Bump for news
You're currently viewing posts by Pinsider p1nhead.
Click here to go back to viewing the entire thread.
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.
Quoted from Schwaggs:If you want a more affordable crimper, this $22 tool on Amazon works perfectly.
HT-225D Full Cycle Ratchet Crimping Tool with interchangeable die set HT-225D amazon.com link »
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.
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).
Quoted from delt31:Do you think stern will go after you trying to reproduce their topper? I wonder if they have a patent or something that would prevent another from building and then selling.
I guess they should've made more.
...but nobody mentioned selling them.
Quoted from swinks:Stern gets to sell the node boards to make these toppers so they are still getting a cut.
I don't think there is any dramas making them.
Time to setup the production line then.
Just mocking up the replica code 3 force 4 light bar
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.
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.jpgHad 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.jpgQuoted from delt31:Wait - are you being serious? The stern topper actually costs a good amount to make? It looks kind of cheap so I’m surprised to hear that.
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.
Quoted from Zzap:It does look neat like that (nice acrylic work by the way!). I'd probably have to watch some videos of the topper in action to get a feel for if the other flashers add much (or are used independently enough?). Otherwise just the blue flashing lightbar might ok.
Quoted from Utesichiban:Nice! Does it interact with the game.
Yes, it interacts the same exact way the original stern topper does.
Quoted from Utesichiban:Looks great. Are the blue flashing lights siren type lights or leds?
All LED "flashers."
Quoted from Riefepeters:When. Will. We. Get. More. Toppers?!
From Stern? Likely never.
Quoted from Phatchit:Come on sell these if you do put me down for one
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.
Quoted from Swoods5688:Well here it is all printed and ready to go, just waiting on some leds to come in to finish wiring up the lights and then take it downstairs to the correct game but very excited and think it turned our great and will mimic the same lights as the stern topper
[quoted image]
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.
Quoted from Flato:Any updates on stern or anyone else making new toppers? For that matter anyone have one there willing to let go?
Mine will start rolling out after pinbrew in April - all my focus has been on getting my homebrew ready (NBX).
Quoted from Jarbyjibbo:Is this a one off piece or will you be offering them to others as well?
Offering to others as well.
Quoted from marspinball:Put me on the topper list please.
If they light up like the original do they use a node board?
Thanks
Yes, if you look back through this thread you can see gifs I uploaded showing how they work.
Quoted from Riefepeters:We’re all staying tuned to when you want to take our money!
Very soon. I just placed another large order for stern boards... so I need to take some money sooner than later!
Quoted from jellikit:You'll be printing money soon with this mod... nice work.
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.
One down.
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.
Quoted from delt31:I think it looks better than the original!
Just needs that red sensor thing on the right and circular grey on the left side to complete it like the original.
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.
Quoted from MooButt:I’m trying to get an answer on that too.
Quoted from freddy:What’s pricing on these units?
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).
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.
Added 7 months ago: Added 6 months ago: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.
Quoted from P1nhead: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.
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.
Quoted from BradVR4:P1nhead
These look great! If I wanted to order one, what sort of wait time am I looking at to receive it? I'm in Texas. Thanks!
-Brad
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.
20 feet of foam is protecting this.
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!
Added 183 days ago:Friday according to the tracking.
Come and knock on our door
We've been waiting for you
Where the toppers are hers and hers and his
Topper #3's company, too
(It's ready)
Added 181 days ago:Moving on to the next in line:
Added 181 days ago:(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.
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
Quoted from SlapDrain:Topper packed very well. Breeze to install and looks great!
[quoted image]
Looks great!! Glad it made it there unscathed.
Quoted from SlapDrain:Can’t wait for the updated lenses!
[quoted image]
Wow that really does complete the topper! Good job.
I'm glad I made mounting points so people could add their own!
Quoted from faceforward_007:I got mine, thank you P1nhead for the fast shipping and great packing job! Topper arrive in the great white north unscathed.
Really enjoy having this on the machine, adds some more excitement, that's for sure, interacts with gameplay better than I expected. Thanks again
[quoted image][quoted image]
Looks great!
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
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):
Very sorry for the wait to all.
Quoted from Mjesposi:All good! Could you confirm for me that you have me in the queue / list for the pre-order I placed on 3/7. I did not realize I should also send a note on here as well. Thank you and appreciate the hard work!
Yup I see you there.
Quoted from mdeslaur:Please let me know if I need to do something, or just wait until you contact me. Thanks!
Yours is printing right now!
You're currently viewing posts by Pinsider p1nhead.
Click here to go back to viewing the entire thread.
Wanna join the discussion? Please sign in to reply to this topic.
Great to see you're enjoying Pinside! Did you know Pinside is able to run without any 3rd-party banners or ads, thanks to the support from our visitors? Please consider a donation to Pinside and get anext to your username to show for it! Or better yet, subscribe to Pinside+!
This page was printed from https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/hey-stern-make-some-new-ghostbusters-ecto-1-topper?tu=p1nhead and we tried optimising it for printing. Some page elements may have been deliberately hidden.
Scan the QR code on the left to jump to the URL this document was printed from.