1103 replies to this topic

[poposchmatzer]

Thanks for your response. I am afraid the term "at the same time" is mistaken, more correct would be "in the same table, once as analog plunger and once as a kicker shot"

[kiwiBri]

I apologize if this has already been mentioned.
Is it possible to use the CCD sensor as analog plunger and ZB Launch Ball at the same time? Let's say, pull plunger to launch ball and do skill shots and push plunger to shoot the ball during game like the Terminator 2 cannon.

You don't happen to have a spare CCD sensor or know of any places to still find one?
just thought I'd ask. Ive had no luck

[poposchmatzer]

Sorry, I don't have a spare one. There was a end-of-liftime thread a couple of month ago,looks like it's no longer available.

[mjr]

Thanks for your response. I am afraid the term "at the same time" is mistaken, more correct would be "in the same table, once as analog plunger and once as a kicker shot"

 

Do you have any tables in mind where you'd need both?  All of the Launch Ball tables I've seen are completely plunger-less.

 

But even so, it actually would work if you did have a table with both, as long as DOF turns on the ZB Launch Ball output at the proper times.  The DOF configs for the launcher tables mostly use the launcher chute switch to tell when a ball is ready to be launched, and only turn on ZB mode then.  So if you had a table with both a launcher and a plunger, DOF would only active ZB mode when the ball was at the launcher, so regular plunger mode would work at other times.

[kiwiBri]

Sorry, I don't have a spare one. There was a end-of-liftime thread a couple of month ago,looks like it's no longer available.

 

No worries. funny thing, I just checked again now, and it looks like they are taking back orders again   

[mjr]

In case you're not following the firmware thread, I wanted to mention the exciting new development that the IR features are finally implemented in the software.  If you have the IR receiver and transmitter installed on the expansion boards and wish they could do something, well, they finally can!

 

http://www.vpforums....=34679&p=374391

[roar]

In case you're not following the firmware thread, I wanted to mention the exciting new development that the IR features are finally implemented in the software.  If you have the IR receiver and transmitter installed on the expansion boards and wish they could do something, well, they finally can!

 

http://www.vpforums....=34679&p=374391

 

I put the components on my board but ended up using the relay to turn my TV's on... it works really well, I may play around with it though just to see if I can figure it out

 

Look in my footer

 

Nice 

 

But 24 euro's (for two) versus 29 dollars (for ten) via Elecrow... Tough decision   

 

 

I can sell you a set of 3 boards for my cost + shipping. I've shipped overseas and it was pretty reasonable if memory recalls. I'm thinking for the 3 boards and shipping it was around $30CDN.

[Rappelbox]

I updated the set

[kiwiBri]

Hi, well its time to install the pinscape - and I'm stuck.. for the life of me I can't fingure out where to wire the buttons to?!  I have the original build guide (v1) and (v2) . In v1 there are diagrams but they talk about the KL25Z pins..    I can see the header for the 24 pins on the Pinscape Main board.. ok , so I take one of those and I need to connect that to the button, and the other side of the button to GND right?  Where is the GND pin?!  

 

Are there any information of the headers for the Pinscape main boards  somewhere? I did read through most of the pages here .

 

 

EDIT:  ofcourse, after I post the above I was thinking the buttons maybe coming out as KEYBOARD keys not Joystick buttons.. fired up Notepad and tried again. I got the buttons to work. Looks like PIN 26 is the GND pin and 1-24 are the button pins, with 25 not used??

 

Do we have a diagram somewhere of the mainboard layout with pin assignments? or a table describing this all?

Edited by kiwiBri, 26 March 2017 - 05:50 AM.

[Rappelbox]

Give me some time, I was already creating an overview image, but didn't find the time for now. But since I heard that request a couple of times in the last days i think i have to take the time...

[mjr]

EDIT:  ofcourse, after I post the above I was thinking the buttons maybe coming out as KEYBOARD keys not Joystick buttons.. fired up Notepad and tried again. I got the buttons to work. Looks like PIN 26 is the GND pin and 1-24 are the button pins, with 25 not used??

 

Do we have a diagram somewhere of the mainboard layout with pin assignments? or a table describing this all?

