Author Topic: BYOCM! (Read 3751 times)

gajaman · « **on:** February 25, 2003, 01:44:33 pm »

Build Your Own Coin Mechansims!!

I haven't been able to get a coin door without paying Happs prices here in the UK, so I've built my own coin mechanisms instead...

Essentially from scraps of timber, polystyrene and a button microswitch with a piece of card taped to it I've made a coin chute type thing with the switch at the bottom. When the coin is dropped in (any coin, or a washer for that matter) it hits the button at the bottom and registers a credit!

I've done two so far with a total cost of zero as I used bits of timber I had laying around. I cut two coin slots in the front of my cab and screwed the mechanisms to the back.

Don't get me wrong, this is no substitue for a real coin door etc if you have one, but it does what I want and cost nothing - sorted, now to make a coin door looking fake front...

I don't know if anyone is interested in this or not, probably not, as it is a bit nuts, but I'll try to make some sort of diagram and post some pics if requested.

rampy · « **Reply #1 on:** February 25, 2003, 01:54:51 pm »

it is nutz.. but post pics and diagrams anyways...

I'm always looking for new ideas... plus I have a 2 chute coin door with only 1 mech - so maybe I could apply your principles to my situation...

Plus I want to see what zany solution you came up with -> you make it sound like a MacGyver episode.

Rampy

MinerAl · « **Reply #2 on:** February 25, 2003, 03:24:09 pm »

Cool!

Pics please!

I've been thinking of making my own for a while, and would like to see your solution!

jerryjanis · « **Reply #3 on:** February 25, 2003, 03:48:02 pm »

Yes I would like to see it!

gajaman · « **Reply #4 on:** February 26, 2003, 03:01:29 am »

Ok, here are some pics and a very rough diagram.

I think the chute needs to be more vertical as sometimes the coin flys off the switch accuator thing with out registering. Other than that it all works quite well!

jerryjanis · « **Reply #5 on:** February 26, 2003, 03:05:52 am »

That's awesome! It was looking so primitive until I saw that last photo where you hide everything from view with sheet metal...

eightbit · « **Reply #6 on:** February 26, 2003, 08:39:36 am »

Why not enclose the chute more so that the quarter will only pass if the switch lever moves? Also a softer switch would be easy to trip.

J_K_M_A_N · « **Reply #7 on:** February 26, 2003, 10:23:15 am »

With some nice looking and well designed stickers, that would look really cool. You could even cut a square hole above the slot and put a sticker in front of it and light it up. Cool idea.

J_K_M_A_N

Dr. J · « **Reply #8 on:** February 26, 2003, 12:27:36 pm »

That is really ingenious. I like it. Can you make it so it won't take nickles, dimes and pennies. Maybe by adjusting the stiffness of the lever these lighter coins won't trigger the switch. Of course then you'd need a coin return, and that might be complicated. Still, I think that's awsome.

killr0y · « **Reply #9 on:** February 26, 2003, 12:34:51 pm »

Thats insane dude, I love it! Dr. J, I don't see why Gajaman can't do what you are saying. If he got this far, I'm sure with a little more brainstorming he can come up with a solution to that.

Dr. J · « **Reply #10 on:** February 26, 2003, 12:42:30 pm »

Oh, I didn't say he couldn't. I just said it would be complicated. It's clear he's pretty cleaver about this.

killr0y · « **Reply #11 on:** February 26, 2003, 01:05:29 pm »

What about one of those automatic coin sorters like they have at wal-mart? You could make it so only quarters hit the button, and all other coins go to a coin return hole.

Distortion · « **Reply #12 on:** February 26, 2003, 03:25:10 pm »

Quote from: killr0y on February 26, 2003, 01:05:29 pm

What about one of those automatic coin sorters like they have at wal-mart? You could make it so only quarters hit the button, and all other coins go to a coin return hole.

that's not a bad idea, and even if it couldn't work, you could use the concept to make it work.

JD · « **Reply #13 on:** February 26, 2003, 03:43:48 pm »

Quote from: gajaman on February 25, 2003, 01:44:33 pm

Build Your Own Coin Mechansims!!

I haven't been able to get a coin door without paying Happs prices here in the UK, so I've built my own coin mechanisms instead...

you can get coin mechs on ebay and also Swallow Amusement Machines http://www.coin.demon.co.uk

JD

eightbit · « **Reply #14 on:** February 26, 2003, 03:54:53 pm »

Building your own coin mech is cool and all but you guys do realize you can get used working coin mechs for under $5. New ones from happ are $15.

I'm all about saving money or building something to make it better but you guys are getting a little crazy over here.

romid · « **Reply #15 on:** February 26, 2003, 06:53:58 pm »

Quote from: Dr. J on February 26, 2003, 12:27:36 pm

That is really ingenious. I like it. Can you make it so it won't take nickles, dimes and pennies. Maybe by adjusting the stiffness of the lever these lighter coins won't trigger the switch. Of course then you'd need a coin return, and that might be complicated. Still, I think that's awsome.

maybe a slot cut out on the path of the quarter which is slightly smaller then a quarter? other change would fall through the slot, but the quarter would continue on to hit the switch... Or maybe the quarter would get stuck in slot?

