This is brilliant. I wanted to mount spotlights on my firepower so I could've used some red LEDs in the GI and it made the game too dark. The traditional spotlights were way too big and ended up hitting the glass and not fitting. This looks like a great solution. I like how sterns have spotlights all over highlighting the game. It'd be sweet to add additional lights to other games in a non intrusive manner.

I like this ...
Not so obvious.. hides nicely in the game ..
If you want share on how to build or reach out swinks I think these would sell.

Love it! I've actually taken spotlights off games like Metallica LE because it's such a cluttered look, and I got tired of airballs knocking the hex posts loose counterclockwise.

I can't believe a manufacturer hasn't done this, since a spotlight would almost certainly cost less in that form factor.

Fantastic idea! I would replace all spotlights with these and add a few more since they are so discreet. Following to see how this develops.

Indeed brilliant and I can see the plastic cover 3d-printed in a matching color to blend with the slingshot plastic.

This would be great. I've recently been considering trying to light up some of the dark spots on some games, TAF being one. I am one who also doesn't want it to cost a great deal to be able to do. Kinda cake and eat it too. I've been looking at just finding the spotlight parts cheap and assembling them myself but can't find the cheap place to order. P/L has about what I was looking for, but this could be a new direction.

So do I understand it that you need to print these parts?

TAF could definitely use it. The only game I've even seen pinstadiums in and thought "that's an improvement."

I would be interested in 3D printing the little bulb housing myself. I definitely like the idea of a less obtrusive look for the spotlights.

I'm interested.

I think you would have a tough time keeping up with orders if you did. I know I would be in for some.

Depending on the availability of parts, your time, etc. you might find an audience that makes it worth it.
I can understand that you would want to make and test for a while to see if it's viable.

This is great idea and I think what you’ve come up with looks good. I had a similar thought, about why no one has improved these, after seeing the apron spot lights in, I think newer Sterns? Or maybe it was on EJ?

Awesome! Very nice work and love how they are non-obtrusive. I was thinking about some of the Comet pinstadium knock offs but they are kinda big too.

Who's gonna start printing them so we can buy them?

I'll take 10 please.

That little one that shines on mini Deadpool comes to mind. I wonder if you can source those

Don’t want to step on OP’s toes, but if he is not going to sell them or otherwise offer, then I’m happy to be the source. I could even take preorders and sell them with bulb and wiring included as a kit.

OP, what are your intentions?

Maybe try using these, come in colors too. No idea how bright they will be. You can probably trim the side tabs and wire to the back of them.

CHANZON 10 pcs High Power Led Chip 5W White (6000K - 6500K / 600mA - 700mA / DC 6V - 7V / 5 Watt) Super Bright Intensity SMD COB Light Emitter Components Diode 5 W Bulb Lamp Beads DIY Lighting https://a.co/d/ic9f9tC

I see the two grey on the slings, two more grey in the middle and one purple up to the top left...but I can't find the 6th one.

Looks fantastic! Very evenly lit.

Completely digging the concept and overall aesthetic but without the cone, like on the original style, does this cast more of a focal point of light? Where as the reflector cone might provide more of a fanned out illumination.

Looking forward to ordering these from someone.

I am going to order some bulbs, print some housings, and see what is involved in constructing one before I offer them to others as a fully assembled item. I would like to gauge overall interest which will help me set a price (ie if I can do a large order run then that saves a little in my costs). I’m guessing I would be around $15 per kit plus order shipping.

I typically use cool white in my spots, but guessing people would want color options? Also, I’ll be able to offer the housings in a wide variety of colors, and I’ll have to figure out the left, right, or no hole options.

Also, my preference is to usually run a wire under the playfield and connect to a GI socket using alligator clips (or actually solder) instead of using the bulb with connector since different people/games have different colored GI lighting. Would that be okay with everyone?

Then there is the question of standoffs and nuts. There are two different thread options, so this complicates things a little if I’m going to include posts or not (I omit them in the spotlight kits I currently offer with some of my mods).

With all the variables, I’m thinking this may lead me to doing an initial pre-order run instead of one-off orders. My preference is customize for each buyer’s needs, so that limits me some if I want to keep costs down.

OP, one question I have is regarding the ability to angle up/down traditional spots. Did you find in your testing this really wasn’t needed?

above the upper RH flipper, hid it behind the 50mph Speed Limit sign

Nicely done OP!!!

Later,
EV

I kind of like how they look mounted on posts.

I do have a couple of requests/observations:

- I think it would look better/more finished if the housing was designed to completely fit over the base instead of butting up against it. For the sloped bases, they could be designed where the ramp part that extended below the housing was wider to be flush with the outside housing walls.

- All of the holes need to be smaller (or maybe they just appear large in your renderings given the scale). I would suggest 4mm diameter. I would actually probably build into all housing all of the holes and make them on both sides regardless for flexibility/interchangeability (or I might just do a single hole at the back - cut maybe doesn't conceal as well in some spots?). If you put the hole in the base more towards the back and aligned the side holes with the bottom holes, then you could actually run the wiring one of four ways. I've attached a rough representation of how the holes could be made universal with the housing fitting over the base and allowing for wiring either down or laterally on either side.

