59 replies to this topic

[Thalamus]

Ah. Finally we're starting to see this one come to life. Thank you for sharing and please continue.

[mfuegemann]

Hi, 

 

a short update on the build. Most of the basic under playfield assemblies are mounted and the layout worked out. Meanwhile I am trying to get the trough opto working, but maybe the receiver board is bad and I have to find a replacement.

Today I will start to install the metal guides - so there is a lot of drilling and riveting ahead.

 

The CobraPin is connected to MPF and the normal rollover switches and the drop targets are working.

 

The kickstarter campaign for the CobraPin is ending on friday, february 26th, by the way. 

Attached Files

•  012_Underside.jpg   146.46KB   3 downloads
•  013_PLayfield.jpg   98.38KB   3 downloads
•  014_Upper_Playfield.jpg   115.96KB   1 downloads
•  015_CobraPin.jpg   234.92KB   1 downloads

Edited by mfuegemann, 24 February 2021 - 07:26 AM.

[wiesshund]

I have a curious but unrelated question

When you wedge the inserts into the playfield, you then sand the whole thing, so the inserts are flat
and i guess finish up with some super fine polishing paper so the inserts are also clear again

 

what does one do when the playfield has a printed mylar laminated graphic on it?

 

I imagine you dont want little ridges, but you cant very well sand the inserts flush to the mylar because it wont survive the sanding

Or do they actually have clear areas over the top of the inserts?

 

Must be a pain in the ass to glue and then press? or vacuum adhere to the playfield?

[chepas]

My ears were burning!

 

I look forward to seeing your progress on this, Michael.

 

I started drafting a Kickstarter campaign and can let you guys preview it when it is far enough along. I have a couple production cost questions that I have to work out before I settle on pricing.

 

I am using the CobraPin board for my 1985 Tag Team if you guys want to check it out. Still a work in progress with only a temporary cabinet. https://pinside.com/...ag-team-pinball

 

Are we limited to MPF? Is there an interface outside of Python?

 

I can't find any info on this only that your kickstarter seems tied to MPF.

 

------------------------------

Edit: I see, it's Open Pinball Project and would be possible that way. https://pinballmaker...x.php?title=OPP

 

I was tempted but it's too much of a BALLACHE for me to be buying one of these, even for basic games. I'm going to say stick with what you know. It will cost a fair bit more for P3-ROC setups.

Edited by chepas, 24 February 2021 - 10:47 AM.

[mfuegemann]

Hi wiesshund, 

 

maybe with an mylar overlay You should use one with clear sections over the inserts, not cutouts. The sanding will make the complete playfield even, so a partial mylar overlay is standing out.

My plan is to use a thick polycarbonate layer above the playfield printout. I still have to decide, if it will be a complete square layer or more like a playfield protector with cutouts around the mechanics.

The different expansion constants of the wood and plastic material play a role here.

 

Michael

[mfuegemann]

Hi,

 

just a small update, as the project was on hold for several weeks. First my real life work interfered but in a good kind of way. Then my 3D printer started to fail. That was the moment, where bying overseas was kicking in. The service by the Sovol Alibaba guys was great, but it took time for every replacement parts shipment.

Then a statement by T800 about his first realf life build "Wrath of Olympus" hammered in on me with full force. He complained at some point, that it is really hard to get the needed parts and assemblies for his production run. I am facing the same problem, but with only one machine to do. Hence I will alter the table design to work without the VUK assemblies and maybe I even add a workaround for the Kickback - as in Stern's Star Trek, where the left Outlane is triggering a mere Ballsaver too.

 

Meanwhile I have created the new mechanical Top Ramp diverter unit in Blender and the printout is working as expected. I will use this alternating ball feed until I am able to add a controlling solenoid.

The mounting holes, ramp wire connectors and the placeholder for the optos are in place already.

 

Now I do have some days off and will proceed with the build. Maybe I will get it to the point, the pin comes to life with trough and flippers connected.

 

MIchael

Attached Files

•  TopRampDiverter.jpg   74.79KB   0 downloads

[mfuegemann]

I totally forgot, that I finished the redraw of the playfield last week with vector graphics and a CMYK color scheme. Unfortunately my local print shop is closed for holidays.

To scale it up to a 300dpi print size, I had to use a 64bit version of my beloved Paint Shop Pro. I will have to buy a newer version, but for now the trial version is sufficient. The good thing about vectors is, that You can draw the image in a very low resolution and scale it up once You are finished.

 

Today I wired up my VPin-controller box and the signals of the flipper, start and launch keys get registered.

I still have one problem with the controlling laptop, as Linux is mixing up the USB ports after a restart, giving me a 50% chance of success. Maybe I figure out this at a later stage. For now I rearrange the cables, if need be.

Now the trough will be wired and then I am almost ready for a dry run without the real solenoid voltage.

Attached Files

•  Pin_Controller.jpg   183.77KB   1 downloads
•  Redraw_example.jpg   264.13KB   1 downloads

[wiesshund]

What version of PSP do you have in the 32bit version?
Should have a 64bit exe already, unless it is an older JASC version?

[mfuegemann]

PSP 64bit started only with version X6, so this would be the first option. I have to check things out, as every version has their own small flaws in a way.

[chepas]

Need to tap the guy up or made open-pinball-project to add Pinproc (which is C)

[mfuegemann]

With my 3D printer up and running again, I was able to make some progress. First the plunger lane ramp is looking fine, I have to see if the autoplunger has enough force to shoot the top loop, though.

