Mini Pinball Kit Steps

Mini Pinball Kit Stepshttps://community.element14.com/challenges-projects/element14-presents/benheck/mini-pinball-kit/w/documents/1960/mini-pinball-kit-stepsen-USTelligent Community 12Mini Pinball Kit Stepshttps://community.element14.com/challenges-projects/element14-presents/benheck/mini-pinball-kit/w/documents/1960/mini-pinball-kit-stepsMon, 07 Aug 2017 21:48:58 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:43ccd8b0-c702-4c02-a3be-7b9fdcf3a5ddtariq.ahmadhttps://community.element14.com/challenges-projects/element14-presents/benheck/mini-pinball-kit/w/documents/1960/mini-pinball-kit-steps#commentsCurrent Revision posted to Documents by tariq.ahmad on 8/7/2017 9:48:58 PM<br /> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="padding:0px;margin:0px;background-color:#c4e3ed;width:100%;"><tbody><tr><td rowspan="3" style="padding:6px 0px 10px 11px;vertical-align:top;"><a href="/e14/assets/legacy/TBHSlogo2.png"><img alt="image" class="nolightbox" src="/e14/assets/legacy/TBHSlogo2.png" /></a></td><td rowspan="3" style="vertical-align:top;padding:8px 13px 13px;"><p style="margin:0;font-size:18px;font-weight:bold;padding-bottom:6px;"><a class="jivecontainerTT-hover-container jive-link-community-small" href="/challengesprojects/element14-presents/benheck/">element14's The Ben Heck Show</a></p><p style="margin:0;padding-bottom:6px;line-height:18px;"><strong>Join the Ben Heck team every week for amazing hacks!</strong> Watch them build and mod community-inspired projects using electronics!</p><p style="margin:0;"><a href="/challengesprojects/element14-presents/benheck/">Back to The Ben Heck Show homepage <img loading="lazy" alt="image" src="/e14/assets/legacy/gen/LinkArrow.gif" /></a></p></td><td style="padding:13px 10px 13px 13px;background-color:#004156;vertical-align:middle;" width="30%"><a class="jivecontainerTT-hover-container jive-link-community-small" href="/challengesprojects/element14-presents/benheck/mini-pinball-kit/"><span style="color:#ffffff;text-decoration:none;">Mini Pinball Kit</span></a></td></tr><tr><td style="padding:13px 10px 13px 13px;background-color:#005973;vertical-align:middle;"><a class="jivecontainerTT-hover-container jive-link-community-small" href="/challengesprojects/element14-presents/benheck/ben-heck-exclusive/"><span style="color:#ffffff;text-decoration:none;">Featured Bonus Content</span></a></td></tr><tr><td style="padding:13px 10px 13px 13px;background-color:#006f91;vertical-align:middle;"><a class="jive-link-wiki-small" href="/challenges-projects/element14-presents/benheck/ben-heck-exclusive/w/documents/9678/the-ben-heck-show-episode-archive"><span style="color:#ffffff;text-decoration:none;">See All Episodes</span></a></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="margin:0;padding:0px;"> </p><p style="margin:0;margin:6pt;"><span style="font-size:26pt;">Mini Pinball Kit</span></p><p style="margin:0;"><span style="font-size:15pt;color:#007fac;font-weight:bold;"><a name="gstart"></a>1.  GETTING STARTED</span></p><ol style="list-style-type:decimal;"><li><ul style="list-style-type:disc;"><li><span style="color:#252525;">Discuss original idea / episodes (use footage flashbacks)</span></li><li><span style="color:#252525;">Talk about what we liked / didn’t like</span></li><li><span style="color:#252525;">Why we believe it’s a good project</span></li><li><span style="color:#252525;">Map out project goals / major design challenges</span></li><li><span style="color:#252525;">Design drawing and sketches</span></li><li><span style="color:#252525;">Order in sample MCU’s and solenoids</span></li><li><span style="color:#252525;">Decide major parts and begin sourcing:</span><ul style="list-style-type:disc;"><li><span style="color:#252525;">What is the minimum # of mechs we can design to achieve a game?</span></li><li><span style="color:#252525;">Is this a kit? What’s the target cost?</span></li><li><span style="color:#252525;">What scale do we want to use?</span></li><li><span style="color:#252525;">Is the design generic, and buyer adds a theme?</span></li><li><span style="color:#252525;">What is the skill level to assemble?</span></li></ul></li></ul></li></ol><p style="margin:0;padding:0px;"> </p><p style="margin:0;margin-left:6.