I was hoping to provide an update with useful information but, alas, I am providing an update that is whining and moaning.

I am one of these crazies that look at the price per unit of a product (as well as product recommended expiry date). I also look at the total mass (quantity or amount) of the product. Shrinkflation is everywhere. Two local Pacific Northwest companies that sell ice cream are a great example. Tillamook used to sell 1.75 qt (56 fl. oz) but now sell 1.5 qt (48 fl. oz) tubs. Umpqua still sell 1.75 qt tubs. No size reduction.

Today I opened up a package of regional rate B2 boxes that got delivered the other day. I was waiting for them to use to ship big boards. The previous package I ordered July 11 got lost going from Seattle to Seattle. It departed the network distribution center and arrived at the distribution center and that's it. Maybe it'll show up one day. But I digress ...

I wrapped up a board and prepared a box. Then I went to put the board into the box and it felt tighter in width. Didn't really pay attention because I hate packing. Once I got the board all the way into the box it was then I realized that box is actually smaller. It won't close. Fortunately I had one old box lying around and sure enough the new box is the same "regional rate b box 2" but it is smaller. Shrinkflation even hits USPS.

usps_regional_rate_b_box2.jpg

I did a little searching and supposedly this is to better streamline their package processing by limiting maximum dimension to 15". It has apparently hit all boxes that exceed the dimension. It also happened some time ago (September 2021). I don't ship much.

usps_shrinkflation.jpg

So now I have to go figure out a solution to this. It is likely I will need to purchase boxes rather than use the USPS supplied boxes because none of them are long enough to fit the big boards (System 9 CPU, System 11 CPU, Data East CPU, WPC-89 Power, WPC-95 Power). This will increase the cost of shipping. It was bad enough that USPS discontinued the large flat rate game board box a while ago but now this. I try to keep shipping charges reasonable but I don't ship much so I am subject to retail pricing like everyone else.

Now to go find a solution for big boxes. Back to your regularly scheduled wait for the next update. I've got a few things in the works but I want to get my August quota of boards built and sent out. Of course, these are all System 11 CPU boards so that doesn't help. So annoying.

I got some 18 x 12 x 4 and 18 x 12 x 6 boxes from Staples. The 4" height is for two System 11 CPUs and the 6" height is for two WPC-89 power boards. I am going to try 16 x 12 x 4 and see what happens there. Those dimension are close to the old RRB2 box at 16.25 x 14.5 x 3.

Boards will continue to go out but it's just annoying to me when things change from underneath me as that interrupts my workflow. Humans are creatures of habit and I don't like expending brain power trying to figure out a solution to a problem that I already had a solution for.

Very brief update. More to come once I get the boards I have been working on complete and in the mail system.

Today I did a bunch of things in a batch. Verify some boards (in a machine) and grab a board from a machine. One of the boards is a new one that adds another to the opto testing arsenal.

The Pinwiki subsection @ https://www.pinwiki.com/wiki/index.php/Williams_WPC#7_Opto_Board_Testing describes how to test the LM339. It's a fairly simple procedure and it works great. I already have a board that identifies problems with the opto transmitter/receiver pair but I don't have one that identifies problems with the LM339. Well ... not any more. This board plugs into opto testing system that I have and therefore requires the other boards and 8P8C cables.

This is the new board. It's pretty simple. A bunch of switches that basically takes the place of the receiver.

boards_244.jpg

This is how it was tested and is supposed to be used in a machine.

boards_245.jpg

The instructions are in the silkscreen but essentially in switch test pressing the button should cause a response from the software indicating switch closing and opening.

I haven't forgotten you. I want to clear my August board build quota so I am free to finish all the other small things for the remainder of the month. I am close. The last board needs completion and then I need to populate the ICs, verify them, pack them and send them.

There is a (currently undisclosed) reason for this. Thank you for your patience. I was going to offer this in your request but I wanted to have it complete and ready.

I know I try hard to verify everything but I also know that I make mistakes. In hindsight I don't think I would've spotted this - ever. I still look at it and it reads fine. That just goes to show that the human brain see what it wants to to see.

This one is tough call because I like a polished product and providing these boards is contra to a polished product. I have to think about spinning this board. It's electrically correct and some people tolerate small errors like this better than others.

I finished building the promised quota of boards for August last night. I just need to verify them now. I also completed building one of the following boards and will verify them as part of the batch (after I get cabling constructed this afternoon).

• Trough opto boards for WPC-S and later. These boards have been done by others. I just wanted to do my own as well as provide a set for Wharhed who asked for one. I already built a set of these and tested them in a Safe Cracker.
  boards_246.jpg
• 7 lamp speaker panel and single alphanumeric display.
  • The 7 lamp speaker panel is another special request for a Pinside member restoring a Whirlwind where this board is missing. I know this board has also been remade by another person using SMD LEDs for the LCD ColorDMD in The Addams Family. This board is true to original in that it uses twist wedge sockets so LEDs of your desired color or white temperature can be used. This board is used in Earthshaker, Whirlwind and The Addams Family (all Lawlor games).
  • The single alphanumeric is something I wasn't necessarily planning to do but is a response to a request from a Pinside member. I already have all the logic. It just needed work on the schematic and then layout. I don't have a Bally side-by-side machine so I had to go borrow a set of displays for the template and measurements. The OEM boards are two separate but very similar boards. This board is a "universal" board in that it has the circuitry to support left or right displays configured with jumpers or DIP switch. It also adds an additional 26-pin ribbon cable header to support separate 26-pin ribbon cables. The original cable is a three position cable. These are not easily found on pinball merchants. Two position cables are plentiful so this allows use of the two position cables. I need to build the cabling to test these boards.

  boards_247.jpg

• The complete board. I typically build first boards with all sockets (or as many sockets as possible). This allows easy recovery of some components if the board doesn't work. This option for LED block socketing is also available for complete boards (by request only). The LED power indicator is optional and installed on these boards to test all the features.
  boards_248.jpg

Now I have to go cut wire, strip wire, crimp pins and insert pins into housings.

Purple boards are more expensive to fabricate than the more common colors. I do agree that the purple boards certainly stand out although I think the red boards also stand out (but in a different way).

Let me think about this more. I originally wanted the purple to be something you can't necessarily buy. Rather they are something that is special or more unique than the more common colors. I haven't actually considered making any board in any of the other common colors (green, blue, yellow, white or black) unless the board uses color for differentiation (such as opto transmitter / receiver boards).

Complete boards are available but subject to build quotas to keep me sane. This also allows me to keep time in my back pocket for things that pop up unexpectedly or to help reduce a growing "to do" list.