Bump for news

So I didn't read the whole thread and missed the parts list to make this happen. Just jumped into the deep end and ordered my parts.

Will be printing the topper on either the Elegoo Saturn or my new Elegoo Jupiter.

For the sake of posterity, I will list the official MOLEX part number for the headers and the compatible crimp connectors.

Stern LED Expansion Board
PN 520-6831-00B

#CN1 - MOLEX 22232121
12 pin/circuits
2.54mm pitch
5v on pins 10, 11, 12

compatible crimp housing:
-MOLEX 22012121
-MOLEX 22012127 (friction ramp)
-MOLEX 22013127 (friction ramp with polarizing ribs)

#CN2 - MOLEX 22232091
9 pin/circuits
2.54mm pitch
5v on pins 8, 9

compatible crimp housing:
-MOLEX 22012091
-MOLEX 22012097 (friction ramp)
-MOLEX 22013097 (friction ramp with polarizing ribs)

#CN3 - MOLEX 22232061
6 pin/circuits
2.54mm pitch

5v on pin 6
RCK pin 5
SCK pin 4
MOSI -> pin 3
MISO pin 2
Ground pin 1

compatible crimp housing:
-MOLEX 22012061
-MOLEX 22012067 (friction ramp)
-MOLEX 22013067 (friction ramp with polarizing ribs)

#CN4 - MOLEX 22232071
7 pin/circuits
2.54mm pitch

5v on pin 7
RCK pin 5
SCK pin 4
MOSI pin 3
MISO pin 2
Ground on pin 1

compatible crimp housing:
-MOLEX 22012071
-MOLEX 22012077 (friction ramp)
-MOLEX 22013077 (friction ramp with polarizing ribs)

Stern Node Board 12
PN 520-6976-72A

#CN1 - MOLEX 22232061
6 pin/circuits
2.54mm pitch

5v on pin 6
RCK OUT pin 5
SCK OUT pin 4
MOSI OUT pin 3
MISO IN pin 2
GROUND pin 1

compatible crimp housing:
-MOLEX 22012061
-MOLEX 22012067 (friction ramp)
-MOLEX 22013067 (friction ramp with polarizing ribs)

#CN14 - MOLEX 26604050
5 pin/circuits
3.96mm pitch

48v on pin 5
N/C pin 4
DOOR pin 3
KEY pin 2
GROUND pin 1

compatible terminal housing:
-MOLEX 09503051 (friction ramp)
-MOLEX 26033051 (trifurcon terminals)
-MOLEX 26034050 (trifurcon terminals, friction ramp)

KEY for pin #2 MOLEX 26634051

Power distribution board
PN 520-8096-00

#CN7
0.084 2-Position
Plug 50-84-1020 (2.13mm Diameter MLX Power Crimp Housing Plug, 2 Circuits, Natural)
Pin: 02-08-1001

for those not in the know, there is an ability to accidentally plug these connectors on backwards, thus the safest (idiot proof) option of these terminal housings would be those with friction ramp AND polarizing ribs. I'd also recommend the trifurcon connectors... pinrepair.com said it best "The Trifurcon design provides three distinct points of contact from the terminal pin to the header pin. This is the ideal choice where high shock or vibration exists. For low current/voltage, Gold is recommended. Phosphor Bronze recommended for higher rated current circuits. Trifurcon only available for .156" and larger pitch. Because Trifurcon connectors resist vibration, they maintain their current (power) ratings much better than single wiper connectors. For this reason Trifurcon crimped connectors are ideal for pinball applications."

For the all the CN connectors above (except for CN14), you may use:
-KK Crimp Terminals 2759, 6459, 41572, 4809, 8088
-0KK 254 Pre-Crimped Leads 797580007, 797580015.

For CN14, you may use:
-MarKK Crimp Terminals 45570
-KK Trifurcon Crimp Terminals 6838, 7258
-L1NK 396 Pre-Crimped Lead 797582145, 797582146.

as noted above, there is a time for gold plated pins, a time for phosphor bronze, a time for trifurcon.

48v, use phosphor bronze. you will need four of these (+48v and gnd, set for each end of the cable).

5v and elsewhere, use gold. you will need about 81 of these.

-if you are going to be spending BIG money on all the tools needed to get into MOLEX connectors, this is the crimping tool needed for the 2.54mm pitch terminals (PremiumGrade Hand Crimp Tool for KK 2.54mm Crimp Terminals, 22-30 AWG 638118200)

and this is the crimping tool needed for the 3.96mm pitch terminals (Hand Crimp Tool for 3.96mm Pitch KK Crimp Terminals, 18-24 AWG 638279500).