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:0in;"><span style="color:#252525;"><strong>GOAL: Create product roadmap & design spec</strong></span><a name="choosemcu"></a></p><p style="margin:0;padding:0px;"> </p><p style="margin:0;padding-top:12px;"><span style="font-size:15pt;color:#007fac;font-weight:bold;">2.  CHOOSING A MICROCONTROLLER</span></p><ol style="list-style-type:decimal;"><li><ul style="list-style-type:disc;"><li><span style="color:#252525;">What does the system need to do?</span><ul style="list-style-type:disc;"><li><span style="color:#252525;">1 channel SFX</span></li><li><span style="color:#252525;">1 channel music</span></li><li><span style="color:#252525;">Video? LED? LCD?</span></li><li><span style="color:#252525;">What’s the cheapest way to display information?</span></li><li><span style="color:#252525;">Do we use the Teensy 3.0 like before or is there a better, cheaper option?</span></li><li><span style="color:#252525;">How do we make this as user-configurable as possible?</span></li><li><span style="color:#252525;">Experiment with several MCU’s, then order more of the one we like best</span></li></ul></li></ul></li></ol><p style="margin:0;padding:0px;"> </p><p style="margin:0;margin-left:5.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:0in;"><span style="color:#252525;"><strong>GOAL: Find the right MCU and starting sourcing for production.</strong></span><a name="mechs"></a></p><p style="margin:0;padding:0px;"> </p><p style="margin:0;padding-top:12px;"><span style="font-size:15pt;color:#007fac;font-weight:bold;">3.  DESIGNING MECHS</span></p><ol style="list-style-type:decimal;"><li><ul style="list-style-type:disc;"><li><span style="color:#252525;">Probably a multiple week project</span></li><li><span style="color:#252525;">Can we design a “uni-mech” that can do everything?</span><ul style="list-style-type:disc;"><li><span style="color:#252525;">Flippers</span></li><li><span style="color:#252525;">Load balls</span></li><li><span style="color:#252525;">Pop bumpers</span></li><li><span style="color:#252525;">Are these mechs injection molded?</span><ul style="list-style-type:disc;"><li><span style="color:#252525;">Where can this be done?</span></li><li><span style="color:#252525;">Does a hackerspace has an injection mold we can try?</span></li><li><span style="color:#252525;">Can we get help from designers?</span></li><li><span style="color:#252525;">Things to keep in mind for injection molded design</span></li><li><span style="color:#252525;">Sourcing small solenoids / motors</span></li></ul></li></ul></li></ul></li></ol><p style="margin:0;padding:0px;"> </p><p style="margin:0;margin-top:.05pt;margin-left:5.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:0in;"><span style="color:#252525;"><strong>GOAL: Design 1-2 mechs that can do everything, to limit manufacturing costs.</strong></span><a name="libraries"></a></p><p style="margin:0;padding:0px;"> </p><p style="margin:0;padding-top:12px;"><span style="font-size:15pt;color:#007fac;font-weight:bold;">4.  KERNEL & LIBRARIES</span></p><ol style="list-style-type:decimal;"><li><ul style="list-style-type:disc;"><li><span style="color:#252525;">(Certainly multiple episodes for this)</span></li><li><span style="color:#252525;">Wire up a prototype board for testing (will design a PCB from this)</span></li><li><span style="color:#252525;">Write libraries for users that do the following:</span><ul style="list-style-type:disc;"><li><span style="color:#252525;">Speech and music calls</span></li><li><span style="color:#252525;">Switch detection</span></li><li><span style="color:#252525;">Solenoid and light control</span></li><li><span style="color:#252525;">Scorekeeping and rules</span></li></ul></li><li><span style="color:#252525;">Write a base kernel that will cycle through games</span><ul style="list-style-type:disc;"><li><span style="color:#252525;">“Borrow” from other pinball projects?