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Thread: Extending the payout hopper on top!

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    Eye Shooter Calypso's Avatar
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    Lightbulb Extending the payout hopper on top!

    Hello Guys N Dolls!

    So I own machines (most of which are 1/99 units) and always find myself having to refill the top hopper. I actually get anxious about it when I start to win!

    Without building a huge unit to mount multiple machines...Has anyone 3D printed some sort of hard plastic extender (or does anyone have any tricks) so you can do more than just the 500 balls it holds?

    My star wars BODV game has like a rubbery plastic teeth thing sitting there that helps my add a few more balls than normal. But I thought it was high time someone look at the pretty standard size of these hoppers and built a part to sell that sits in it and can hold 2X the balls or something.

    does this exist? Can it be 3D printed?

    I figured ppl would say "how would it stay in place?" and ask those sort of questions while reading but all I can say is maybe the device sort of locks into the tunnel area (that begins to go down the side of the machine) so when full of balls it uses the structure's strength to keep it in there. And the weight of the balls.

    Anyway...just a though (or a dream) as that would really help my condition. I like having pachinko feet (not a cabinet guy) but not a fan of the refills!

    Thanks!
    Calypso

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    Kungishi Spyder138's Avatar
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    Default Re: Extending the payout hopper on top!

    Have you considered buying a ball lifter? Losing balls get automatically moved back up to the top hopper so you don’t have to mess around refilling and shuffling balls when you should be playing. For me, the investment is well worth the added enjoyment. You only need one lifter and can move it around depending on which machine you are playing.

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    Eye Shooter Calypso's Avatar
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    Default Re: Extending the payout hopper on top!

    Yes I have looked at those. Too pricey to for me. I would want one for each machine. But thanks for the advice. I gotta think that with a 3 printer around these days it is just a matter of time before someone comes up with with something that will fit the top of most models and allow for closer to 1K balls to be stored without a cabinet.

    Quote Originally Posted by Spyder138 View Post
    Have you considered buying a ball lifter? Losing balls get automatically moved back up to the top hopper so you don’t have to mess around refilling and shuffling balls when you should be playing. For me, the investment is well worth the added enjoyment. You only need one lifter and can move it around depending on which machine you are playing.
    Calypso

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    Pachi Puro Moparformances's Avatar
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    Default Re: Extending the payout hopper on top!

    something like this was not to hard to build holds alloooooot of balls... the best thing is it takes the weight from the hopper and moves it to the frame.. of better yet a whole cabinet
    DSCF3399.jpgDSCF3402.jpg

    DSCF3636.jpgDSCF3637.jpgDSCF3631.jpg
    Never Doubt that a small group of thoughtful, .......... /........ If your not going to stand behind our troops
    ...committed people can change the world. ............. /.................Please, Please stand in front of them
    .....Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has............./
    .........................................Margaret Mead

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    Eye Shooter Calypso's Avatar
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    Default Re: Extending the payout hopper on top!

    Quote Originally Posted by Moparformances View Post
    something like this was not to hard to build holds alloooooot of balls... the best thing is it takes the weight from the hopper and moves it to the frame.. of better yet a whole cabinet
    DSCF3399.jpgDSCF3402.jpg

    DSCF3636.jpgDSCF3637.jpgDSCF3631.jpg
    Thats what I am talking about...3D printer or wood working...I would "dress it up" like I did my pachniko feet...But I want something like that.

    Does anyone make them?
    Calypso

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    I was thrown out of Top Gear Drunkenclam's Avatar
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    Default Re: Extending the payout hopper on top!

    not that I know of, Some people just use an old ice cream tub.
    Last edited by Drunkenclam; 01-28-2018 at 12:29 PM.
    Ian #UKPachinko

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    Default Re: Extending the payout hopper on top!

    Quote Originally Posted by Calypso View Post
    Thats what I am talking about...3D printer or wood working...I would "dress it up" like I did my pachniko feet...But I want something like that.

    Does anyone make them?
    i made my own
    Never Doubt that a small group of thoughtful, .......... /........ If your not going to stand behind our troops
    ...committed people can change the world. ............. /.................Please, Please stand in front of them
    .....Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has............./
    .........................................Margaret Mead

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    Tokie Owens Doc Kaos's Avatar
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    Default Re: Extending the payout hopper on top!

    I built in a larger hopper when creating a cabinet, then just put a central vac tube down into the plastic bin https://goo.gl/photos/rp39FJEs68Q5iLSr9
    Built the same cabinet for my Star Wars as well. Only about $50 worth of plywood for the whole cabinet.

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    Eye Shooter Calypso's Avatar
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    Default Re: Extending the payout hopper on top!