-this is an extraction tool used to remove the 3.96 terminals if something gets screwed up (Extraction Tool for Flat Blade, 3.96mm KK, 2.00mm, 3.96mm EdgeMate, and Ultra-Fit Terminals 11030016).

same tool, but for the 2.54mm pitch (Extraction Tool for KK 2.54mm Terminals, 22-30 AWG 11030022)

the worst part in all of this is the lead time from the different distributors - if you stuck with digikey for all the components, some of these MOLEX connectors are 29 weeks out.

Crap. Just bought this set ENGINEER Precision Crimping Tool kit, Orange, PAD-02 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07F2W9XSM/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_0P614D0G5ZBV7099JSJN.

I should have everything needed within the next week. Hope to be able to work on it one of these weekends.

This took one final destination 4 to complete.

IMG_20211024_201503.jpg

Oh boy, getting closer.

IMG_20211025_211254__01.jpg

Anyone want to chime in the power rating for the topper on GB?

I went with a single 18awg stranded, ofc, tinned wire jacketed in silicon that is rated for 200v and 7.5 amp. This wire is safe to handle 360 watts at 48v and 7.5 amp.

Each LED is rated for 350mA, 15 LED equals 5.25 Amperes if each LED is on at the same time at full brightness.

I am well within specification for this single wire... why did Stern use two each on my other toppers? (talking the 48v and gnd lines on CN7 from the PBD in the backbox).

Okay, who brought the topper?
VID_20211029_204030_SparkVideo.gif

IMG_20211029_212017.jpg

I guess they should've made more.

...but nobody mentioned selling them.

Time to setup the production line then.

Just mocking up the replica code 3 force 4 light bar

IMG_20211030_180335__01.jpg

Don't worry about the housings being a solid blue or red for the flashers, they will be a solid grey back with chrome trim around the appropriately colored lenses.

Will probably ditch the sniffer sensor (unless I make benheck angry and tie in the pulses for slimer to a servo that moves the sniffer left and right). Nonfunctional speaker has to go though.
IMG_20211030_224907__01.jpg

Thinking about the nonfunctional speaker - it would be overly complicated but consider this for attract mode: put a real speaker powered by a t-amp, raspberry pi zero, trigger the sound of the engine starting up/horn beeping/siren blaring/Ray's comment on all the things wrong with ecto-1/etc whenever the pulse is detected AND there is no signal present on auxillary input (taken from the aux out ala pinnivators subwoofer out kit). Probably not worth the effort.

Used foamboard and cheap 1mm plexiglass to ensure dimensions translate to the real world... getting closer to the finish.
Screenshot_20211106-121605.jpg

Since core 3 owns the design for this lightbar, I decided to approach it from scratch - still looks great. Base measurements still spot on. I have the base completely printed (18 hours). Transparent blue acrylic is on its way. Using environmentally friendly ACM panel (brushed aluminum black) for the mounting base.

The flashers will be present, just not on this rendering.

Jury is still out on the sniffer and speaker.

IMG_20211108_200715__01.jpg

Had a chance this weekend to throw the 3D printed parts together, tidy up the wiring harness, and ensure things fit proper.

Stern really did pack this topper - the BOM added up real fast.

I'd be interested to hear thoughts on color of the base, the middle top. Black (as in the way it prints)? Off white? Some metallic paint? Match the current left and right flashers?

IMG_20211114_001358__01.jpg

Electronics alone. The investment up front to make the wiring harnesses. Metal body. Acrylic lenses. Lots of molded plastics (so much various toolings). For what you get and at the price point, it was a helluva deal.

Laser cut acrylic lenses look great! Almost done finalizing the design and toolings.

IMG_20211129_123315__01.jpg

Anyone have thoughts about the left, right and rear flashers? I kind of like this as just the light bar.

Yes, it interacts the same exact way the original stern topper does.

All LED "flashers."

From Stern? Likely never.

I keep revising. The last thing I want is for someone to spend any amount of money and feel like it is cheap.

This will happen in 2023.

Looks good. Nice to see a different approach.

Did you choose not to print the lightbar larger due to physical constraints of your printer (build volume)?

Will be interesting to see what it looks like when lit (considering the layer lines from FDM).

After seeing that light dispersion and since the topper sits so far away, layer lines are negligible. I have a spiral vase mode printing now for lenses.

This moves up the time table significantly some will be released this month. I'll be printing the lenses in PETG. The bodies ABS. Will send these out in order of those that initially reached out last year.

Of course, no IP infringement so everything is designed new, elements like the sniffer and speaker would infringe so not included.

Mine will start rolling out after pinbrew in April - all my focus has been on getting my homebrew ready (NBX).

Starting to roll off the line

IMG_20230821_174248.jpg

Offering to others as well.

