Mechanical Table Pinball IMPROVED Instructable

8/19/2019 Mechanical Table Pinball IMPROVED Instructable

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http://www.instructables.com/id/Mechanical-Table-Pinball-IMPROVED-instructable/

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Mechanical Table Pinball (IMPROVED instructable)by inspiredwood on August 14, 2012

Table of Contents

Mechanical Table Pinball (IMPROVED instructable) ....................................................................................

Intro: Mechanical Table Pinball (IMPROVED instructable) ............................................................................

Step 1: Planning and drawing the table layout on a paper (app. 30x60 cm) ................................................................

Step 2: Draw the side pieces according to your liking - make sure the table tilts app. 5-7 degrees ...............................................

Step 3: Cut out the layout elements form 18 mm plywood with at jigsaw ..................................................................

Step 4: Making elastic bumpers ................................................................................................

Step 5: Fix all the table elements with screws .....................................................................................

Step 6: The flippers .........................................................................................................

Step 7: The plunger .........................................................................................................

Step 8: Ramp .............................................................................................................

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Intro: Mechanical Table Pinball (IMPROVED instructable)

This little video shows, the entire project and the steps written below. Se the steps for further detail. The entire pinball machine was done in app. 100 hours and cost lethan 100$.

1. Plan and draw the table layout on a paper (app. 30x60 cm)2. Draw the side pieces according to your liking - make sure the table tilts app. 5-7°3. Cut out the base table and the side pieces from 12 mm plywood4. Cut out all the bumpers, flippers and other elements from your 1:1 layout drawing to make your cutting templates5. Cut out the layout elements form 18 mm plywood with at jigsaw6. If you like some elements to be "bumpy", your have to drill 6 mm holes in them from the side to attach rubber band. The bands are fixed from the top with screws.

7. Fix all the table elements with screws (it is advisable to cut large elements into smaller segments - in case you have to make minor adjustments for better playability8. The flippers are fixed to some brass tubes (5 mm) with small screws. You have to drill some 2 mm holes in advance to prevent the plywood from breaking.9. The same applies for the f lipper mechanics underneath the table10. Remember to use washers between the flippers and the table and underneath as well to ensure easy going mechanics11. The mechanics works as shown in the video. If you don't have "Mechano" beams, you could make them from a paddle paint or similar (remember washers)12. the plunger is made from a spring and a 6 mm beech stick. I made the handle and the plunger from a piece of 12mm beech stik with a 6 mm hole. I is attached witglue. The plunger has a small piece of neoprene stuck to it for padding13. If you want ramps on your table, you can either make it from 18 mm plywood or from welding beams.


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Step 1: Planning and drawing the table layout on a paper (app. 30x60 cm)I planed and drew the table in Illustrator. The picture shows an early version of the table, (I know this drawing is differend. I don't have the file for the final table, so thispicture will have to do) The scaling is based on the size of the steel balls I used. (from Geomag 12mm).Once you have the table layout finalised, cut out the different pieces to make some templates.Traw the templates on 18 mm plywood (so the table boundaries are higher than the ball. This is important, so the ball doesn't fly of the table to easy and if you want tomake it to layered like I did!

Step 2: Draw the side pieces according to your liking - make sure the table tilts app. 5-7 degreesOnce you know the table layout, you have to make a suiting "box" for the whole thing. Side pieces, endings, rear piece... Make sure, you design the sides, so the give

table a tilting of 5-7°(that's standard for pinball games and ensures, that the mechanical plungers and flippers are strong enough to ensure good playabillity).

I have to admit, that I don't plan the entire thing up front, I measure an plan, as things get more clear during the process. That goes for the hole for the plunger handleand so on... Also, you will notice, how the different parts of the table layout are made out of smaller segments. That makes it easier to apply adjustments to the layout turns out, the ball runs in some annoying ways...

Cut out the base table and the side pieces from 12 mm plywood and assemble the box and table. (NOTE since i only have the finished project, I can't show you the bowithout the layout mounted on it all ready - so you will have to imagine, that they aren't there yet...)

Cut out all the bumpers, f lippers and other elements from your 1:1 layout drawing to make your cutting templates


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Step 3: Cut out the layout elements form 18 mm plywood with at jigsawIt's fun time. I use a electric jigsaw to cut out all the pieces from 18 mm plywood. This takes some time and I am not sure, if at jigsaw is the best tool, but I don't havebetter...After cut out, you can check the fitting with your printout.


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Step 4: Making elastic bumpersIf you like some elements to be "bumpy", your have to drill 6 mm holes in them from the side to attach rubber band. The bands are fixed from the top with screws. Youshould burn the elastics with a lighter in the end, so the don't split and are easier to fit into the holes.

Step 5: Fix all the table elements with screwsit is advisable to cut large elements into smaller segments - in case you have to make minor adjustments for better playability.


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Step 6: The flippersThe flippers are fixed to some brass tubes (5 mm) with small screws. You have to drill some 2 mm holes in advance to prevent the plywood from breaking. The sameapplies for the flipper mechanics underneath the table. To get a better idea on, how the flippers work, check out the video. The long mechano beams are used to transthe lever movement to the upper secondary flippers. Remember to use washers between the flippers and the table and underneath as well to ensure easy goingmechanics. If you don't have "Mechano" beams, you could make them from a paddle paint or similar (remember washers)


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Step 7: The plungerThe plunger is made from a spring and a 6 mm beech stick. I made the handle and the plunger from a piece of 12mm beech stick with a 6 mm hole. I is attached withglue. The plunger has a small piece of neoprene stuck to it for padding. I f you don't have a fitting spring, you can make one out of piano wire. Bend 1 mm wire around 7mm stick til you get a spring. Pull it apart to give it "spring power". Then harden the steel by heating the spring with a lighter and shock cool it quickly in cold water.

Step 8: RampIf you want ramps on your table, you can either make it f rom 18 mm plywood or from welding beams. I used both...The first picture also shows the multi ball release. I made it by folding some thick plastic. I catches your ball if you are lucky. You are then allowed to plunge a new balinto the game. If you hit the ball catcher from below, it will release the balls it has caught and you have multi ball release!!


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Mechanical Table Pinball IMPROVED Instructable