 

Sorry this isn't in the new documentation yet!  You figured it out correctly, though - pins 1-24 are buttons 1-24, and pin 26 is the common that connects to all of the buttons.

 

The EAGLE schematics are the only full diagram of the boards I have so far, but new manual will eventually have a friendlier diagram.

 

Note that the button tester in the config tool (click the "Buttons" icon on the front page) should make it a little easier to test the buttons.  It shows you the physical status of each button input, in addition to the joystick and keyboard activity, all on one screen.

[mjr]

And just in case you're running the older config tool, here's the current version:

 

http://mjrnet.org/pi...eConfigTool.zip

 

Just download that and unzip everything into a folder, then run PinscapeConfigTool.exe.  That includes the button tester, and also lets you view and change all of the button key assignments.

[roar]

I ran the new tool last night and had some trouble with the button tester, once I alt-tabbed away from it I could get it back to the front at all. In genearl ALT-F4 doesn't close the tool either, those are my go to commands . That and Windows Key and arrow button's to move programs off my playfield monitor and on to the backglass.

[mjr]

I ran the new tool last night and had some trouble with the button tester, once I alt-tabbed away from it I could get it back to the front at all. In genearl ALT-F4 doesn't close the tool either, those are my go to commands . That and Windows Key and arrow button's to move programs off my playfield monitor and on to the backglass.

 

The button tester disables all of the dialog keys so that you can test any button without triggering any side effects in the dialog, but it's probably better to keep the ALT+F4 enabled.  And I didn't realize Alt+F4 is disabled in the other screens; that was unintentional, turns out to be a side effect of the way I'm using the html renderer control.  I'll fix that.

 

I don't know why you had such weird behavior Alt+Tab.  That seems to work the normal way on my machine.  Maybe it's some interaction with something else that's running, like maybe something with an always-on-top window, or PBX?

[mjr]

 

EDIT:  ofcourse, after I post the above I was thinking the buttons maybe coming out as KEYBOARD keys not Joystick buttons.. fired up Notepad and tried again. I got the buttons to work. Looks like PIN 26 is the GND pin and 1-24 are the button pins, with 25 not used??

 

Sorry this isn't in the new documentation yet!  You figured it out correctly, though - pins 1-24 are buttons 1-24, and pin 26 is the common that connects to all of the buttons.

 

It's a little late for your build, but I've filled out the buttons section in the new guide.  Hopefully it'll be helpful to the next person looking for these details!

 

http://mjrnet.org/pi...php?sid=buttons

[kiwiBri]

 

 

It's a little late for your build, but I've filled out the buttons section in the new guide.  Hopefully it'll be helpful to the next person looking for these details!

 

http://mjrnet.org/pi...php?sid=buttons

 

 

 

No, not too late!! thanks!   I had a splitting headache the other night and stopped working on stuff.  I had been using some short jumper wires to test out the buttons etc from my laptop before installing in the cab. Pinscape board is mounted on a wooden board for now to make it easier to work on . 

I'm going to figure out what buttons I need for Visual Pinball use for my set up and then work out how to wire them up. Most likely go pinscape to a connector strip, then to the buttons rather than directly to the buttons. 

 

I just skimmed through it, there's a small typo in the document: "(Pin 26 on this header isn't used, so we put a big black X over it here.)"  should be "Pin 25" .    

 

I really like the implementation of the pulse mode - I was hoping to wire up a switch for the coin door (will a std micro switch be fine, or can I use a coin door switch?)  as well and I didn't realize this feature was implemented!

 

Are there any other sections of the guide that have been update in the past few months? I printed the guides out in December and have been using the paper versions as reference as its easier for me to read.

 

thanks again MJR !

Edited by kiwiBri, 28 March 2017 - 03:49 PM.

[mjr]

I'm going to figure out what buttons I need for Visual Pinball use for my set up and then work out how to wire them up. Most likely go pinscape to a connector strip, then to the buttons rather than directly to the buttons. 

 

My own thinking would be to skip the intermediate connector strip and just terminate the button wires at the 26-pin connector that plugs into the expansion board.  I think of the wiring as a permanent part of the cabinet that should never have to be removed, and then use some kind of plug-in connectors at each end of the wiring so that whatever's plugged in there can be easily plugged, unplugged, removed, serviced, replaced, upgraded, etc.  But an intermediate connector strip wouldn't do any harm (other than taking up space!).