26in - spans the entire back box like the original topper. Securely attached to 3mm acrylic base (which attached to the stern factory pattern holes on top of the back box). Whole thing is pretty rigid and so far, I am comfortable with this thing shipping assembled.

IMG_20230822_201858.jpg

Yes, if you look back through this thread you can see gifs I uploaded showing how they work.

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/hey-stern-make-some-new-ghostbusters-ecto-1-topper/page/4#post-6667275

I made some more tweaks and it is turning out great so far.

Very soon. I just placed another large order for stern boards... so I need to take some money sooner than later!

Now it is down to the lenses.

I'm not a fan of acrylic like I originally did them with. It is hard to work with and the slightest error during assembly ruins them.

I tried vase mode FDM but it is not up to the same level of quality for the rest of this topper... it is distracting to put it nicely.

I'm waiting on a massive resin printer to come for this task.

IMG_20230825_153930.jpg

One down.

IMG_20230826_014433.jpg

IMG_20230826_014748.jpg

Don't forget, this spans the entire back box, is mounted at stern factory position in the same fashion as the original (no double sided tape to mount this). You can put the backbox down, pallet a game and ship it with this attached - everything is held together with machine screws. Even the most vigorous nudger won't budge it (unlike the AMH topper held on with Velcro, that fell down after 20 games).

There is a port in the rear of the topper that will allow you to route the pinnovator 3.5mm jack (or any other cable) up and out through the BB and down the back to hookup a sub, rather than drilling a new hole or lifting the mesh grills in the cabinet.

Easily torn down by the end user if ever needed.

It feels and looks substantial and is more appealing then the "fisher price" look stern had going for it.

Infringes on intellectual property (of a giant franchise that is catching on again) and those two items added zero functionality to the topper.

I may put mounts on the back and share a simple dxf file to anyone that wanted to add these to the back of their topper for themselves.

Though, putting a servo with 2042 or other simple microcontroller in the sniffer and tying into the shift register board I just (re)made, that may be something cool down the line.

Still to be determined.

I had to create new serial boards (shift registers) from scratch and they are in the validation process now (stern has stopped making these and even major players like PBL and Marcos have trouble getting them as it stands. LSOG has them but $40 over MSRP and I just bought them out as well).

I put on my EE hat and came up with this. Hopefully stern will at least keep the node boards flowing.

IMG_20230826_212449.jpg

In true pinball homebrew fashion... a rat's nest. There are more than SEVENTY FIVE INCHES (in total length) of traces on that tiny little board.

About one month until my LED PCBs come in.

I have 10 wiring harnesses completed and three toppers fully assembled, just waiting on the LED boards.

I'll start asking in order if people want to wait for the led PCB or if they just want me to make some with thru hole components versus the smd stuff I had made up (no difference to the end user).

DRC check, zero errors.
Engineer review (I'm not an EE), appears vias traces pads components etc work as placed and will function as intended.

Large investment to just test these out none will be for sale (the serial 16 led reproduction). Since they're are abandoned, I wonder how hard it would be for stern to let me sell my reproduction? These are 5v only and machines they could be used in are well out of warranty / support.

I have 5 toppers (minus LEDs and LED harnesses) fully built now - I was on vacation last week, this speed slows now. 35 days for my first shipment of LED PCBs (and my reproduction serial 16 led boards).

https://pinside.com/pinball/market/shops/1339-modley-crue/09255-ghostbusters-reproduction-topper

so far, going through emails (not posts), I have Pinsiders in this order:

jtaudio
Blackzarak
wcbrandes
Nstone4425
haiderdj
Squizz
Merendino
Phatchit
delt31
BentleyBear
oradke
Meadows22
Riefepeters
rapidflipper
Jakers
Aussiepinwiz
marspinball
cp1610
mdeslaur
jurulz
Purdue
Jarbyjibbo
CoasterG
alleycat-pinball
Hammer97e
MooButt
Elevatorman
Capn12
Daditude

I have enough electronics on hand to fulfill 21 orders. 5 toppers ready for the final PCBs once they arrive (or you can opt for me to make them by hand, functionally the same and get the topper sooner). After this, I will be able to produce one to two per week.

roscoepinball

Sixtieskid

Things are coming along. I have 10 toppers now, this week I will start making the harnesses.

The manufacturer just finished making the initial PCB to test and it turned out great. I cannot imagine it will take too much longer before I can get the first one out the door.

I have some custom shipping boxes coming so these will hopefully arrived unscathed but that's why they will also ship for full price, tax and shipping as the insured value.

Prototype led boards and serial led controllers arrived.

Magic smoke was made with and without watchdog versions - q15 blows. Have to figure that out for the future.

But for now:

IMG_20230919_234823.jpg

Still waiting on my shipping boxes. The first one will be out next week hopefully.

roscoepinball

Huge pcb order paid for, now the wait.

