Stirrin' up a Bee Hive

[musky]

First let me start out with why I've begun this thread and explain a little about my project. I want to make a desk top pachinko that will be completely ball-less ( alright...stop snickering). The reason being, I want something my young grand kids can play and I don't have to worry about them choking on the pachinko balls, we all know how kids are. I hope that we all can learn a little about the inter workings of these wonderful machines and I may get a little feedback on how best to achieve some of the things I want to do. This thread may get a little techie but hopefully not so much that we start boring some to tears.
Here is what I want to accomplish:
I want to be able to "play" the pachinko via push buttons (aka start switch)
I want the chance button function to work
I want to keep the Cell intact ie not cut or modify it in any way (splicing a wire or two is ok)
I want to b able to experience the full audio and video aspects of the game.

Simple list, so far not to hard to accomplish, right? So, lets take a look at the victim....ah I mean patient.
I'm converting Bisty's CR Blooming Field. This is a really neat game by the way if you haven't seen or played it. This is one that will really appeal to young children ( I like it too) as you can see in the photos in one of the reaches to a fever round you must escape from the evil lizard and if successful you are treated to some lovely eye candy ah I mean wood nympth and other heros of the game. You can see that it is a colorful and enteraining game. My next posts will show some of the progress I gotten and some of the wiring and pinouts for this cell. It fits in a lumina frame by the way, so some of what I've learned will apply to other cells as well.

[dattia]

Sounds like a neat project Musky. Nice for the little ones to play without any risks...very cool Grandad!!! We'll be waiting for the updates

[Chrisdice]

I was just thinking, how would you keep the fever going the full term if there were no balls involved? wouldn't you have to get at least 2 balls in the trap door to advance to the next round. Maybe a second button to simulate balls going in the trap door during fevers?

[Lddrizzt]

Now if it's in a Lumina frame you may not have to get those balls in the trap door. I know that you can sit and watch the entire Star Wars (only Lumina frame machine I have) fever without firing a ball. I believe that most of the more modern machines are like this (at least mine are). It is a way for the parlor to make a little more if the customer is more likely to watch the video and "forget" to launch balls.
Personally I would leave the cell in the frame, and add a cheater button to the start pocket. My Star Wars has one and it has been "played" for hours without firing a single ball. All functions work without the balls.
With it still in the frame you get all the frame lights and sound, and the chance button works.
This would be the simplest way to accomplish what you are looking for, plus if someday you want to put in balls, then there is nothing special you have to do to play normally.

[daverob]

It's a great idea if you've got spare cells, and want to display them a little bit more interactively than just hanging them on the wall.

Lumina cells don't require any of the payout control or mechs to power up (and play if you have a cheater button), all you need is a +5v,+12v and +32v power supply. In fact with a simple resistor change on the main control board, you don't even need the +32v supply and could easily run a few cells from a spare PC power supply.

[deano]

great info daverob
that would be intresting to do but knowing me id blow the cells up i have

[musky]

Well, I guess I forgot to mention that I do not have a spare Lumina frame, one of the reasons I want to make it in it's own cabinet and not chop up the cell. I want to be able to still put the cell into a frame and play it normally. With this particular cell there is enough video, lights and sound to keep anyone happy.

[musky]

Tonights installment will deal with the cabinet. I'm making it out of 1x8 stock pine which we all know is really 3/4 x7 3/4. The top and bottom pieces are 19 5/8" wide with the sides being 26" high. The insert piece across the top is 1 3/4 " high and 18 1/16" wide while the bottom insert piece is 4 1/8 " high and 18 1/16" wide. The insert pieces are doubled up so they are 1 1/2" thick. The cell fits into this space snug enough to not need any retaining hardware. I've included a couple of photos showing the front view and a rear view with a modified "Sun Pack" installed. The sun pack was donated by a Pachitalk member who is a great guy and all around gentleman. Thank you so much Mr. You-know-who-you-are. All you cabnet makers and wood workers out there, don't worry about the knot on the left side piece, I plan on replacing it in the finished project.

[arbycoffee]

Here is pictures of my Star wars Desktop player. It will play in Auto or manual action

[musky]

Got an extra chance button floating around? Sure would make my life easier! Looks good Arby!

[arbycoffee]

I will look around tomarrow in the storage building.
might be a different style tho

[arbycoffee]

I have not forgot you, but I need to move some stuff t get to some small parts.
And the help will be here tomorrow to help

[drcrippen324]

looking good so far muskey but an easyer way for the gran kisd is go fully cyclic and put a cover over the shooter tray ?????

[musky]

Tonight I'll show some of the wiring thatwill be used. In the first photo is the 40 pin pink connector on the top part of the cell. This is one of the connectors that the lumina frame plugs into. This connector passes a lot of info to the frame but the 4 pins we are interested in are 34, 36, 38 and 40. These pins are the stereo audio output to the speakers in the frame. I will be using these for sound to my speakers. Connected to a pair of high quality speakers directly this puppy is way too loud....I will show how I plan to correct this later on. The second photo shows the 4 pin pink connector on the cell that connects to the chance button on the frame.....I'll save this topic for later also, this is a tricky problem that I haven't solved yet. The third photo shows the plugs for the start gate and wing gate, I may have them reversed in the photo, but either one works for the start button. The 4th photo is just the Bee Hive fired up for a test in the cabinet. It's Alive!!! but far from done.

[arbycoffee]

Brian, I got you a Chance Button with the wiring , I will send out today.
Cool beans

[musky]

Brian, I got you a Chance Button with the wiring , I will send out today.
Cool beans

and

Arby, you


but dang it Arby, now everybody on here knows my name

[arbycoffee]

Thank you kind Sir,


. . . . . Being I be the one that got you into this corner

[Sid]

but dang it Arby, now everybody on here knows my name

Say it aint so Zetareticuli1!!! say it aint so!!

[dattia]

That's OK, most aliens take on "Earthly" names in order to help them blend into society. Take my husband for example...when he was an "alien" his name was Alaa, now that he is a citizen...he goes by Alex

[arbycoffee]

I be so sorry I will go stand in my corner now