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Announcement: Plunger Kit

OakMicros plunger Pinscape potentiometer

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#1 MikePinball

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Posted 01 May 2020 - 06:04 AM

This product has been replaced by the Plunger kit Mk II.

 

I am pleased to announce the Oak Micros plunger kit. It provides an integrated potentiometer plunger solution that only needs a real Williams/Bally pinball plunger and controller hardware to read the potentiometer such as the Oak Micros Pinscape All-in-One board.

 

stage3.jpg

 

Using a real pinball plunger is a well-known technique for providing positional information to virtual pinball software. One of the simplest and most effective position sensors is a linear potentiometer, whereby the resistance changes according to the position of the potentiometer. The difficulty is always how best to attach the potentiometer to the plunger and wire it into the controller hardware such as Pinscape.

 

The Oak Micros plunger kit solves this problem by providing an integrated solution that is plug and play. The plunger kit has the following features:

  • A ready-built tested and supported product that eliminates the effort and headaches of DIY.
  • A mounting frame for the potentiometer and three #10 screws that also eliminates the need for a traditional plunger metal mounting plate.
  • A 10K ohm Bourns linear potentiometer and slider attachment.
  • A blue spring (part number 266-5001-05) that has less tension than a normal plunger spring which improves the feel of the plunger. A stiff spring is not needed when there is no physical ball to move.
  • Cable and connection header for direct wiring into your Pinscape hardware.

The Oak Micros plunger kit contains the following components as shown in the picture below:

  • Plunger frame with screwed in potentiometer, slider attachment, and cable header
  • Blue spring
  • Cable for connection to Pinscape
  • Three #10 screws to attach the plunger frame to the Williams/Bally plunger housing

plungerkit.jpg

 

As with all Oak Micros products, the plunger kit comes with a complete user guide. The kit costs $25.


Edited by MikePinball, 20 July 2020 - 03:07 PM.

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#2 coreduo0099

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Posted 02 May 2020 - 12:03 AM

Awesome!  Finally a good solution at a reasonable price!



#3 Slydog43

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Posted 02 May 2020 - 10:07 AM

I wish it also had an accelerameter also built in,  Will try one or two out though as the Volume knob is top notch.  Thanks



#4 MikePinball

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Posted 02 May 2020 - 04:39 PM

This plunger kit is designed to be used with Pinscape.

 

By nature of the plunger design, the potentiometer does not give a full range reading of 0 to maximum V (say 3.3V).  The Pinscape software takes the analog reading and converts it to a full range of motion. A calibration feature determines the minimum and maximum readings from the potentiometer.

 

Pinscape has a builtin accelerometer. Perhaps you should bite the bullet and get both this plunger kit and a Pinscape AIO ;)


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#5 MikePinball

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Posted 08 May 2020 - 04:06 PM

My first batch of 10 plunger kits is now sold out in only a week! This has obviously been a very useful and timely product for everyone.

 

I have ordered parts for the next batch. The main issue is the lead time/lack of plastic spools to use for 3D printed parts. I expect to have some more in 10-14 days and will post here when more plunger kits are available.


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#6 Genesis38

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Posted 17 May 2020 - 10:40 PM

PM sent for 2 kits Mike

#7 MikePinball

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Posted 17 May 2020 - 11:58 PM

Thanks Genesis 38.

 

Just to let everyone know, I have more plunger kits available now. I have already sold 5 7 9 from this second batch, and have another 4 in stock. I will have more as I am printing night and day to keep up with demand :)


Edited by MikePinball, 18 May 2020 - 04:01 AM.

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#8 Itchigo

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Posted 19 May 2020 - 12:42 AM

I wish I could get one of these, but I have 2 problems. First, my plunger was shortened so it doesn't hit my tv. (I have a ball loader too, so I can't move it down). Second, I'd like to keep the metal plunger I have as I have a woodrail style cab. I have a working setup mind you, this would be a backup system (linkage to a joystick on the floor of the cab).


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#9 MikePinball

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Posted 18 July 2020 - 04:41 PM

I have sold 59 plunger kits in the last months. Who knew that so many people needed plunger input device for their cabs?

 

It has now been replaced by the MK II version that is even better.


Edited by MikePinball, 18 July 2020 - 05:27 PM.

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#10 t1mekeeper

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Posted 10 June 2021 - 04:56 AM

Where do I buy

#11 MikePinball

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Posted 11 June 2021 - 02:43 AM

I'm not making them anymore - see first line of first append.


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#12 shanegpuffer

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Posted 19 March 2022 - 02:17 AM

Are the MKII still being made and sold? 



#13 htamas

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Posted 21 March 2022 - 11:53 PM

no







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