- Another idea I just thought of to omit the need for a screw. You could key the bottom mount in such a way that the housing slide from the back forward to lock into position via friction fit. In this case you would certainly need the single hole at the back of the housing instead of the side holes, I think.

If you are not really interested in doing design changes for mass production, then I can certainly use your idea and design a new housing. I really don't want to step on your toes here, but I know there is going to be demand for these and not everyone has the tools or ability to create them.
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OP, for testing purposes did you find the Opmax round circuit boards to be the same diameter as their standard single SMD ones? I've got plenty of cheap bulbs laying around for testing purposes instead of placing a special order just for an Opmax bulb, so thought I would ask.

FYI: I've actually done something similar for a mod I offer where I separate the LED from the housing of a Comet bulb and embed it into my own 3D printed housing. I works quite well.

You might want to post this in the 3D printing thread.

BTW, what's up with the keyboard? Chinese?

No Vulcan or Klingon keyboards?

That's quite an interesting hobby.

Just when you think that you're pushing into the most niche areas of an already niche hobby, someone posts about dwarvish keyboards

I concur with both of your statements. My LED barrels I utilize for illuminating the JP sling dino eyes have an internal rim so that the PCB sits against it bringing the SMD flush with the top of the barrel. I've made dozens of these, and you do have to be careful when you are separating the LEDs from the housings and installing them as the tiny resisters are somewhat delicate. Once installed, this particular designs restricts any movement/bending of the leads as I solder them on the outside and similar to you utilize shrink wrap tubing that gets lodged up into the lead holes.

BTW, I noticed you utilized a bayonet bulb instead of a wedge. I typically find the wedge bulbs easier to disassemble but could be missing something. Was this a purposeful choice on your part, or were you just using the bulbs you happened to have on hand?

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I think your ideas are sound here and all make sense. I'm just trying to think of ways to minimize production efforts and parts when scaled to doing at least a few dozen of them. All of the options may lead to confusion and incorrect ordering, and might even have to include a hex wrench with orders (can't assume everyone has one the correct size). Color of filament, color of bulb (cool, warm, etc.), hole on left, right, or none, and other elements to consider. I think what you've come up with is a great DIY spotlight solution, which is the only reason why I'm considering doing something similar for those who like the idea but don't have the skills/equipment to DIY their own. BTW, I've still not fully committed to producing these, but am earnestly exploring the possibility.

Here is an X-acto blade holder I made with a sliding grooved sliding lid. This is what I'm thinking to try with the spotlight base plate and housing. You would mount the base plate and then slide the LED housing over it. The friction fit can be quite snug. Who knows if it will actually work or not but have to design and test to find out.

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I ordered the leds I linked to earlier and will arrive today. I’ll give them a shot and report back. Will also design our own holder to fit these specific leds and see what kind of result I get.

Printing first prototype now. Just thinking my base may need to be thinner to accommodate post thread w/o much extension. Currently 1.8 mm but can probably cut it down to 1.2 mm given the flange is .6 mm. I'll have to see how it prints and test fit in machines.
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Played around with this a little today and this is what we came up with. I think they put out good light, are very low profile, almost invisible and can be mounted over a playfield screw or be applied on any plastic using mounting tape, which is what I have done in the pics. They blend in very well.

Since there is no objection from the op to sell these, we are going to offer these at what I think is a very reasonable $7.50 each plus shipping, at least until I can gauge what demand is. I will offer them in cool, natural or warm white.

https://lermods.com/products/low-profile-spotlights

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I'll take 6 of them in cool white when you are ready.

Link to our site added.

Did my first print and pieces game out good. Need to adjust my slot a little, and I may make the housing slightly beefier by a mm or two given they are a little fragile (I broke the test part I made by sqeezing it too hard.

Just put my Comet order in with some Optimax bulbs today for testing.

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Is the wire going to be exposed like that, or was that just a quick "here's what it's going to look like" pic?

Rev 2 ready for test print.

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The pic I showed was just to illustrate the spotlight mounting bracket. The wire will bend and go down under the plastic and feed below the playfield, just like you would route a wire for any mod. You won’t really see it. The heat shrink will also be smaller.

This is interesting and kudos to the OP. I see the pictures and the light output seems the same, but am wondering since the idea of the reflector is to cast the light further. Is this overcome by a brighter bulb, and does that cause more glare in the middle? Would like some light meter tests if possible for comparison, but I am definitely interested - I like the look of the OPs original design the best as being modified by @mr_tantrum, but certainly like Lermods pricing. Glad to see you guys jumping on it. Thanks to Sorokyl for the concept and freely sharing with the pinball community. Oh and like stumblor OP, find the keyboards cool and unique.

The op noted this earlier. LEDs reflect out in a wider pattern compared to incandescent bulbs, which the reflectors were originally designed for. You can see in my pic that the light is cast pretty wide.

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