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[4/1/2024] -Pi4/5 Support Incoming -Major League SkeeBall -- SkeeBall Controller
lawrence_jeff:
Great stuff @nipsmg
I recently got a cheap used home game with a broken scoreboard (the sportscraft ~$100 type). I converted the switches with the aid of a raspberry pi pico to trigger keyboard input from the existing switches and then used your app.
Its a non commercial so doesn't have 100 targets but I managed.
Spoon34:
I just picked up a Skee-Ball Lightning and am excited to implement this upgrade to it! I've read all the pages and links to other examples. It does not come with any electronics boards, but each hole does have a OMRON EE-SPY415 (optical sensor?). So I can use those, right?
I also have a Raspberry Pi 4B and 5 if I can use those.
Otherwise - a Windows PC/PC on a stick.
Here's what I think I need after reading the forums...
Power Adapter - for powering the optical sensors?
IPAC 2 - To convert the Optical Sensors into Keyboard inputs. Is that correct?
Any guidance on what else I'd need?
Thank you TONS!!
PL1:
--- Quote from: Spoon34 on December 17, 2024, 06:53:36 pm ---each hole does have a OMRON EE-SPY415 (optical sensor?). So I can use those, right?
--- End quote ---
If they're still working, you should be able to use them.
Keep in mind that these sensors are now marked "Obsolete" for Lifecycle so replacements will probably be hard to find.
--- Quote from: Spoon34 on December 17, 2024, 06:53:36 pm ---Power Adapter - for powering the optical sensors?
--- End quote ---
Datasheet: https://www.mouser.com/datasheet/2/307/en-ee_spy415-1670610.pdf
Looks like 5v Vcc should work.
Datasheet indicates max Output Power Dissipation = 250mW * 8(?) sensors ==> 2W.
W = V * A ==> 2W = 5v * __A ==> 2W/5v = 0.4A ==> 400mA.
Leave yourself some wiggle room -- use a power source that can supply at least 500mA.
NOTE: You'll probably want to tie the ground from the power source to the ground for your encoder so both are operating at the exact same voltage.
--- Quote from: Spoon34 on December 17, 2024, 06:53:36 pm ---IPAC 2 - To convert the Optical Sensors into Keyboard inputs. Is that correct?
--- End quote ---
It might be a bit of overkill for a skeeball machine, but it will work.
So will any other active-low encoder like an Arduino with a good keyboard firmware like this one.
Scott
Spoon34:
Well, either I smoked 2-3 of these Omron optical sensors, or they were all bad to start! I managed to get 1 to respond, once. Thank you for your help this week however. I hooked them directly up to the 3-wire leads on this USB Joystick Encoder that arrived quickly from Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M2X88QP?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title . However, I can't get them to respond, and my laptop USB3 port is powering the USB encoder, which is powering these switches... too much current?
Anyway, I'm going to order some switches ASAP to get this going before Christmas. I'm liking the idea of whisker switches. Any advice on switches that can be powered by the aforementioned USB Joystick Encoder would be much appreciated!
PL1:
--- Quote from: Spoon34 on December 21, 2024, 01:14:08 am ---Well, either I smoked 2-3 of these Omron optical sensors, or they were all bad to start! I managed to get 1 to respond, once. Thank you for your help this week however. I hooked them directly up to the 3-wire leads on this USB Joystick Encoder that arrived quickly from Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M2X88QP?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title . However, I can't get them to respond, and my laptop USB3 port is powering the USB encoder, which is powering these switches... too much current?
--- End quote ---
It is clear that you do not know what you are doing with this stuff. :o ??? :banghead:
Plugging a 3-pin optical sensor into some random 3-pin connector on a 100% unrelated PCB is not a way to test if the sensor is working.
If your plan is to slap random electronic stuff together and hope it works without releasing the magic smoke, then let me know now so I don't waste any more of my time.
If you have a multimeter and are willing to take the necessary time to systematically work through things, I can help you.
- You should consider starting a thread in Project Announcements for that so we don't fill up Nipsmg's thread with the many off-topic back and forth posts that this process will require.
I'm not sure if the encoder you linked to is an "active low" or "active high" device, but there's a decent chance you won't be able to draw enough amperage through it to power all of the optical switches. If you insist on using that encoder, you'll have to reverse engineer the LED buttons so you can use that info to reverse engineer the encoder PCB. Might be better to use that encoder for some other project and find one with known specs and pinout for you skee ball setup.
--- Quote from: Spoon34 on December 21, 2024, 01:14:08 am ---Anyway, I'm going to order some switches ASAP to get this going before Christmas.
--- End quote ---
You can easily pull that off if your target is Christmas 2025.
If you mean Christmas 2024 . . . don't bet on it.
--- Quote from: Spoon34 on December 21, 2024, 01:14:08 am ---I'm liking the idea of whisker switches. Any advice on switches that can be powered by the aforementioned USB Joystick Encoder would be much appreciated!
--- End quote ---
Before you write off those Omron switches, you should at least properly test them.
- They were originally chosen because they work mounted on that play field and with those balls.
If the Omron switches are bad, the next thing I'd recommend is the beam break sensors mentioned earlier in this thread. More info and 3d printable mounts at https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2932740.
Otherwise, here are some things to keep in mind if you insist on using physical switches:
- Physical switches will usually need more maintenance than optical switches in the long term due to the impact.
- You'll need to mount physical switches in a way that the wiring is protected and the ball reliably hits the arm to trigger the switch without damaging the mount.
- There is one type of wire arm microswitch that I've found that will handle the impact of the skee balls without the arm popping off -- Zippy 1351 -- but you probably don't want to order them from here on Amazon.
Scott
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