</span></li><li><span style="color:#252525;">Comment it well so users can create one</span></li></ul></li><li><span style="color:#252525;">Once kernel written, do a walk-through of how to create rules (screen cap sessions)</span></li><li><span style="color:#252525;">Make a sample game like “Super Space Shuttle”</span><ul style="list-style-type:disc;"><li><span style="color:#252525;">Walk viewers through how to code the kernel</span></li><li><span style="color:#252525;">Obtain graphics like end users would (FedEx/print shops)</span></li><li><span style="color:#252525;">Show how to create audio assets using something free like Audacity.</span></li></ul></li></ul></li></ol><p style="margin:0;padding:0px;"> </p><p style="margin:0;margin-left:5.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:0in;"><span style="color:#252525;"><strong>GOAL: Have a code base that gets a machine flipping.</strong></span><a name="pcbdesign"></a></p><p style="margin:0;padding:0px;"> </p><p style="margin:0;padding-top:12px;"><span style="font-size:15pt;color:#007fac;font-weight:bold;">5.  PCB DESIGN</span></p><ol style="list-style-type:decimal;"><li><ul style="list-style-type:disc;"><li><span style="color:#252525;">Based off MCU and display, design the smallest PCB we can.</span></li><li><span style="color:#252525;">Layout connectors, then MCU, then power/batteries.</span></li><li><span style="color:#252525;">EAGLE tutorial, mostly a screencap episode.</span></li><li><span style="color:#252525;">If we have a protoboard, then we can design PCB while doing other things.</span></li><li><span style="color:#252525;">Send off for test PCB’s from China (takes 2-3 weeks) or a e14 prototype vendor in US.</span></li></ul></li></ol><p style="margin:0;margin-top:9.75pt;margin-left:5.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:0in;"><span style="color:#252525;"><strong>GOAL: Have a working PCB that we can price and use for the prototype.</strong></span><a name="game"></a></p><p style="margin:0;padding:0px;"> </p><p style="margin:0;padding-top:12px;"><span style="font-size:15pt;color:#007fac;font-weight:bold;">6.  PHYSICAL GAME DESIGN</span></p><ol style="list-style-type:decimal;"><li><ul style="list-style-type:disc;"><li><span style="color:#252525;">Decide what size and scale the playfield will be.</span></li><li><span style="color:#252525;">Design a casing around it, that can be assembled from a flat pack like Ikea.</span><ul style="list-style-type:disc;"><li><span style="color:#252525;">Have “modules” where you can move around base components such as pops or toys.</span></li><li><span style="color:#252525;">Make game easy to configure.</span></li><li><span style="color:#252525;">Implement the mechs we designed into game.</span></li></ul></li></ul></li></ol><p style="margin:0;padding:0px;"> </p><p style="margin:0;margin-left:5.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:0in;"><span style="color:#252525;"><strong>GOAL: Have a machine that plays complete games.</strong></span><a name="designkits"></a></p><p style="margin:0;padding:0px;"> </p><p style="margin:0;padding-top:12px;"><span style="font-size:15pt;color:#007fac;font-weight:bold;">7.  CREATIVE DESIGN AND KITS</span></p><ol style="list-style-type:decimal;"><li><ul style="list-style-type:disc;"><li><span style="color:#252525;">Think of a fun generic theme to put on game.</span></li><li><span style="color:#252525;">Start with a blank slate (as a buyer would) and work up from there</span></li><li><span style="color:#252525;">Module and art design.</span></li><li><span style="color:#252525;">Do a walk-through of how to create rules (screen cap sessions)</span></li><li><span style="color:#252525;">Make a sample game like “Super Space Shuttle”</span><ul style="list-style-type:disc;"><li><span style="color:#252525;">Walk viewers through how to code the kernel</span></li><li><span style="color:#252525;">Obtain graphics like end users would (FedEx/print shops)</span></li><li><span style="color:#252525;">Show how to create audio assets using something free like Audacity.</span></li></ul></li></ul></li></ol><p style="margin:0;padding:0px;"> </p><p style="margin:0;margin-left:5.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:0in;"><span style="color:#252525;"><strong>GOAL: Have a complete game, like Super Space Shuttle was.</strong></span></p><div style="clear:both;"></div> <div style="font-size: 90%;">Tags: mini_pinball, hack, heck, ben</div>