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Pro Pinball • View topic - 52.5%-ish scale machine
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52.5%-ish scale machine

PostPosted: Sat Mar 29, 2014 12:10 am
by Jiiniasu
Hello everybody,

I thought I'd share some inspiration with my and my friend's ongoing 52.5%-ish scale machine. The very idea of building a small pinball machine came up several years ago, and the project of building two machines started about two years ago. Unfortunately the project had been paused on several occasions, but we have been able to make good progress the last couple of months.

The build started with building a prototype to get the general idea of size.

prototype_01.jpg
Almost finished prototype machine

prototype_02.jpg
Insides of (pretty much) finished prototype body


When the prototype was made we moved on to model a final version with the help of CAD. Since none of us had any remarkable CAD skills we had to spend time to find a working CAD-application and to actually develop enough skills to do what we needed to do.

<Insert time warp here> (Good place to crowbar a Timeshock reference into the text, right? =P)

10 versions and about a year of modeling, redesigning and testing later we've currently got this;
A machine held together with angles and screws which is almost IKEA-grade flat-packable (Yep, we're swedes.) and highly service-friendly considering the size.

main_assembly_01.png
Current machine CAD overview front

main_assembly_02.png
Current machine CAD overview with backbox down

main_assembly_03.png
Current machine CAD overview back

main_assembly_06.png
Current machine CAD inside overview front

main_assembly_05.png
Current machine CAD inside overview back

main_assembly_07.png
Current machine CAD inside door

backbox_assembly_01.png
Current machine CAD backbox interior side view


CAD-images aside, this is the first non-prototype version of the backbox. There has been minor changes since, but looks pretty much the same as back when these photos were taken.
backbox_1.jpg
First version of backbox assembled, unmasked

backbox_2.jpg
Close-up on speaker grills and DMD-monitor

backbox_3.jpg
A somewhat disproportioned machine sound-test

backbox_4.jpg
First backbox version masked and tested


I hope our somewhat unusual choice of internal backbox design doesn't backfire completely when Timeshock arrive... Would be nice if the display area can be adjusted for DMD/backglass accordingly. =P

Some more recent photos on the ongoing first body:
2014-03-16.jpg
Body (front) progress as of 2014-03-16

2014-03-17.jpg
Body progress as of 2014-03-17 with some components laid out for review


I hope this thread sparks some inspiration in people planning/considering building a mini-cabinet!

Re: 52.5%-ish scale machine

PostPosted: Sat Mar 29, 2014 12:32 am
by Fildron
Awesome :-)

Which CAD software did you use?

Re: 52.5%-ish scale machine

PostPosted: Sat Mar 29, 2014 12:38 am
by Jiiniasu

Re: 52.5%-ish scale machine

PostPosted: Sun Mar 30, 2014 12:23 pm
by Jiiniasu
We've been able to work a bit on the machine and made some tests on the pc hardware in it.

001.jpg
PC hardware test run with all three monitors active. (backglass uncalibrated)

002.jpg
The messy insides of the machine during the test.

003.jpg
Backbox fold test. Works fine!

004.jpg
Cable management between backbox and body works as intended.

Really looking forward to see how nice it will look with Timeshock loaded when it gets released!

Re: 52.5%-ish scale machine

PostPosted: Mon Mar 31, 2014 11:30 am
by insx
Wow, I would have been happy with the prototype! Very nice work.

Re: 52.5%-ish scale machine

PostPosted: Mon Mar 31, 2014 6:21 pm
by Fildron
Hmm I think I'll keep my eyes open for a different program. Thanks though:-)

Re: 52.5%-ish scale machine

PostPosted: Sat Apr 05, 2014 6:30 am
by Jiiniasu

Re: 52.5%-ish scale machine

PostPosted: Sat Apr 05, 2014 9:06 pm
by Fildron
This is amazing. Thanks for sharing.

The only CAD I used so far was AutoCAD waaaay back in vocational school. Something like 20 or so years ago ;)
There were basic shapes and you could type the coordinates into the X/Y text fields. Something like that, for technical drawings and such. I don't really mind the 3D aspect and I can't really work well with 3D programs (I would end up being more productive with pen and paper;) ). The typing coordinates and printer support is really all I need.
I will explore those programs you mentioned and see what they offer, thanks for the suggestions :)

Re: 52.5%-ish scale machine

PostPosted: Sun Apr 06, 2014 9:15 pm
by insx
After going to all that effort and doing such a good job, I think you should go into production.

Re: 52.5%-ish scale machine

PostPosted: Sun Apr 27, 2014 9:18 pm
by Jiiniasu
We've been working hard on getting parts ready to be made in a final version. Lots of machining, head-scratching and testing...

Legs are made, although one of them has to be adjusted/remade.
18.jpg
One of the back legs.


A lockdown bar in metal has been made!
01.jpg
Machining the corner of the lockdown bar.

02.jpg
Another angle of the machining.

04.jpg
Lockdown bar mounted directly after machining.

06.jpg
Lockdown bar after some sanding.


A well needed front panel for some controls and easy access to USB.
05.jpg
Test panel for controls behind "coindoor". Some adjustments to be made.


Rails in stainless steel! Proven to be a challenge to machine with the DIY-CNC-mill we use.
09.jpg
Stainless steel rail!

10.jpg
Transition from aluminium lockdown bar to stainless rail.


Getting this far we just had to see how it would look like if we'd have a cabinet version of Timeshock. A very nice sight indeed. Too bad it's just a bunch of images. =P
08.jpg
Machine loaded with some Timeshock images! Looking forward to the real deal!