476 replies to this topic

[Tropi]

I don't use any key encoder. Launch button is still configured as VP default, what is the Enter key.
To be sure I haven't messed up the table itself I redownloaded DM and MM and tried different versions, but none of them gets a ball launched using the slamming.

[kingpinner]

Scratch that! I have just received it.

 

thanks

Edited by kingpinner, 23 September 2013 - 06:55 PM.

[Tropi]

Still struggling with getting the slam function working properly.

All versions of MM I downloaded don't launch the ball using the slam function.

Same for other tables that are expecting a launch button.

Haven't tried to patch any table yet. Is that a prerequisite?

 

Thanks

CS

[manbo]

hi

 

how long is the time between 

 

New status: Packing

 

to... shipping?  

 

It now about 6 Days... run Forrest run...  

Edited by manbo, 25 September 2013 - 06:46 PM.

[Noah Fentz]

We're labeling international orders right now.

[randr]

Don't label mine international!

[Noah Fentz]

Still struggling with getting the slam function working properly.

All versions of MM I downloaded don't launch the ball using the slam function.

Same for other tables that are expecting a launch button.

Haven't tried to patch any table yet. Is that a prerequisite?

 

Thanks

CS

 

No prerequisite. I'm wondering if it may be a different language OS that could be problematic? Thus far, all launch button tables launch with slamming in my tests.

[tonyg]

Hey Paul, has order #878 shipped yet?

[Noah Fentz]

Hey Paul, has order #878 shipped yet?

We're packing it up this weekend, up to #890, if I recall correctly.

[tonyg]

Great, thanks!

[manbo]

We're labeling international orders right now.

[frl]

Hey Paul, cs2908,

 

After an initial spot of confusion due to a dodgy USB cable, my plunger is working great, but I am having a similar sort of slam issue as cs2908.

 

What I see in game controller settings is that after calibration, if I do a slam Z-Axis jumps momentarilly to about 75% then straight back down - this is like a digital on/off jump, not an analog slide up, slide down. Paul, can you confirm that this is what is supposed to happen?  I use Future Pinball and this does cause a ball launch.

 

I always had the tube pushed onto the plunger as far as it would possibly go, what seemed to happen though was that when doing a full stroke release, the plunger was pulled back with such force by the springs that the slam function engaged and seemed to cause a delay in FP launching the ball while FP processed the rapid changes in Z-Axis.  What I ended up doing was moving the tube back a bit so the slam function doesn't engage when doing a full release.  It means the slam function doesn't work at all but normal releases work great.

 

I might be on completely the wrong track here, but it feels like the slam function would work better with FP if it translated into a button press which could be mapped to the digital plunger button, rather than a Z-Axis jump.  Any thoughts Paul?

 

I have to say, other than the slam which is a pretty minor issue for me, it's an awesome bit of kit

 

Cheers

Chris

[koadic]

Well, If the 'slam' is just a quick jump of the z axis value, then on tables with no traditional analog plunger on the table (with or without additional scripting; like MM) won't work with the slam function because it isn't looking for any analog input, only a button press.

 

Also, I foresee an issue when trying to use the slam function on any table using my plunger coding...  I have a built in 200ms 'flashback' window (can be adjusted though) when you release the plunger. What this does is when the plunger reaches a position value of 2 or less, it takes the reading from 200ms earlier to grab the intended force of the plunger. This was done because of the friction of the actual physical plunger was slowing down the return too much for the standard sample rate of 40ms where it would cause a softer than intended plunge. If you do a quick slam on the plunger, the value read from 200ms earlier may still be 0 resulting in no plunge. If this is the case, you can try lowering the 200ms value down to 120 or so (the timer interval for the plunger is set to 40ms, so you might as well make it a multiple of that). This is done by selecting the plunger object on the table and changing the Plunger Release Speed. You can also fine tune this a bit more by adjusting the timer interval as well, by dropping it down to 20ms or so, then you can use a value that is a multiple of that, like 100ms (instead of 80 or 120), to get a little bit finer control.

[Noah Fentz]

The slam feature is actually beyond the range of the plunger being naturally released, and it's inherently programmed to 'fake' a launch ball button press in the firmware.

 

I know it's worked for others that purchased the kit. I'll look into it further.

[Tropi]

Hi Paul,

thanks for looking into it more deeply.
Maybe one thing to add that might be of interest: my cab is running on Win8 64bit
@frl what OS and localization are you using?

Greetz
CS

[frl]

@cs2908, I'm on Win7 64bit, English UK.

 

Just to confirm, my slam does work (at least in Future Pinball which is all I have tried) if I mount the tube correctly, as per Paul's instructions.  The only reason I choose not to mount it that way is the apparent lag caused (I suspect) by the Z-axis jump when releasing the plunger from full stroke.  Before I changed the mounting, I also used to see a reduction in Z-Axis travel in Game Controller settings after several full stroke releases or slams - I haven't seen that since backing the tube up and "loosing" slam in the process.  Based on Paul's last note, it makes me wonder if Windows adjusts calibration after a few "beyond range" slams to take into account the increased range, which you can't actually achieve with a genuine pull of the plunger.  But I'm guessing.   FWIW, even when I had the tube correctly mounted I saw no button press on slam in Game Controller settings, only the Z-Axis jump.

 

I'd rather have reliable and responsive plunging than the slam feature so this is the way I've decided to stick for now and so far it's working well.  Slam would be nice too eventually though

 

Cheers,

Chris

Edited by frl, 28 September 2013 - 05:14 PM.

[Noah Fentz]

I'm with you on this. We added the slam feature after the Allentown show, when I witnessed a ton of people trying to slam the plunger. I think there is a fine line with the plunger tip placement between just right and too far. Too far will trigger the slam feature on a normal release.

[frl]

Hi Paul,

 

Yeah that makes sense with what I'm seeing.  I don't know if the kit is firmware upgradeable or if the slam behaviour could be changed in the driver, but if it can be I'm happy to be a guinea pig / beta tester

 

Cheers,

Chris

[Tropi]

Just to be sure I understood everyting correctly:
once I see this full stroke and release reaction in OS properties the slam is recognized correctly and further adjustment of the tip isn't nessecary, right?
Or is further tweaking nessecary and the controller will send chr 13 to launch ball once correctly adjusted?

Sorry for stressing this topic, but is very important to me, because my cab design depends on it. If the slam would launch all tables that expect a button I could drop my current launch button and replace it with the plunger, otherwise I would need a launch button additional to the plunger, what I would like to avoid.

Thanks
CS

Edited by cs2908, 29 September 2013 - 11:33 AM.

[frl]

@cs I've probably confused things with my release / slam issue. You shouldn't really see a slam on a normal release. If you do, the tip of the plunger has probably got too close to the sensor in the end of the tube.

When I do a slam with the tube pushed all the way on, in Game Controllers I see a jump in z-axis. Maybe Paul will confirm if that is what we are supposed to see. Assuming it is, I'd trust what Game Controller settings says and get it working there before looking at VP / FP...