 

 

I just skimmed through it, there's a small typo in the document: "(Pin 26 on this header isn't used, so we put a big black X over it here.)"  should be "Pin 25" .    

 

Thanks for catching that!  Let me know if you find any other errors.

 

 

I really like the implementation of the pulse mode - I was hoping to wire up a switch for the coin door (will a std micro switch be fine, or can I use a coin door switch?)  

 

A micro switch should work in principle, but I tried that when I was setting up my cab and had nothing but trouble with it.  The problem was that the microswitches are so darned "micro".  I couldn't find a way to position such a small switch for the right amount of pressure from the door.  Everything I tried ended up with so much pressure that it would crush the microswitch spring and make the switch stick after the door was closed for a couple of days.

 

I finally relented and got the type of switch they use in the real machines:

 

http://www.pinballli...product&id=1521  (interlock switch)

http://www.pinballli...product&id=4016  (bracket for interlock switch)

 

That made it trivial to get it working reliably.  As always, the right tool for the job is key.

 

 

Are there any other sections of the guide that have been update in the past few months? I printed the guides out in December and have been using the paper versions as reference as its easier for me to read.

 

I haven't actually added too much since then - this new buttons chapter, obviously, and some tweaks to the parts list and nudge/tilt chapters.  Other than that it's just a few revisions and corrections here and there.

[kiwiBri]

Hi, so I realised I may have got the wrong type of connector for the 26 pin header on the Pinscape board for the keyboard pins...  I have a 26 pin ribbon cable type plug.  Are you guys using the Crimp Pin Style plugs? I dont think they come in 26 pin sizes usually in 1, 2, 4, 6  sizes?  

[mjr]

Hi, so I realised I may have got the wrong type of connector for the 26 pin header on the Pinscape board for the keyboard pins...  I have a 26 pin ribbon cable type plug.  Are you guys using the Crimp Pin Style plugs? I dont think they come in 26 pin sizes usually in 1, 2, 4, 6  sizes?  

 

You can definitely use the IDC ribbon cable connector (it'll fit the header), but then you probably will want some other connector like the terminal strip you mentioned earlier.  Ribbon cables are kind of hard to use for individual connections by themselves since the wires are only designed to mate to another IDC plug at the other end.

 

I did find a 26-pin crimp housing, although that is indeed larger than the typical ones.  It's on the parts list:  Molex 90142-0026, Mouser part # 538-90142-0026.  

[kiwiBri]

 

Hi, so I realised I may have got the wrong type of connector for the 26 pin header on the Pinscape board for the keyboard pins...  I have a 26 pin ribbon cable type plug.  Are you guys using the Crimp Pin Style plugs? I dont think they come in 26 pin sizes usually in 1, 2, 4, 6  sizes?  

 

You can definitely use the IDC ribbon cable connector (it'll fit the header), but then you probably will want some other connector like the terminal strip you mentioned earlier.  Ribbon cables are kind of hard to use for individual connections by themselves since the wires are only designed to mate to another IDC plug at the other end.

 

I did find a 26-pin crimp housing, although that is indeed larger than the typical ones.  It's on the parts list:  Molex 90142-0026, Mouser part # 538-90142-0026.  

 

 

Thanks! - Mouser is great, very fast (next day ) shipping, but a bit pricey for small orders. I forgot to order my Diodes for solenoids and resistors for RGBs when I put in the order for the TSL1410R - in all the excitement   I'll have to work out the parts I need and maybe do another order.

I don't often have the time to get to the local electronics supply store - ( Its 30-40mins drive each way)  so maybe online ordering is the way to go for convenience factor for sure. I see DigiKey has it in stock (same Molex number).

 

I could possibly try to wire individual strands of wire to the IDC Ribbon cable, but that would be messy later on if I need more connections..

 

So talking about connectors, I have been staying up tonight and reading up the first few pages of this thread...phew..  I am starting to understand Roar's questions now as I am starting to get a feel for the project in terms of the Pinscape side of things!    Is there a list of the type of power connectors to use to connect the PSU1 and PSU2 to the main board somewhere in the documentation? 

Edited by kiwiBri, 29 March 2017 - 06:02 AM.