What's the best appproch to make a homebrew Pinball Machine?

[mark shaker]

I'm just starting to dream about making a homemade pinball machine. It would be by far the most time consuming and expensive project I've ever done. If I ever actually do it, I probably won't get started for a few years.

I can handle all the woodwork, metalwork, artwork and wiring, but I'm trying to figure-out the electronics. I see two approaches:

1) Use electronics from an existing pinball machine, and rewrite the software.

2) Drive everything with a PC.

If I took the first approach, I would need an SDK or at least detailed knowledge of how to control the inputs and outputs, and perhaps example source code.

If I took the second approach. I can perform the inputs using an I-Pac or other keyboard encoder. I might be able to control lighting using a couple of LED-Wizs. But how could I control the high-power stuff like solenoids, magnets and flashers? (I don't want to build my own circuit boards.)

Any ideas or suggestion on either approach would be greatly appreciated.

  - Mark

[t0rc]

I guess I'd start by designing a layout using a tool like FuturePinball http://www.futurepinball.com/

There is also a support forum where they discuss homebrew pinball cabinets.
http://www.futurepinball.com/forum/

after browsing around the forums a bit, looks like people there are taking a HDTV turning it sideways and mounting it inside a cabinet. 

Good luck on your project!

[CheffoJeffo]

Pick up a copy of the May 2007 issue of GameRoom and check out the article about Jeff Matthew's scratch-built pin. You may also be interested in the May 2007 and April 2007 issues which feature articles about the custom modding of existing pins for a charity auction.

* CheffoJeffo  wonders if Kev will see this blatant shill and reward him ...

There was a custom Batman and Robin machine featured in Pingame Journal, but I'm not a subscriber, so can't comment much. Here is a link I found about it.

There are at least two other scratch-built projects, but I can't find the links I had for them nor remember the specifics ... maybe they'll come to me after another cup of coffee.

EDIT: Found another link -- Futurama custom pinball machine

EDIT2: I totally forgot to mention that the upcoming October issue of GRM is supposed to feature an article on the construction of Rob Craig's MiniPin, an FP-based homebrew multipin.

[mark shaker]

t0rc:

I plan prototype my game using Future Pinball or Visual Pinball.

Thanks for pointing me at the forum.

I decided against a dedicated virtual pinball cabinet. I already have a pinball controller attachment (with nudge) for one of my cabinets. (Pic at the bottom of the note.) When people come over, they use it to play a childhood favorite or try a machine they always wanted to play.  Then they go play one of my real pinball machines, and never go back to the virtual one.

CheffoJeffo:

Darn! The May 2007 issue of GRM is sold out. Does that article contain any technical details? If so, I could spring for the 2007 GRM CD.

I was aware of the Superman to Futurama conversion. Ironically, I'm also considering a Futurama theme.

Futurama, Bat Man and Cabin Fever are pretty simple looking pins. If I ever go forward with this project, it will have all the features of a modern pin, ramps, multi-ball and etc.


All:

I did think of a couple ways around the solenoid control issue.

I could simply not have solenoids under CPU control: Just have them controlled by a switch and a relay, just like good old EMs. The only downside would be that it would be difficult to lock or hold balls.

Does anyone know if an LED-Wiz can be used with relays to control a high power device???

  - Mark

[headkaze]

More links

Scratch built pinball machine: http://www.users.on.net/~spaners/Coconut%20Island/
Digital pinball machine: http://www.ralphwiggum.net/multipinlog.html

If you are going to use Visual Pinball you will have to use version 6. Also it will crash when you exit if your using XP SP2+ but I have written a launcher that will prevent it from crashing called VPLaunch. More details and download here

[fatfingers]

I'm guessing changing your last name to Williams is the best bet.

