Someone must have a mold or the mold I dont know about the square one but here are the current ones Marco is selling atm so I suppose its a matter of finding out who there supplier for these is. Obviosly someone is making them in opaque colors atm. http://www.marcospecialties.com/pinball-parts/A-18605-5X
Now just need transparent colors and ill buy a shit load for the target plastics if anything.
Ok well i take it back on the square ones heres and opaque yellow square from marco currently as well http://www.marcospecialties.com/pinball-parts/22-1034-01

That's gotta be an excuse to brush you off. I don't see why the color of plastic would have anything to do with licensing. It's a molded piece of plastic, like a ramp which doesn't need licensing. It's only the decals that go on the ramps that require licensing.

Yeah sounds like bullshit response they have several colors already in the round version and they look china made.
i have a contact @marco ill see what i can find out. i talked to the head guy a few years ago trying to get them to have some 3 1/8" transparent red lane guides made for centaurs. talked to the head guy still no result lol. but the guy i talked to tries think his name is bradly or whatever.

Thanks Vid for the CNC Map. That might make this a whole lot cheaper to do in mass quantity.

My issue now is the type of plastic used. I asked the fabricator if they could make a few that I could test out, but of course they're not in for the small jobs.
Since the targets will be thicker than the originals at the base, I think this will make them stronger, but I can't rely on "I think". What I was looking to do is order enough for several "sets" and sell them to cover my costs. What I can't have happen is for those targets to just explode on impact! I wouldn't be very popular!

I have both the round and square drawn up if anyone wants the files. The drawings aren't as detailed as they are intended for cutting and not a mold injection.

In general, if you 2x the thickness of a material, you make it 8x stiffer.

I would first look at the highest impact strength plastics:

[attachment=1517932,]

http://www.mcmaster.com/#8574kac/=r2ut2k

Then I would order some 1/8" thick strips from Mcmaster and make sure each can withstand flexing and hitting with a ball-peen hammer.

http://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-plastic-sheets/=r2v4hb

When it comes time to actually buy your bulk plastic, don't buy from Mcmaster because it is way overpriced.

You will want to find a plastics wholesaler (like Ain) in your area.

The trick to saving big coin is to ask for "drops". Drops are cut offs from other jobs. Too large to throw away, but still taking up space in the warehouse.

You need to sound intelligent when you order, or they will gleefully overcharge you at the plastics wholesaler.

You: I need some amber Polycarbonate in .25" thickness, I believe your catalog number is #23-666. My application is little 3x1" machined parts, so I can certainly help you use up some drops if you have them laying around."

Wholesaler guy: I've got two 12x48" and I've got one 18x48" with a scratch through the paper about 24" long; you can have that one at scrap price"

You: You will be my boyfriend, yes?

Wholesaler Guy: Yes.

Just to interject some history here: I first remember seeing these solid target blades show up from Wico as a generic replacement part (See attached photo). I can only assume their plastic parts came from molds made by Foremost plastics. Which I realize are not the easiest people to get answers from. I wonder if they still have the mold? If so, there might be a 500 piece min. but you can include color changes to make the min.

Wico.jpg

I got some samples of the fluorescent acrylic colors. They are VERY reactive to UV. Now I'm going to cut one down and test the strength of the plastic. Not sure the best way to do that, but I figured if I drop a ball on the target as it lays on a mousepad, should give me decent idea.3-21-2014 2-47-34 PM.jpg

Put a slice of it in any game and start blasting it with balls.

Did you get Acrylic (Plexiglass) or Polycarbonate (Lexan)? I would expect Acrylic to crack or break very easily. Polycarb on the other hand, if fairly flexible.

Didn't someone originally make a set of replacement plastics (artwork screened playfield light shields) out of Acrylic and they broke almost immediately?

Looks like cell cast Acrylic

I can't seem to find Lexan sheets in transparent colors.

Prototype target made. (Not the best work I know!)

Test subject will be placed into a 1989 Data East PB 35th for blast testing.
Good luck and Godspeed!
image-971.jpg

just could use a laser cutter and cut these out fairly easy. doesn't really need the molded parts of it. Just use flat plastic, make it a little thicker to take more of a beating. I have a friend that has a cutter and could cut 5 of these out at a time. Wouldn't take long.

Now were talking Captn'
Thanks for the help! We could send your friend the sheets of plastic and the measurements.

Let's see how my scientific testing goes!

Cheers!

He already has the florscent type plastic sheets as well. I have a plastics company by me, that can cut any type of plastic in any color I want. For this, you want a softer plastic that can take a beating.

Does anyone know where to get "softer" or Lexan sheets in transparent colors?

The results are in, (that didn't take long!)
The target face took a beating, it was the stem that broke.
I wanted this to work so bad, but I'm glad I didn't order 300+ of these.

Now to find colored Lexan or more flexible colored plastic.

image-156.jpg

image-712.jpg

my plastics company would know exactly what type of plastic would be best for this purpose. Need a drop target plastic but in clear.

When I get a chance Captn', I'll fwd you my drawings for both the round and square targets.

Let's see where your contacts take us.

Thanks!

hopefully he has various types of plastics on hand to test run.

i'll send them to him and see what he can come up with.

I have a Star Gazer that I would like to someday get some new targets for and I am currently looking to get an Elektra soon. I am following the progress on this thread and will likely buy targets for both games once they are produced. Glad to see someone working on trying to make these targets available again...

-- Shawn

Got the dimensions sent out to my guy. We will see what comes back for samples.

Sorry for the delay meSz...

My Star Gazer uses the 1" white square targets but some have light yellow targets instead.

-- Shawn

my guy is a little backed up right now, but he will get to it soon.

Hey, NEW guy here..... I would buy a set of 3 green targets for Elektra. What ever price makes it worth your while, count me in when they become available.

Put me down for the medusa targets.

I'm still working on it. He's going to have test subjects ready soon I hope. If it's a success on what type of plastic to use, then I should be able to pull off any color and shape you need.

What a PIA that was to do.

I might have you test them. But I do have games of that era which I can put them in.

I'll be in need of Medusa targets if you ever produce them.

I am thinking of trying to make some of these targets. I need some color samples for Blue, Green, Red, Amber. Does anyone have any broken originals I could buy to use as color references?

Bob

Not a peep so far...

I was thinking of making a 2 cavity tool (round and square ) and molding parts in tinted PC.

Might do it just as a goof, but I'm beginning to think it will take 10 years to get my money back out of it.

Bob