Then I decided to not drill and rivet holders to the metal guides. Instead I printed some brackets that can be positioned along the guide. So I will be able to adjust things more easy. Most of the guides and the outhole area are installed already.

The trough is installed and the switches are working.

Attached Files

•  Metalguide_bracket.jpg   53.94KB   2 downloads
•  IMG_20210326_144860.jpg   140.87KB   3 downloads
•  IMG_20210326_144861.jpg   150.53KB   2 downloads

Edited by mfuegemann, 28 August 2021 - 05:55 PM.

[mfuegemann]

I had some time and made some progress. As I do have not enough VUKs, it was necessary to find a design solution without an under playfield ball channel and the left and right VUK.

At the Mission hole and Reactor hole You can see the design changes, I am applying to mitigate the missing assemblies.

Once I get the needed assemblies, I can add the original layout.

Attached Files

•  IMG_20210903_212726.jpg   147.92KB   1 downloads
•  IMG_20210903_212806.jpg   155.33KB   1 downloads

Edited by mfuegemann, 03 September 2021 - 08:09 PM.

[cobra18t]

It has been a few months since you brought it up, but you can assign ports in Linux so they do not rearrange themselves on reboot.

 

https://docs.mission...nt-device-names

[mfuegemann]

Hi Cobra, 

I tried something similiar with the ports but I will look into the described steps. Maybe I did something wrong.

 

Meanwhile I have aquired an empty cab and mounted resting rails for the playfield. That was quite a bit of measuring and readjustment. But I had my "No Fear" as a reference and so the result seems to be OK.

I am adjusting the MPF code to the new (reduced) table layout. After that I will connect the remaining switches and add power to the solenoids.

 

Luckily I will have two weeks off in october.

[mfuegemann]

I finished the paint job of the cab and installed some buttons and a subwoofer. Luckily with the help of a little wood framework it fits perfect.

The wiring for the layout test is getting more and more complicated. But until now I still keep track. The 10 solenoids, I need for the test are connected. Maybe I will add the bumpers too.

Now only a few switches need to be wired and the it is time for the first showdown.

 

Attached Files

•  IMG_20211127_173326.jpg   166.61KB   1 downloads
•  IMG_20211127_173155.jpg   90.6KB   0 downloads
•  IMG_20211127_161806.jpg   233.09KB   0 downloads
•  IMG_20211128_194256.jpg   247.08KB   2 downloads

[wiesshund]

It's a shame that port exits inside the cab body.
Maybe you could box and vent that out the bottom

[mfuegemann]

It is alive! (maybe I should have done a Frankenstein themed table as a first project?)

 

After extensive wiring sessions during the last weeks and a separate sub-project to get my DT-banks connected (WMS with opto switches running on 12V) , I was ready to give power to the solenoids.

First the little solenoid indicator LEDs on the Cobra board have been quite helpful to check the functionality beforehand, without real high power.

Then I mounted the playfield in the semi-prepared cabinet and all went well at the first try (I checked the solenoid wirings twice, though - banded diode side to high power connector...).

 

Attached You find some images of the wiring madness and a link to the test run video. The laptop is a bit slow, hence the lag on the DMD. 

 

The layout works quite well, maybe I have to adjust the metal guide for the arena shot from the upper flipper. The shot window is too narrow at the moment. The orbits are fun to shoot, Drop Targets, Reactor hole and Mission hole are reachable and even a return from the center mission hole comes toward the left flipper instead of an instant drain.

Next is the artwork for the playfield and the insert hole cutouts. So I will dismount everything and start again with the final playfield art in place.

 

https://www.dropbox....b_Test.mp4?dl=0

Attached Files

•  IMG_20211217_210931.jpg   171.97KB   1 downloads
•  IMG_20211231_145535.jpg   251.26KB   1 downloads
•  IMG_20211231_145558.jpg   147.77KB   1 downloads

Edited by mfuegemann, 03 January 2022 - 11:46 AM.

[toxie]

Neat! Congratulations..

(and i see that you also own a No Fear )

[mfuegemann]

It has been a long time without updates on my build. Maybe the fact that I had to uninstall all of the playfield objects and wiring for the next step hold me off, maybe it was the Ukrainean war with all its implications or the continuing Covid madness.

This week, I took some days off from work to start again, though. The only progress, I made this year have been the 3d printed ramps.

 

Removing everything went smooth and fast. I put the wiring harness onto a cardbord sheet for later reinstalling and moved the playfield over to my workshop. Here I drilled and routed the insert holes together with all the needed VUK feeds and pop-out holes.

I am quite confident that I can implement all the VUKs in the end. The magnet will be difficult, as the upper left flipper assembly is blocking the area.

I also changed the trough cutout to accomodate the second ball release solenoid, Data East features. And the Autoplunger had to move 1cm up, as the coil spring was interfering with the right flipper switch blades. 

 

The playfield overlay foil is looking good and the inserts almost perfectly match the routed holes. Only the 3 top rollover lights must be moved on the overlay. As the blue spider web lines are too dark in my opinion, I will do a reprint anyway.

 

Next thing to do is to route the switch and target holes into the macrolon layer. I will do a little test on some cutouts to not mess up the sheet.

Attached Files

•  Web_Ramps.jpg   145.69KB   0 downloads
•  Web_playfield_inserts.jpg   153.11KB   0 downloads
•  Web_inserts_misaligned.jpg   114.8KB   0 downloads
•  Web_Overlay_lit1.jpg   160.64KB   0 downloads
•  Web_Overlay_lit2.jpg   129.89KB   0 downloads

[eranalina24]

Wow
It's very cool.