ken,
Thanks for the info. I read their manual. It looks like they have done a nice job of making a universal controller.the

I was thinking of making a direct replacement for some of out of production cranes. I did make a very simple universal one (no adjustments) and am in the process of testing it with various assemblies. So far I have tested it with an American 12Vdc motor trolley and a Chinese trolley. The simple one cost me $100.

Years ago I made one for my AGE snack attack play until you win candy crane. That cost me more than $100 to build, but it worked great. I am thinking of doing it again. If there is an interest I can build in a larger quantity and the price to build comes down. I am trying to find out how much interest there will be and if it is worth me pursuing. Do you have any advice for me? Your comments would be much appreciated.
Thanks,
Bill
 
The smart candy crane pcb's are pretty craptacular. A replacement for those could be worthwhile. Most of my cranes are ICE and the boards in those seem to be holding up well.
 
Thanks for the advice. I will keep my eyes open for an old Smart Candy Crane trolley, PCB, etc so I can identify the inputs, outputs, and power to the PCB, board mounting holes. If you have any of that info it would be appreciated.
 
Jonnylbluejeans said:
I haven't seen anything, but I am tempted to build one using an arduino and some relays.
Click to expand...

I thought about this as well. Shouldn't be that hard. And heck, you could upgrade to a Pi 3 and do all sorts of cool stuff! Not sure who would volunteer to write the code though?
 
Any of the Pis would be overkill to replace the relay drivers and respond to switches, but yeah relatively easy. I'd do it if people needed it. I just don't think there's much interest.
 
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