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Show HN: I replaced a $120k bowling center system with $1,600 in ESP32s

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41–50 of 375 posts

Re: Show HN: I replaced a $120k bowling center system with $1,600 in ESP32s

#41
post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Isn't that included in the lane price? Always has been for me.

I think they mean the physical process of handling the shoes. At most places you rent your land and get your shoes at the same counter, basically in one transaction, which seems difficult to handle with a kiosk.

Ah, most of what I've seen it's just an open area everyone goes to and does it themselves.

Which I like because I always have to try a few sizes to get one that actually fits.

Re: Show HN: I replaced a $120k bowling center system with $1,600 in ESP32s

#42

Real question. Did you have any contact with organized crime? Some of the 'territory' of nothing-type technologies like vending are said to be 'owned' by certain groups.

Not that I know of! My market research shows something like < 3500 remaining bowling proprietors in the US, down from 12k in the 60's. I think the lack of alternatives is just a matter of being super, super niche -and- a legacy industry if I'm being honest.

Re: Show HN: I replaced a $120k bowling center system with $1,600 in ESP32s

#43
This is awesome, and I'm really happy that someone is trying this. Recreational spaces are severely lacking in so many places now: while I love digital things, it can't fully replace actual group activities in meat space, but I guess it's just not as profitable since it doesn't scale.

I would totally be a patron with my family at your bowling center, and would love to read a blog or something about your journey.

Re: Show HN: I replaced a $120k bowling center system with $1,600 in ESP32s

#44
post #18

Lol, nice! It depends on what you mean by "owning a bowling center," but it looks like there are at least two of us into this :D I bought a really old fully mechanical (and automated!) mini bowling lane. It works without a CPU, except for the score display, which originally used a 1970 Intel D8749H (MCS-48)! Just like yours, the only thing that turns this machine on is a single relay :D On my model, I also get feedba…

I love it! I actually looked at integrating with scoremore myself, but once I crossed into hardware world, I still couldn't get over how much fouling alone cost. $750 / unit and they're -ancient-.

Definitely will post on bowl-tech as well. I'm just new enough to have a lot of that new-guy anxiety around posting OpenLaneLink there yknow? Those guys know -everything- about this stuff.

Re: Show HN: I replaced a $120k bowling center system with $1,600 in ESP32s

#45
post #30
post #21

Back when I was in school I interned at a company installing bowling lanes / machines. Even back then it was fairly simple technology, no cameras or speed measurement yet, just some inputs from the machine as to what pin-cords had been pulled out (i.e. what pins fell down) translated to some simple animations. I remember the screens being just a simple VIA motherboard running DOS + their software from a compact flash…

In the US tethered pins with cords aren't really a thing, instead most bowling alleys use mechanical pinsetter machines. These machines are large, complex, and expensive (see here for a video on how they work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iod6uwUGM2E ) which is why he's talking about the equipment being 70+ years old- with the revenues most bowling alleys make, it's not economical to replace a pinsetter instead of…

String setters are on the way. They’re far cheaper to buy and run.

Bowlers hate the idea, but bowlers hated synthetic lane surfaces, urethane lane surfaces, and even lacquer surfaces before that. They also loved their old urethane balls, super soft plastic and dodo balls. All those changes went into place against the wishes of the bowlers, but that didn’t matter. Economics wins, every time.

String setters are on the way.

Re: Show HN: I replaced a $120k bowling center system with $1,600 in ESP32s

#47

Are you getting any customers?

We're holding pretty steady at $3400-ish / month on open bowling alone. No leagues yet, no snack bar yet, no beer yet. It's not FAANG income by any stretch, but it's doing -so- much better than I initially expected!

Re: Show HN: I replaced a $120k bowling center system with $1,600 in ESP32s

#48
Professional techie and amateur bowler here. I am bowling on old-ish lanes, and the stats we have beyond the score is... well, ball speed only and it barely works on half of the lanes only. I doubt that our alley would ever agree to install anything ad-hoc, but I am super interested in finding out more about your build. If you have a blog, or can post photos and some information about your build I would be glad to read more.

Good luck with your new business!!! It sounds super exciting, hope everything works out, the roof, the patrons, and all.

Re: Show HN: I replaced a $120k bowling center system with $1,600 in ESP32s

#50
post #30
post #21

Back when I was in school I interned at a company installing bowling lanes / machines. Even back then it was fairly simple technology, no cameras or speed measurement yet, just some inputs from the machine as to what pin-cords had been pulled out (i.e. what pins fell down) translated to some simple animations. I remember the screens being just a simple VIA motherboard running DOS + their software from a compact flash…

In the US tethered pins with cords aren't really a thing, instead most bowling alleys use mechanical pinsetter machines. These machines are large, complex, and expensive (see here for a video on how they work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iod6uwUGM2E ) which is why he's talking about the equipment being 70+ years old- with the revenues most bowling alleys make, it's not economical to replace a pinsetter instead of…

It's worth noting that playing on string setters vs free-fall setters is quite different. The string alters how the pins move when they are hit. There's not really a "one is easier", it's more a different technique.
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