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Randy T.: Can an LED-Wiz be used to drive pinball solenoids ???
mark shaker:
--- Quote from: Xiaou2 on September 29, 2008, 12:38:29 am --- Actually, thats pretty cheap.
However, if Im reading it correctly... its only for Pinmame use. Which means
that you couldnt really easily develop your own tables with it.
(unless you knew how to program in Williams assembly code)
Its also poorly documented for the non-electronics mechanic/builder.
It does not include a software program to Easily develop your own table.
It does not have any 'display' output whatsoever.
Id be happy with PC monitor output, as one could use a pc monitor for displaying
animations, short movie clips, having mini-video games, and much more. However, there probably should be an official add-on for true pinball display output as well.
As for sound... well, windows is capable of anything you can record really. From
Mp3 soundtracks... to short sound fx clips. There wouldnt be any real hardware
limitations... which is great :)
The system should also be set up to be able to use LEDs as well as traditional lamps.
The software should be Drag-n-drop easy. Basically creating point-loops by drawing
lines from one switch to the next on the virtual table you created. Then assigning
sounds, points and triggering effects by assigning them appropriately.
No complex scripting needed. But, could be used for people who really want super
complexity that is hard to configure with drag-n-drop methods.
** Edit
It also uses Parallel port. Such a port will probably vanish in the near future.
*** Edit 2
I already see new motherbaords that do not have any Parallel ports
--- End quote ---
Yeah the Parallel Port is the biggest issue, but apparently all you have to do to fire a solenoid is send a signal to a specific pin on the parallel port. As the communication is not bidirectional, I'm hoping that: 1) A C++ program running under Windows XP can do that. 2) It will work with a USB to Parallel Port adapter.
Here is the plan, as of this second:
Use a couple I-Pacs for switch input.
Use a couple Led-Wizs for lighting control. Perhaps with a couple PowermiteDDs for higher power drain items like General Illumination strings.
Use a AC game System's PC to Pinball Interface to control Solenoids.
(Plan B: Use an Led-Wiz + a bunch of PowermiteDDs.)
Use an LCD for scoring.
Write the software in C++ or C#.
- Mark
mark shaker:
--- Quote from: headkaze on September 29, 2008, 12:42:12 pm ---I'm wondering if a U-HID would be well suited for a pinball machine. If your writing custom software it would be easy to interface with the U-HID as the drivers appear as standard keyboard and joystick. It also includes an LED controller and analog inputs so should be quite versitile. There is also a dll I've written that allows you to control the LED's easily through software.
--- End quote ---
Another cool device. It looks like it could take the place of both the I-Pacs and Led-Wizs.
One feature I like is that you can assign a distinct ID to each board at any time. For the Led-Wiz, you have to assign the ID when you order the board. (The ID prevents the boards from being confused whenever you move them between USB ports. ) Being able to change the ID makes it easier to have a few spares laying around.
- Mark
mark shaker:
--- Quote from: yugffuts on September 29, 2008, 06:05:27 pm ---The pinmame-HW guys fell off the map a few years ago, I thought. Be interested to see if you get a response.
--- End quote ---
The web site said copyright 2008, so I'm hopeful.
- Mark
mark shaker:
--- Quote from: solderguy1 on September 29, 2008, 03:18:34 am ---Why not just copy the circuit an actual pinball machine uses? My Bally Mr and Mrs Pacman has plain vanilla transistor logic driving a TIP102 darlington transistor that can handle the high solenoid voltages. There are also a few components added for slow turn-off to help fight the inductive kickback.
I'm sure a schematic is available somewhere on the web.
--- End quote ---
The schematic is in pretty much all the pinball manuals.
I just didn't want to deal with the cost of a small circuit board run or breadboarding 20 copies of the circuit.
Hopefully the PC to Pinball Interface will solve all my problems.
- Mark
mark shaker:
--- Quote from: mrjah on September 29, 2008, 01:17:37 am ---About 10 years ago, I participated in building a pinball machine from scratch as an engineering school project.
{snip}
Anyway, at the end of the day it was a surprisingly difficult project. I can't imagine designing and building the thing from scratch, solo, without going crazy... unless a LOT of the work had been pre-engineered and made buyable.
--- End quote ---
It is a TON of work. I will be looking for a "project" machine, so that at least I don't have to build the cabinet.
About 18 months ago, I purchased a "fully restored" Addams Family from E-bay. I had to put another ^%$%^$@@ $1500 into restoring the "fully restored" machine. Just replacing the playfield with a repro took 60 hours.
- Mark
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