Tri-Oval

Jayhawk Tri-Oval Mill Drilling Machine
Order #15-5030-40: Tri-Oval System 110 volt, 60 cycle
Order #15-5030-41: Tri-Oval System 220 volt, 60 cycle
Order #15-5030-42: Tri-Oval System 220 volt, 50 cycle

The Tri-Oval System is a top of the line system that will provide your shop with the most in high tech equipment. The user friendly design will actually help you provide the best and most efficient service for your customers. It allows the operator to square the ball in the jig the same way each time it is used. This provides for pin point accuracy with every ball that is drilled. A safety ring is used to hold the ball in the jig insuring not only that the ball cannot move during the

drilling process, but also that the ball cannot come out of the jig causing injury to the operator or damaging the ball. There is no need to worry about sealing the ball in the jig as this ring provides contact on both the top and the bottom of the ball. As an equipment manufacturer, we feel a strong obligation to provide our customers with quality equipment that does not compromise their safety at any time. The Tri-Oval System is designed with minimal moving parts to provide many years of trouble-free service.

How the pitches are set??

Pitches are set by moving the milling tables to the desired pitch. This moves the center of the ball the same amount, from the point of the bit. On any other type of machine you must set the pitch and then move the ball before you clamp it to align the ball to the drill bit. With the Tri-Oval you lock the ball in the jig, set your pitches and then the jig will pivot left to right and front to back to align the bit to your drill lines. Moving the jig like this will not affect the pitches you have set below on the tables, as the jig will move on the balls axis. No matter where you move the jig you will still get the pitch you have set on the tables below. This makes the operator as accurate as possible from ball to ball.

Do I need special bits for drilling oval holes??

NO!! Those special end mill bits are very expensive. Jayhawk manufactures our own drill bits specifically for drilling bowling balls. Used the proper way, they will provide the same accuracy in cutting oval holes. Like any cutting tool, it is very important that the bits be kept sharp at all times. The speed that is used is also very important. Jayhawk recommends a cutting speed of 450 to 500 RPMs. Remember that the faster the bit is turning, the more friction and heat is created, reducing the life of the bit.

I like the design of the Tri-Oval, but I want to put it on a drill press instead of a milling machine. Can I do this??

The Tri-Oval System has been designed specifically for use with a milling machine. If you still want to use a drill press, we would suggest using our Professional Model Jig. It will also allow the operator to drill all three holes before removing the ball from the jig.

What makes the Tri-Oval System better than vacuum systems??

Vacuum systems only secure the ball from the bottom, when under ideal conditions this can be very secure. But when those conditions are not ideal, like when engraving on the ball is over the seal, or maybe the ball is out of size, then the vacuum has a hard time making a seal. If the seal is lost while drilling, the ball will come flying out of the machine, damaging the ball and possibly injuring the operator.
The Tri-Oval has a ring that rests on the bottom and a removable ring that holds the ball on the top. This ring has an opening of over 10” giving the operator plenty of room to drill any size hand. The ring can be put in placed and removed in the same time it takes to turn a vacuum machine on! Because the ball is secure from the top and bottom, the operator is safe under any circumstance.
The Tri-Oval System will allow you to drill all 3 gripping holes before removing the ball from the jig. Vacuum systems require the operator to loosen the ball and realign it after each hole is drilled. This can cause inaccuracy as the ball is not square in the fixture through the entire drilling process. Jayhawk has always believed that operators should have the ball square, or in the same position, each time you drill a ball. If this is not the case, the accuracy of your pitches will be compromised. This leaves your customers with bowling balls that feel close to each other, but not exactly the same.

What is the best way to drill on the Tri-Oval System?

We recommend that you drill the fingers first. Simply mark the center of grip and where you want the fingers to be, then drill the finger holes. If you are using grips, place them in the holes and take a span rule and arch a line from the middle finger, then the ring finger. Where the lines cross is where your thumb will be drilled. There are some very big advantages to drilling this way. First, you do not need to maintain 2 sets of measurements, one full grip and one cut to cut. Additionally, if you are using a thumb slug, you can start the thumb hole with the proper size, then stop and insert a 1 1/4” bit and drill the hole, then remove the bit and clean the hole. Put some glue half way down the hole and then stack a second slug on top of the one you want in the ball and pull the spindle handle like you a drilling a hole until your slug is in place.
Then place the desired bit for the thumb hole and drill the thumb. When this is complete, set the pitches to zero and loosen the clamp ring and place the slug straight up in the jig and tighten the ring. Now with your plug trimming blade, carefully trim the slug to the surface of the ball. You have just drilled all the gripping holes of the ball and never removed it from the jig!!

How often do the drill bits need to be sharpened?

This depends entirely on how much the bits are used. As a rule, you can feel the bit not cutting smoothly or feel the bit getting warm. When a bit is sharp, you can hear it making a crisp cut. The bits that you use most should be sharpened at least once a year.