DIY Pinball Machine

[trainkid4449]

I'm currently working on a pinball machine for my High School Senior project.  I originally planned to use old EM pinball parts such as stepper units and relays.  I tried that and am having issues that I don't think can be fixed.  I'd like to try a form of computer control instead.  I already have an Ipac for inputs, but am unsure how to drive the solenoids and lamps.  I thought about using a Pac Drive to drive relays that are connected to the solenoids.  The lights would be connected directly to the other two Pac Drives.  Here is the relay board that I am thinking about using:  http://www.sainsmart.com/8-channel-dc-5v-relay-module-for-arduino-pic-arm-dsp-avr-msp430-ttl-logic.html
I would probably do the programming in VB6 since its the only language I've every used before.  Here is a link to the build thread so far:  http://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/custom-pinball-project
If you have any other ideas on how to control the solenoids and lamps I'd appreciate it.  Thanks.   

[spoot]

Ledwiz http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=239 with a http://www.zebsboards.com/index.php/component/virtuemart/view/productdetails/virtuemart_product_id/3/virtuemart_category_id/1 barebones booster board or all out with a pin-proc?  http://www.pinballcontrollers.com/

[SithMaster]

I went through some of my bookmarks for powering a solenoid (one of those if I ever get around to it/still have an interest ideas) and think this might help.  Replace the arduino in the pic with the pac drive and add an optoisolator to protect the pac drive from back surge.  I'm also unsure how well the tip120 would work compared to a mosfet.  Several projects (such as the Bioshock themed pinball) used those instead if I remember correctly.

That booster board reminded me of a project on either the future pinball or vpinball forums for a addon board to power solenoids and such using an external power supply and an ipac.  Surprisingly I didn't bookmark that topic so some digging around might be necessary.  Might be suitable for a plug and play solution.

This might be my inexperience with electronics talking but I'd avoid the relay board due to heat concerns and the lifespan due to them.  Someone with more knowledge might correct/agree with that assessment.

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