Still about 2 weeks out from all the led boards getting here - then it's supply of stern boards that will hold up later runs.

IMG_20231007_203552.jpg

Materials arrived for pick and place at PCB manufacturer, they go through some qc checks and then the soldering begins.

Initial validation looks good. Parts placed and soldered without fault. Commence operation Mr Roboto, will be fun to see how fast the automation busts out the assembly. Shouldn't be more than this week before they get shipped.

Soon folks!

DIP welding commenced early this morning. I'm thinking the through hole should be done today as well.

DIP QC passed - boards tested and functional. Should be shipped sometime this week.

I will start to email about payment and delivery soon.

I will only ship one or two at first to make sure the process is smooth and without any damage, instructions for hookup are simple but there will be a printed manual with each topper.

LED boards will ship to me this week.

My boxes and foam packing arrive tomorrow.

It is realistic to expect the first two or three to ship THIS WEEK (edit: led boards will not arrive in time for this week but I will have a few toppers ready to ship next week).

It has been a long road but I am happy to get these toppers into pinside's collective hands.

LED boards arrived!

It's going to be some time (maybe half a year). At the moment, I think I can only get about one to two done per week. I have the list posted here but there are some off of pinside that have been around since the begining and some on the list want multiples (not reselling, they are super generous and buying for friends!!).

If someone is in a real hurry the only way to get one faster is when I get a couple more people to go in on the silver plated editions with me to bring down their cost. But that would be an impatience tax (and I already have those lenses, wiring harnesses, mounting base fabricated in case someone is silly enough like me to want a silver plated topper that is WAY overpriced but still couldn't be any cheaper without me losing money).

I don't plan on there being any fomo; though, the real limit is the availability of the stern serial and node boards. I buy em all when I can but if they ever dry up, so does this project. If spike 3 comes out, the odds of them supporting a spike 1/2 board for games not made for nearly 10 years is small. But maybe they wouldn't care if I resale their design (and support it) if that is the case.

Oh boy, lucky #1 going out the door this Monday!

IMG_20231021_212945.jpg

jtaudio

20 feet of foam is protecting this.

IMG_20231022_184405.jpg

https://pinside.com/pinball/market/shops/1339-modley-crue/09255-ghostbusters-reproduction-topper

Dee55 topper will be in the hands of USPS tomorrow. says 2 day delivery, so hopefully you will have it this week!

Friday according to the tracking.

Moving on to the next in line:

honkbahh

(more than 24 hours of no response)

The first topper arrives today, I keep hitting F5 waiting for USPS to say it was delivered. I can't wait to see it arrive undamaged and on top of another Ghostbusters.

We will see how UPS fairs in handling the packages later this week.

Dee55 don't forget to post pics when it is on and do not hesitate to reach out to my via pm if you run into any issues.

Your item was delivered to the garage, other door or an alternate location at the address at 3:20 pm on October 28, 2023.

And the fourth one is going out the door tomorrow SlapDrain

wcbrandes
Nstone4425
haiderdj
Merendino

You will all be coming up for delivery within the next 4 weeks (I managed to get 5 out in one week but it will back to the 2/week estimate now).

if you still want a topper click on the link to preorder.

https://pinside.com/pinball/market/shops/1339-modley-crue/09255-ghostbusters-reproduction-topper

Looks great!! Glad it made it there unscathed.

To those who have received a topper so far, at a certain point I will circle back and send you out a new set of lenses with the laser etched diffusion lines.
20231103_230024.gif

The final version of the lenses.

20231105_200948.gif

I think this is the final version. Frosted lenses ftw.

20231111_180351.gif

Wow that really does complete the topper! Good job.

I'm glad I made mounting points so people could add their own!

Updated lenses will be going out this week, still have several more to make and will get to those this weekend.

I will hopefully have 3 more toppers out the door this week as well.

IMG_20231119_183728.jpg

Looks great!

So much for a holiday, non c'è riposo per i malvagi.
IMG_20231125_225329.jpg

IMG_20231126_002332.jpg

oradke
Meadows22
Riefepeters
rapidflipper

Topper time. Place your preorders.

I am running out of parts and will be slowing down soon but have been able to get these out faster than expected originally.

Jakers
Aussiepinwiz
marspinball
cp1610

Check your PMs

mdeslaur and insight75

I'm really trying to get to you before the new year.

I've been plugging along, some family troubles and life slowed progress but I am ramping back up again.

There are two folks in this thread that I need to insert into the que (tons of people skipping over the thread and just doing a preorder, so trying to keep things organized is tough):

insight75

mdeslaur

Very sorry for the wait to all.

Yup I see you there.

Yours is printing right now!