Here is a little project that shows how you can install the AimTrak light gun module into a Namco Time Crisis II type recoil gun.
The Issues at a Glance - Fitting and Conversion:
1. Determine the best fit for the AimTrak itself given the already specific design of the Namco gun plastics and AimTrak.
2. Adapt the solenoid to connect to the AimTrak system seamlessly, no splices, cuts or hacks.
3. Find an alternative conduit for the Namco gun cable hose as it is pretty specific to the Namco cabinet and doesn’t really fit well with a non dedicated shooter cabinet.
The Namco Recoil Gun - What you will need
Depending upon your budget or preference, you may just be able to get a non-working gun in decent enough shape from eBay. You will need
both left, right halves and left and right slides (basically a complete unbroken plastics), along with the trigger, trigger spring, trigger switch
and working solenoid assembly. You will also need the metal bracket that holds the wire hose and gun halves together that is mounted in the gun handle.
The cost of this adds up quick... especially with the Namco parts from Happ.
You can make this as easy or as complicated as you like. I chose complicated because I'm a tinkerer and bit of a neat nick when it comes to wiring and such.
Therefore, I made it a priority to not cut or damage the Namco hardware in anyway. The thought of cutting/grinding and hacking
up a piece of plastic that I spent more on than the actual AimTrak itself was not too appealing to me. So my rule, no alteration
to the hardware of the gun and no glue, goop, tape or anything crafty... I wanted this to fit as much as if it was meant to be in there in the first place.
The completed gun:
The camera fitted into the nose of the gun (I built a special little piece out of ABS for this):
AimTrak, wrapped in heat shrink tubing with added 2.0mm connector for USB:
TIP102 driver mounted to the solenoid assembly. You will also need to upgrade your AimTrak firmware (v8.12) so it will drive the solenoid transistor on trigger press.
AimTrak, camera removed and extended to fit in the Namco gun:
Close up of the camera mount:
Wiring harness, built to fit to the existing Namco trigger and solenoid as well as the AimTrak
Here is the hose, cable and gun mount. Utilizing the 5pos 2.0mm connector to allow for fit in the gun.