22 replies to this topic

[kenrunio]

All-

I wrote up how I did my build and I've published here for all: 

http://gkir.us/PinCabBuild_V2.11.pdf

 

My build combines a lot of the things found on these forums and this write up is a thank you to everybody contributing to these forums whose posts and software I've used.

 

Hopefully it it will help everyone out there who plans on building a virtual pincab, and I would appreciate any comments!

 

 

[joeyhza]

Excellent writeup!

[powerframe]

All-

I wrote up how I did my build and I've published here for all: 

http://gkir.us/PinCabBuild_V2.11.pdf

 

My build combines a lot of the things found on these forums and this write up is a thank you to everybody contributing to these forums whose posts and software I've used.

 

Hopefully it it will help everyone out there who plans on building a virtual pincab, and I would appreciate any comments!

 

 

 

This is the best and helpful instruction i have seen ever.

 

Thanks!

[Nemo]

   Wow! Detailed manual, only one remark: the launch ball button in the last photo ........ that's just wrong  

 

Good work ! I'm sure people will benefit from this .........  

[UltraPeepi]

This is the best and helpful instruction i have seen ever.

 

Thanks!

 

 

+1

 

I built my own MAME cabinet.  So I've been down this road before.  I would have loved this level of detail when building my arcade cab.  You have just lowered the barrier for me to build a Pin cab.  I thank you; my wife curses you.

[zoltar420]

Thanks for this 

[dboyrecords]

Nice!

[Zeiram]

This is a terrific resource.  Thanks for putting the effort into it!

[faralos]

what no actual plunger? anyhoo fanfrikkintastic writeup

and hopefully it will come in handy to these cab builders

I have yet to see such a break down of a cab build

usually it's just pics and a few words but you went the whole nine yards!

again kudos to the extensive writeup it must have taken a while

[kenrunio]

Yup - took a while though I thought it would be a useful resource for everyone as to find all this stuff takes a lot of research and nothing is found one place. 

It is my build in particular and I know lots of people do some of the things differently, but it should be helpful. Also I had some particular problems which I ended up solving after not finding a decent solution anywhere - so these are included to.

Some parts of this I did quickly and I will try and update, and write in more detail in the next few weeks, but I wanted to get this out before the equipment I used becomes obsolete!

 

Finally, there are a couple of things missing from my build: yes- a plunger, a shaker, a coin door, DMD but I wanted to keep this below the $3k mark and all these additions give me things to add in future!

 

Enjoy

[Grizz]

Great build tutorial!

Thank you for the amazing contribution!

[clutester]

wow, so detailed. Wish i had this before i started my build. This would have answered a lot of questions along the way.

[LoadedWeapon]

yea great job and i'm sure it will help some people out.. Tho not sure why you had trouble with windows 7 you should have maybe tried to ask for help but you have moved to windows xp and im sure it will work just fine.. Great job!
 

[kenrunio]

Given that the computer is only being used for the pinball machine it didn't make much difference to me whether the operating system was XP or 7 and since 7 needed trouble shooting, I just went with XP.  

[mwg]

Nice guide thanks!

Question :

In your guide you write about parallel wiring flipper contactors
The 101 wiring guide http://pinball.wrapp...101_Ver1.08.pdf
Writes best it to the ledwiz and encoder = no lag

You use a optoisolator method, whats best now?

Also what is that led in your Page 19 diagram
Circuit for isolating 5V IPac from 12V contactors

Thanks

[kenrunio]

I wanted to get the thud from the contractors at exactly the same moment I press the flipper switches. Even though many people do it through the LedWiz, there is a very slight delay- and it annoyed me as it makes it feel less real. Think about it - if the flipper switches are wired to the Ipac which has to process and send a message through VP, which itself has to process the signal, and then send back a message to the LedWiz (which for me saw a delay of at least 2-3ms) and then back to the Contactors, there is a very slight (but noticeable to me at least) delay between pressing the flipper switch and feeling the contactors. 

 

The optocouplers allows me to press the flipper switch which is wired (at 12V) directly to the contactors. The IPac can only have a 5V signal going into it and needs to be electrically separated from the contactor circuit and the Optocouplers allows me to do that. The circuit diagram is in my write up.

 

So IMO, there is zero delay using optocouplers. One other advantage is that you save two ports on the LEDWiz, plus flipper presses driving contactors puts quite a lot of strain on the LedWiz as they happen all the time. So it may also lengthen the life of the LedWiz. 

 

P17 of the electrical guide shows the optocoupler method. I personally think its best, but I'm interested to hear what other people think. 

 

The LED on page 19- I originally had it there as a test to show that the optocoupler is getting a signal. I never bothered removing it. 

Edited by kenrunio, 07 October 2013 - 06:40 PM.

[mwg]

Thanks for your explanation, i was tempted to go your route with the optocouplers. But then i read about DOF (Direct frame Output)

 

So ill just wire it up to the ledwiz and guessing my cab will be ready when the public release of DOF comes out.

 

Also Future pinball doesnt have any lag or so i heard

[Nosher]

Many, many thanks - seriously!

 

I was thinking about doing this - and this excellent write up has made my mind up !!

 

OK - now to the shopping list,,,,

 

Nosh

[nromo]

Yes, I wired my flippers this way. See schematic picture in my controller box for PC post. It works great and no lag. I use Crydom SSR's (solid state relays) which are basically opticouplers.

 

http://imagizer.imag...4/2518/r0pd.jpg

[mrarcade]

Excellent write up, bonus points for PDF so it can be easily downloaded and viewed offline. I am sure it will help me and many others.