Hey I came back!

[bundito]

Sorry to have disappeared off the face of Planet Pachinko over the past few months. I had a couple of health issues, not to mention a crackdown on internet during the work day.

I'm still working on the same vintage Sankyo - I think I decoded the date as May 1974 or 75, so it's 40th birthday will be coming up soon.

While I was away, I tore off the poorly-designed, ugly, and water-damaged original import frame. I designed an entirely new cabinet for it. It's something of my own devising. I'm mainly pleased with it. I'll get some pictures shortly.

I also have a few more technical questions to ask. But I'll get to those in time.

Meanwhile, I'm welcoming myself back (ha!) and getting ready to bombard y'all with questions.


-Dito

[hanabi]

Welcome back!!

[JACKSJE4]

Glad to have you back!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Card Shark]

Welcome Back!

[bundito]

I promised some info... the machine is fully operational. I've thoroughly cleaned the entire mechanism. I cut a new acrylic front "glass" panel. I got the glass release mechanism out, cleaned all the gunk out of it, a little dry graphite lube, and now it works like a dream.

I built a new case of my own devising. I hated the "Pachinko Palace" el cheapo wooden frame and two crosswise feet. It still wanted to tip when you popped the lock.

So I built this crazy thing:



Yep, it rotates around the center axis. It only took three damned tries. The rotation is provided by two 3" square ball-bearing turntables from my best buddies at McMaster-Carr. You want a building challenge, try aligning these things over 40-odd inches with wood that's naturally not as straight as my CAD drawings.

When I took these photos, it was kept in a "locked" position with a long hitch pin on a chain:



This was nice, because I just needed a second hole on the opposite side to latch it permanently reversed.

The latch pin is still there, but the main lock is now a sturdier sliding door lock. I'll send more pictures.

Yet to do:

Lights: will be LEDs, driven by an Arduino Uno and a few extra chips. Plan is for 16 LEDs, including some surrounding the playfield for general lighting. Using the Arduino will allow me to code some fancy "animation" routines for power-up and for jackpots.

Feet: It likes to lean backwards a little to work best, which I understand is pretty common. I've got screw-adjustable feet to install.

Ball Capture/Loading: Argh, this part sucks. The space underneath the machine is intended to have a door for access to the losing-ball-collection tray. I just haven't worked out a good mechanism for catching the losing balls. It's got to be elegant and work the same if the machine is rotated forward or backward. Same for a top-load funnel box thing. You can see the space up there. Just not worked out yet.

So there ya go. A brief update.


-Dito

PS: best tool in the world for pachinko workers? A magnetic shop roller. Picks up every runaway ball and dropped screw, no problem. Six bucks at Harbor Freight. Buy one.