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Virtual Pinball Machine Build Log

I'm building a virtual pinball machine with my father during my semester break,

if anyone has questions or suggestions feel free to comment.

 

What I'm going for is basically  a pinball machine, but with digital inputs and a pc in it to run simulation software.

Instead of a playfield I'll be using a 4k, passive 3d ips tv, and old 32inch 720p ips tv for the backglass 

and a 22 inch monitor to simulate the dot matrix display. Ill also add headtracking via a 360 Kinect (so the playfield always the right viewing angle,

I'm basically going for a hologram like feel coupled with the stereoscopic 3d), I might also add a tilt sensor and force feedback later on.

For games Ill mostly use Future Pinball and Pinball FX2, I might also add some other arcade or racing games later.

 

Ill recycle my media PC and put in a separate boot SSD for all the pinball stuff are, specs are:

 

i7 930 @ 4.0 ghz

12gb corsair dominator ram

650w PSU

120gb ssd

r9 280x vapor x

1 active DP 1.2 to hdmi 2.0 converter

 

Parts List:

pc: here anyway, build into the pinball machine as a drawer

Playfield 4k3d tv: mounted

Backglass TV: mounted

DMD Monitor: mounted

3/4 inch mdf wood parts: Mostly mounted and sanded down

2.1 sound system: mostly mounted

costum 90° circular polarized 3d glasses: done

Arcade Buttons and controller board: mounted

Bally Pinball Legs: mounted

Metal down and sidebar: widebody downbar temporarily mounted

Playfield and backglass tempered glass: Not ordered yet.

Ball Plunger: Not ordered yet

Coin door: On hand, frame is mounted

LED lighting and controller board: Needs more leds, RGB baby :D

Ventilation: installed

Power Switch: installed


Progress: Works + I have some tables configured the way I want to. Still bare and rough on the outside though.

Next thin to do: Cut loudspeaker holes and install cover, install coin door, install nudge mechanism, add symbols to the buttons

 

 

 

Some Pics of the cabinet:

 

IMG_20170204_182642.jpg

 

IMG_20170204_190120.jpg

 

Update 10.02.17

 

Modified the cabinet, mounted the legs, some buttons,

and the monitors, moved the pc + the sub inside the cab and got 4k 3d properly working in the Pinball fx2 arcade mode.

After we moved the cab the old 32 inch backglass monitor stopped working.

Maybe it got to hot, or it was old age, idk.

 

IMG_20170210_231859.jpg

 

 

IMG_20170210_231923.jpg

 

Update 11.02.17:

The 32 inch tv pulled a Lazarus on me and started woking again, I hope it stays that way.

The basic functionality is working now....so I mostly spend my time playing instead of working :D.

Here's a pic of pinball fx2 running on it.

 

IMG_20170211_180504.jpg

 

 

Update 14.02.17

The front end software is configured now, ill look into getting a metal frame and a playfield glass soon.

 

Here's a little video showing off how it is configured atm.

 

 

 

 

Update 15.02.17

 

Added some future Pinball  tables and launch sounds for all games, with the right settings the Kinect tracking works very smoothly.

 

Update 25.02.17:

The coin door, down bar and led buttons arrived.

I've cut up my old Antec 902 case and mounted my pc on rails in the back. Ventilation, led buttons

and the coin door frame has also been installed.

 

IMG_20170225_203857.jpg

 

IMG_20170225_160713.jpg

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Looks interesting. Can't wait to see the results!

Subbed

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Ive had most of  the cabs vital parts crudely assembled and almost had all of the basic functionality, but then the old 32 inch tv kicked the bucket.

Most likely some component came lose and it could be fixed, but Im not sure I want to go poking around in there without knowing what Im doing.

Whelp, 2 steps forward, 1 step back.

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5 hours ago, Unrealcpu said:

looks great what are the dimensions being used ? any docs?

Im using Bally widebody dimensions (since I thought about using an original lockbar).

I might make it less wide though, the tv has about 1.5cm of free space at the sides atm.

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Ive configured the front end software now, PinballX works suprisingly smooth, id highly recommend it.

I've added a little video in the first post.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Finally installed proper ventilation and mounted the pc in a cut up case on rails (R.I.P. Antek 902, at least the 200mm exhaust fan will live on). new led buttons, the coin door frame and the downbar were also installed.

 

 

IMG_20170225_203857.jpg

 

IMG_20170225_160713.jpg

 

IMG_20170225_160740.jpg

 

IMG_20170225_160727.jpg

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Looking good. Will the coin door be functional and actually cost coins to operate the machine?

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1 minute ago, lieder1987 said:

Looking good. Will the coin door be functional and actually cost coins to operate the machine?

Thats a definite...maybe.

Ill definitely light up the coin signs, use the start button on the coin door and use the tilt pendulum for nudging.

I don't have any coin validators for the coin door yet, so the coins only mostly fall on a lever that presses a leafswitch

atm. If I can't find a coin validator for cheap I might just add a small ramp, so that any coin will give 1 credit.

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