[CrazyKongFan]

There was a guy who had a Three Stooges pinball game at the last 2 Midwest Gaming Classic shows in Oconomowoc WI. He took an old Dolly Parton pinball (that was in really rough shape) and did a custom sound board to replace the game sounds. Looked pretty snazzy

[KevSteele]

The guy who built the DIY pin in the GameRoom Magazine that Cheffo mentioned (yeah, I noticed ) built his own controller board and firmware. Pretty complicated stuff, actually.

Even something like an old EM machine is pretty complicated - open one up and look at the miles and miles of wires sometime.

Good news is that he's working on a new version of his controller board and programming interface to sell - no idea when it will be ready, but it should be a great thing for everyone who has ever wanted to hack together their own real pinball machine.

[mark shaker]

Thanks to everyone for the information.

*If* I ever go forward with the project, my plan is:

Write the software in c++.

Run everything from a windows box.

Use an LCD panel for the score display.

Use an I-Pac or two for switch input.

Use an LED-Wiz or two to control the lighting (all LED).

Use an LED-Wiz or two with a power supply and transistors or relays to control the solenoids. (I'm still not sure that this will work, if you know one way or the other please let me know. BTW: I probably won't have the bumpers, slingshots or flippers under computer control. )

    - Mark

[CheffoJeffo]

Bump ... I was checking for updates on the Classic Playfields site (I want my F2K playfield, backglass and plastics and I want them now!) and noticed that they did preliminary whitewoods for Jeff Matthew`s next custom pinball, which will apparently be produced in limited quantities.

http://www.snowmountainpinball.com/Welcome.html

The FAQ mentions the controller board

Can you help me build a machine?
 
DIY Pinball is planning to release pinball specific controllers for sound, lights and solenoids to the general public.  We are also planning on releasing Cabin Fever 2 (primarily a cost reduction and playfield redesign of Cabin Fever) as a complete kit.  You could take these components and build your own machine.

[extendedplayarcade]

The newest gameroom mag has a killa article on a mini pin

OH it is so nice.

I want to build one of those lcd future pinball machines.  It is on the want list

along with a ton of other stuff

pick up the newest gameroom mag.  I just got it today.  I haven't had a chance to read the article yet.  I did look at the photos.  So pretty

[extendedplayarcade]

sorry i always forget to click the additional options because i am so eager to post

[yugffuts]

Snowmountain sounds good...they need a proofreader, though (emphasis mine)...

It’s not a question of wether we can build a well playing prototype or even reproduce it a dozens of times from formal designs. 

You may also want to read this thread, as some of the main BYO guys offered their opinions:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=85043.0

It's a great thought...but the I/O needs to be solved before the average person can take a crack at a BYOP.

[tedstoner]

Home made pinball machine details:

http://Pinnovations.com/pnv/gh2006/

More details will be going up there when I have time.

[BobA]

The newest gameroom mag has a killa article on a mini pin

OH it is so nice.

I want to build one of those lcd future pinball machines.  It is on the want list

along with a ton of other stuff

pick up the newest gameroom mag.  I just got it today.  I haven't had a chance to read the article yet.  I did look at the photos.  So pretty

Here is a link to the photo spread of the minipin on flickr

http://flickr.com/photos/popbumper/sets/72157605561493627

[srarcade]

That mini-pin is very cool indeed! I only wish the guy used speakers that were more in proportion to the rest of the cabinet, they look too big. Tempting to build but I think I would feel like in the end I would really miss the physical element that only real pinball can offer.

However...this does give thought to building a real mini pinball machine though! I've done quite a bit of reading on serial port and parallel port programming and its not too difficult to drive relays or a simple LCD display with a custom program. The parts could utilize mini-playfield spares from various games and you could make as a simple C program on linux and run the thing off one of those mini mobos and CF media!

[BobA]

Problems with serial and parallel ports on a PC for I/O are the inherent delays and inaccurate timming.  A control type microprocessor or embedded PC with lots of direct I/O would be much more responsive for the application.  The PC 104  sbc and i/o are very good at it but rather pricey.  Have seen some great buys on ebay for various PLCs that have been replaced with newer equipment.