I'm working remotely with a class that wants to build a simple pinball machine. Nothing fancy, just a working pair of flippers to start. There is apparently little to no local pinball or electrical expertise so I've offered to help them online. They have a limited budget and would be further limited to buying parts from established companies rather than individuals or auctions. Donations would probably be an option too.

So given those constraints, I'd like to compile a parts list and assembly instructions so that someone unfamiliar with pinball could order and install the parts into the cabinet they're building.

Since I'm much more familiar with EM games, I'm inclined to gather parts and drawings from a 70s Gottlieb or Williams parts catalog. I'd likely recommend AC solenoids so they could use just a transformer instead of a DC power supply. (Possibly a smaller 24v transformer too rather than a standard game transformer). My intention would be to identify the lowest cost, and most readily available parts to assemble a complete working pair of flippers.

So would late model EM parts be a good solution, or are there solid state parts I should consider instead? Any other suggestions to simplify the process for the class?

Thanks,

/Mark

An extra part, a little extra wiring, a little extra complication to make sure the (from scratch) wiring conforms with the solenoid diode. Might be worth it if DC solenoids are cheaper. Are they?

High school age.

I remember reading about your class project. This project won't be that ambitious. Just a pair of working flippers (power source, wire, flipper and EOS switches and flipper assemblies).

A donated playfield would be a good start, but would still require other parts (transformer, flipper buttons, coil sleeves, etc.).

This is one of the cheaper assemblies I've found:

https://www.pinballlife.com/index.php?p=product&id=172

I don't know much about the coil options, but I assume they're are all DC coils. (?) I wonder if they can be used with AC if you clip the diodes off. If the coil stops are DC specific the flippers might buzz.

That's generally what I do but apparently the school can only cut a check to vendors, not to individuals.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. If I try to compile a complete shopping list so far I'd have:

- Right and left complete Bally/Williams flipper assemblies
(https://www.pinballlife.com/index.php?p=product&id=172)
configured as shown here: https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/vids-guide-to-upgradingrebuilding-flippers/page/3#post-773618

- 2 flipper bats
(e.g. https://www.pinballlife.com/index.php?p=product&id=269)

- 2 flipper rubbers
(e.g. https://www.pinballlife.com/index.php?p=product&id=79)

- 2 cabinet flipper buttons
(e.g https://www.pinballlife.com/index.php?p=product&id=1692)

- 2 flipper leaf switches
(e.g. https://www.pinballlife.com/index.php?p=product&id=153)

- 1 pinball
(e.g https://www.pinballlife.com/index.php?p=product&id=5)

- 1 36DCV/9.6A power supply from the post above which can apparently be dialed down to 28VDC
(https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01HTH0MUE/ref=mp_s_a_1_4)

- 1 grounded power cord
(e.g. https://www.pinballlife.com/index.php?p=product&id=4190)

- 18 (?) gauge wire to tie it all together
- screws for the flipper assemblies, flipper leaf switches, and power supply (?)
- complete instructions and wiring diagram (tbd)

Questions:
- It looks like the complete flipper assembly comes with a playfield bushing. Is that right?
- The flipper leaf switches look like they're for high current, correct?
(edit: other sites indicate that the SW-10A-48 switch can be used for high current or even EM switches)
- Are all these parts compatible?
- Have I missed anything?

Thanks,

/Mark

Here is a wiring diagram intended for those with limited electrical and pinball experience wanting to assemble the parts from reply #18. Comments or suggestions? I though about adding fuses for example, but the power supply already seems to have overload and short circuit protection.

(edit: This design probably needs capacitors at a minimum. See replies below)

/Mark
Wiring diagram.pdf

Yeah, I overlooked that. Thanks. Adding capacitors and possibly inrush current limiters may push this design over the simplicity threshold I'm hoping for and I'm not sure that board level soldering is even an option in this context. (It's more of a shop and art class than an electronics class.) It certainly adds complexity, vendors, cost, etc.

Perhaps there are DC power supplies out there with output capacitors intended for momentary high current demands already built in?

Switching to an appropriately sized AC transformer and clipping the diodes on the coils would certainly be simpler and likely cheaper. I get that the flippers might not be as strong as they could be with DC, but this is more of a learning exercise where the flippers are just a small part of the project than quest for a high performance design.

I checked and the class instructor is willing to tackle the soldering so we're going to add the Open Pinball Project Power Filter board (http://pinballmakers.com/wiki/index.php/OPP#Power_Filter_Board_3). I've put together these instructions to configure the board for one power supply and no processor control (just the flipper button switches). I've revised the OPP instructions to include the LED and bleeder resistor to indicate when the capacitors are charged and to discharge them when the power is cut.

Note that three capacitors may be overkill for a pair of flippers, but they won't hurt either. I haven't included the connector headers in the diagrams because the class may choose to hard wire the connections if appropriate crimping tools aren't available.

Power Filter Board.pdf

I've also revised the wiring diagram to include the power filter board.

Wiring diagram v2.pdf

Any other comments, concerns or corrections? I've learned a lot going through the details.

Update: I received an email from the instructor today. The semester is about over but the game came together and the flippers worked great. (Thanks everyone for your input.) They hope to add more playfield objects and scoring next year. He also sent a photo:
pinball 1 (resized).jpg