    Quote Originally Posted by Doc Kaos View Post
    I built in a larger hopper when creating a cabinet, then just put a central vac tube down into the plastic bin https://goo.gl/photos/rp39FJEs68Q5iLSr9
    Built the same cabinet for my Star Wars as well. Only about $50 worth of plywood for the whole cabinet.
    That’s awesome! Thanks for sharing. I may look at cabinets down the road! So there is nothing inside that the machine “clips” into , correct? It literally just sits in there?
    Calypso

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    Default Re: Extending the payout hopper on top!

    I've printed ball hoppers, not really thought much about extending current ones. Would likely need some really good measurements on your part or have the hopper shipped to me but printing either a replacement that is extended taller or fitting an attachment wouldn't be that big of a chore I'd think. Shoot me a PM if you'd like.

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    Tokie Owens Doc Kaos's Avatar
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    Default Re: Extending the payout hopper on top!

    Quote Originally Posted by Calypso View Post
    That’s awesome! Thanks for sharing. I may look at cabinets down the road! So there is nothing inside that the machine “clips” into , correct? It literally just sits in there?
    I put screws through the side panel to hold it in place. I think otherwise when you opened the door it would just fall over.

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    Eye Shooter Calypso's Avatar
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    Default Re: Extending the payout hopper on top!

    I PM'd Gmwd. Maybe he can make something Honestly. Even is the sides were higher in the back payout box I could store more balls that way.

    But thanks everyone for your input.
    Calypso

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    Eye Shooter Gmwd's Avatar
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    Default Re: Extending the payout hopper on top!

    replied

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    Eye Shooter Calypso's Avatar
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    Default Re: Extending the payout hopper on top!

    Just emailed you...no response. Its fine if your busy, I just hope I sent it OK.
    Calypso

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    Pachi Puro Ikaria's Avatar
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    Default Re: Extending the payout hopper on top!

    Here's the solution I came up with and use it on a couple of my machines.

    I take plastic canvas, cut it to fit the back of the machine frame and the reward hopper. Staple it to some wood strips, reinforce the corners (I think I used fishing line but hot glue would work) and viola, extended hopper space.


    IMG_1283.JPGIMG_1284.JPG
    Gotta catch 'em all Pa-chink-o

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    Eye Shooter Calypso's Avatar
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    Default Re: Extending the payout hopper on top!

    How freeaking cool is that idea! neat! Thanks for sharing!
    Quote Originally Posted by Ikaria View Post
    Here's the solution I came up with and use it on a couple of my machines.

    I take plastic canvas, cut it to fit the back of the machine frame and the reward hopper. Staple it to some wood strips, reinforce the corners (I think I used fishing line but hot glue would work) and viola, extended hopper space.


    IMG_1283.JPGIMG_1284.JPG
    Calypso

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    Eye Shooter Calypso's Avatar
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    Default Re: Extending the payout hopper on top!

    Well I have teamed up with Gmwd to tackle this problem...and I appreciate all of the responses and creative ideas to resolve what I believe is a fairly common issue for someone who does not want/have a custom cabinet for their machine.

    I sent Gmwd photos of my 3 modern payout hoppers and he is diligently working on coming up with a solution (with the help of his 3D printer)

    Two of my machines have built on "shelves" that seem to help tilt excess balls down into the machine in the pay out shoot. These shelves make design a little tricky as they vary from model to model slightly but if we can come up with a good fix maybe we can share the end result and we can all have a fairly professional looking extenders made!

    Star Wars:BODV
    StarwarsHopper.jpg
    Transformers
    TransformersHopper.jpg
    Batman: Gotham City
    BatmanHopper.jpg
    Calypso

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    Kungishi Spyder138's Avatar
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    Default Re: Extending the payout hopper on top!

    Good idea for a project. Bear in mind adding capacity will also add additional weight and potentially make the machine top heavy. Make sure your legs are long enough to prevent tipping if the machine gets jostled a bit. If I remember correctly, 500 balls is about 6.5 pounds. If you make a hopper that hold 2000 balls you have about 25 pounds weight. Someone correct me if my memory of the actual weight is not correct.

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    Eye Shooter Calypso's Avatar
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    Default Re: Extending the payout hopper on top!

    Quote Originally Posted by Spyder138 View Post
    Good idea for a project. Bear in mind adding capacity will also add additional weight and potentially make the machine top heavy. Make sure your legs are long enough to prevent tipping if the machine gets jostled a bit. If I remember correctly, 500 balls is about 6.5 pounds. If you make a hopper that hold 2000 balls you have about 25 pounds weight. Someone correct me if my memory of the actual weight is not correct.
    dont know that I thought of that. I have 1/4 12” pieces of wood secured into the steel (not wood) corners of the frame on all machines. No idea what that “load capacity” is! Lol
    Calypso

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    Pachi Puro Moparformances's Avatar
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    Default Re: Extending the payout hopper on top!

    my worry is the extra weight on the little plastic hopper itself..
    Never Doubt that a small group of thoughtful, .......... /........ If your not going to stand behind our troops
    ...committed people can change the world. ............. /.................Please, Please stand in front of them
    .....Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has............./
    .........................................Margaret Mead

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