AC drives step to the plate

Introduced in 1999, the ProBatter Professional baseball pitching machines combine computer controlled with innovative video technology, allowing a batter to practice under game-like conditions. Rather than facing a throwing machine, users are presented full size right-handed and/or left–handed pitchers on a screen, "throwing" fastballs, curves, sliders, sinkers, cutters, change-ups, and slurves that emerge through a hole in the screen at the position of the image’s hand. Pitches can be thrown on an interchangeable basis, to multiple locations, at speeds up to 100 miles an hour with pinpoint accuracy.

According to Michael Suba, VP of engineering at ProBatter Sports LLC, Milford, CT, one of the crucial differences between the ProBatter simulator and conventional pitching machines is the fact that the ProBatter system uses a three-wheel system, instead of the typical two wheels. "At first glance, the user is most impressed by our systems video component — and that’s sure a nice advantage, but it’s not what makes the ProBatter simulator such an outstanding training tool," explains Suba. "The biggest difference is the fact that our three-wheel machine can throw pretty much any pitch that a human being can throw."

Finding the right motor inverter was crucial in order to achieve control of the wheels. Speeding up or slowing down each axis in different combinations is the secret behind how fast balls, sliders, curves, or slurves are so well simulated, and ProBatter Sports engineers chose the SCF Series from AC Technology.

"Our SCF Series inverter provided the characteristics that ProBatter Sports engineers were looking for," summarizes AC Tech sales director for North America, Darrow Hannesian, and he explains "This drive, complete with its dynamic braking, is able to decelerate the machine wheels faster and with more repeatability." The SCF is designed to operate standard polyphase induction motors rated for 200, 230, 400, 460 or 575 VAC from 0 to 240 Hz. Operation to 1000 Hz is optional. The ProBatter machine uses one sub-micro SCF drive for each axis, each equipped with the optional dynamic braking kit.

A softball version is available as is a line of ProBatter II retrofit kits to transform conventional pitching machines into video systems.

 For more information:
ProBatter Sports LLC, Milford, CT.

 www.rsleads.com/308df-185

Ferromatik Milacron, Booth 9448, Batavia, OH.

 www.rsleads.com/308df-186