Mechanisms

Our course objective is to build a pinball machine or ball sculpture. In the DIY spirit of building rather than buying, what kinds of structures can be easily made with the parts on hand? Our resources include a CNC router, laser cutter, and the Physical Computing Lab inventory.

  1. Playfield. This can be made from several sheets of 1/2 inch plywood, individually CNC-cut and stacked together. That will allow a basic tilted floor and 12 mm or 24 mm walls. Holes can be cut in the floor for mounting sensors or actuators below and routing wires. Actuators and sensors can also be mounted along the edges of the play area.
  2. Pins. Nails in the playfield can passively randomize balls falling through them.
  3. Internal passive bumpers or islands. This creates obstacles and lanes within the main play area.
  4. Manual drop area. Could be used in lieu of a ball shooter to place a ball in play.
  5. Manual spinner. A star-shaped part on a pivot with finger holds could provide a manual input other than a flipper.
  6. Pivoting gate. A servo or solenoid could move a gate between two positions to select a ball path. The gate could be a piece of wood or plastic over a shoulder screw pivot.
  7. Ball spinner. A lightweight part on a pivot will rotate when the ball strikes it. An optical sensor can detect the rotation.
  8. Randomizer. A DC motor constantly rotating a turntable will eject crossing balls in random directions.
  9. Drop target?
  10. Coin acceptor?
  11. Tilt sensor?
  12. Targets. A small steel spring holding a wooden part can act as a target. A microswitch behind the base can detect collision.