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Super Glue Gun & Mini Pinball Kit:   Which One Gets Axed? -- Episode 333

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element14's The Ben Heck Show

Join the Ben Heck team every week for amazing hacks! Watch them build and mod community-inspired projects using electronics!

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Super Glue Gun
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Now that the Super Glue Gun is finished, the Mini Pinball is near completion, and they’ve got a Pi Portable in hand, James Ray returns to the show to talk about product viability. James Ray was on a few months ago to talk about the Hex Board Game.  He works with Avid, a company that is part of Avnet, the parent company of element14, on bringing products to market and evaluating them on their manufacturability.  In today’s episode, they’ll connect over skype to talk about the Super Glue Gun, the Mini Pinball, and the Pi Portable. 

 

 

The conversation with James Ray begins with a Pi Portable analysis.  The Pi Portable is a Raspbery Pi, a screen, and a keyboard that is all driven by the GPIO. To do this there was a lot of hand wiring that was done. The team is thinking that if the all the hand wiring done.  If this could be done as a PCB, you could simply plug it into an existing Pi. James suggests the compute module as an option.  The drawback would be that they would need to add a SODIMM slot and that requires too much space. The other option would be to do a custom Pi. You would basically take all the Pi internals and do a single PCB that would include all your requirements.  James goes over specifics on what Avid can offer them if they go that route. Next they move onto an analysis of the Super Glue Gun and Mini Pinball.  They analyze both builds and decide which one to keep and which one to lose.

What do you think about James Ray's Analysis?

Agree or Disagree? 

If you have any helpful suggestions let us know in the comments below!

 

Disclaimer

  • I would purchase a Portable Pi Machine, though I am willing to 3d print a case, I would love you to include at an extra cost a laser cut face plate.  Most of us do not have that capability.  Of course the rest of the bill of materials through Element14 would be great image 

     

    I am interested in the Pinball hardware as a side note, I have several pinball machines and have thought about building my own cabinet / game.  I think the best part about what you have built is the electronics that could make that possible.  Building a cabinet for me is the easy part, the electronics and how to configure the game is much more difficult. IMHO.

     

    Thank you, John

  • Hey Folks,

     

    Another vote for the pinball machine.  I like the combination of several disciplines that are necessary to build this.  I would buy a kit in a heartbeat.  Sign me up!  I am brand new here, and planned to lurk for a while, but the idea of a pinball kit is way too appealing to pass on.  Emphatic vote for the pinball machine.

     

    ”Thanks - I am going back to lurking now!  ;-)

     

    Joe

  • Personally i'm totally digging the Mini Pinball kit more than anything. Its an original idea that I would love to see come to full fruition.

  • My take on the three items:

     

    The Super Glue Gun: It was interesting watching the videos and how this was finally completed. I know you learned so much from creating this and that made it successful in its own. As a selling option...I can go to a local craft store and pick up a hot glue gun on sale easily and spend under $5. It is definitely a difficult sale and one with an extremely limited market interest.

     

    The Mini-Pinball Machine: This is something any 80's kid would love to have I believe "IF" the price is right and assembly isn't too complicated. I have watched the videos multiple times to learn something new and the way I watch the whole crew change things up from the initial design makes me feel better when I restart my own projects or re-design something.

     

    The Portable Pi Machine: Let's be honest, this one is a no brainer! I would suggest two different board designs: landscape and portrait models. Some viewers may want this version you created, others prefer the landscape style (ie. GBA, Game Gear, Wii U). If both options could be offered then you may be able to appeal to an even greater audience.

  • Like DAB, I too love the mini pinball machine.  I would like to buy one when they become available.  I built a full size pinball machine out of wood, including the flipper mechanisms. My plans are to use solenoids and a MCU or a Pi Zero.  This kit would be perfect for me so I could see how to use solenoids for the flippers, etc.  Keep up the good work.

  • I think the pi is a winner, just look at how popular pi videos and retro gaming videos are, I like the idea of an integrated board which doesn't sound outrageously expensive, but the pinball could be good too but certainly looks much more complex to get production ready.  It reminds me a bit of the picade by Pimaroni check that out as an example for your pinball, it started as a kickstarter and became a viable product.

     

    I think for the Pi to work you would need to offer it available as a complete kit or perhaps sell a base kit but with an optional case and screen that could be purchased separately.  One downside I can think of for kits is people breaking them making them and having potentially higher hassle as a result.

     

    Maybe take the Pi forward to get confidence then try the pinball.

  • I love the mini-pinball idea.

    I would definitely be interested in a kit based upon it.

     

    The glue gun is interesting, but I agree that it would probably not be an attractive product.

     

    The other game is of no interest to me as I am not a gamer.

     

    DAB

  • I would be willing to buy a kit, but would really like to see the PCB designed more modular so it could be used for different shaped consoles or even for putting a PI into pre existing shells like a lynx or game gear. It did not seem like setting up the screen to be driven from the GPIO was so hard that only that specific screen could be used.  has anyone attempted to do this with an AT056TN53 the panel seems plentiful on ebay.