SirPoonga · « **Reply #16 on:** February 26, 2003, 07:03:07 pm »

Have you trie UK Ebay?

Here in the US I waited, but I got a coin door with mechs for $15. Just needed to strip the paint and repaint.

gajaman · « **Reply #17 on:** February 27, 2003, 02:55:15 am »

Thanks for the feed back guys.

I have, however, come across an unexpected problem.

When I has testing etc I had Defender running and set the switches up to get the credits registering pretty much 100% of the time. Since then I have been trying some other games and am getting varied results. From my list of favorites;

Defender, 1942, Asteroids, Gauntlet, Bombjack, Burgertime all register credits everytime a coin is inserted.

Pacman, 1943, Ms Pacman, and a few others only register about 25% of the time.

I've fiddled and adjusted 'til dawn but the results don't change - does anyone know if some games have a slightly different sensitivity when it comes to coin switches?

When the coin bouces off the "actuator" thing it only presses the button for a split second, this appears to be the problem.

I'm working on a solution that presses the button more firmly (or take eightbits advice and get a softer switch) but would be interested if anyone knows why some games are fine and others not.

I've been having a think about rejecting other coins and may develop this a bit further but it does complicate things somewhat As the system does what I wanted it too (assuming I can sort the Pacman etc problem out) I probably won't kill myself trying... uh oh, the seed has been planted, my brains ticking - aarrhh! - more sleepless nights ...

With regard to UK E-bay I've been checking very regularly for about 8 months now and very little by the way of parts comes up. A few coin doors have been offered but they either had a reserve nearly at Happs prices or were like an original Defender door or something that I wouldn't be comfortable hacking (and I couldn't afford...). Finally E-bay in the US has come up with some good finds part wise and bits are often so cheap that by the time the big shipping bill comes in it's still cheaper than the part alone over here, but (and on to my soap box now), it really p's me off when people put themselves as shipping internationally then won't respond to requests for details from over here - I've tried this with a number of coin doors and always had no response!

Sorry about the long post - you know how easy it is to get carried away...

mcleanjoel · « **Reply #18 on:** February 27, 2003, 07:50:53 am »

I think eightbit has the right idea about a softer switch and forcing it to close to let the token by.

How about a leaf switch - you'd have more ability to adjust it.

Also maybe you could mount it vertically so the coin presses it closed as it passes by - might make it register for longer?

MinerAl · « **Reply #19 on:** February 27, 2003, 10:05:45 am »

My suggestion would be to move the switch itself forward (away from the end of the chute) or move the end of the chute farther into the cabinet and leave the switch where it is. Make the trigger longer, and have it entirely in the way of the coin so that the coin will spend a little time on the switch before falling into the bucket.

I've been thinking of making a set of coin mechs for a project that will only accept dimes, so the games'll be $0.20 instead of $0.25. I will use real wire trigger switches.

I stay up nights thinking of things like this. Help me.

eightbit · « **Reply #20 on:** February 27, 2003, 10:12:10 am »

Quote from: mcleanjoel on February 27, 2003, 07:50:53 am

I think eightbit has the right idea about a softer switch and forcing it to close to let the token by.

How about a leaf switch - you'd have more ability to adjust it.

Also maybe you could mount it vertically so the coin presses it closed as it passes by - might make it register for longer?

I think a leaf switch is going to be to stiff. I've never worked with leaf switchs so maybe I'm wrong. You need a switch that will trip just by setting the coin on the switch. Not a switch that only works if the coin has enough momentum to trip it. An actual coin door switch has a lever that is very easy to press and the coin presses it fully as it passes. Happs in the US has the kind of switch I'm talking about for $3.50 http://www.happcontrols.com/interactive/accessories/42107500.htm. Do you chaps in the UK have a guy like Bob Roberts selling you stuff on the cheap? With no minumum orders and reasonable shipping rates?

gajaman · « **Reply #21 on:** February 27, 2003, 12:06:47 pm »

I think you've hit the nail (or switch) on the head eightbit!

I'm definately going to order four of those wire switch babies, that should be problem solved.

I will have to get them from Happs though as I don't know of any other UK peeps that do this sort of thing. Still for around

Rocky · « **Reply #22 on:** February 27, 2003, 12:58:33 pm »

Quote

When I has testing etc I had Defender running and set the switches up to get the credits registering pretty much 100% of the time. Since then I have been trying some other games and am getting varied results.

I've noticed that not all games register credits the same. For me, Mr. Do's Wild Ride is the main one that I noticed it on. It requires that you have a very short press of the switch and then release. (When I hold the switch in for a 1/2 second or longer and then release, I get no credit).

I think coin mech switches with the wire actuators will solve this problem for you.

BTW, making your own coin mechs is pretty over-the-top. Wow

Rocky


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