Wellesley, ON
I'd do the shooter tips and posts in white and flipper rubbers in red. Black makes the playfield so dirty so quickly.
(Topic ID: 172723)
Linked Games
Thunderbirds
Homepin, 2018
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Quoted from Mitch:I'd do the shooter tips and posts in white and flipper rubbers in red. Black makes the playfield so dirty so quickly.
We do want to experiment with colours but it won't be until our initial production is underway. There are just too many other things to deal with and get right first.
At this stage, as I said earlier, rings will be white, flipper rubbers, posts and shooter tips black.
Quoted from Homepin:I will cutNpaste here from AA regarding my answer to this question over there about silicon:
Q: "Have you considered silicon rings instead of rubber?"
A: Yes and we have played with silicon. If you nick silicon, even the slightest of nicks, the ring will split in seconds - it isn't long enough lasting for a "manufacturer" to use I'm afraid.
For after market use - no problem because it won't reflect on the manufacturer of the machine if/when they split.
Not worth the risk for us with so many other "unknown factors" already to contend with - at this early stage we sure don't need any more than we already have believe me!!!
Totally agree on this. Silicon cleans up so well but breaks so easily!
Please note that I am showing very early pictures of our progress in this thread. Parts shown ARE NOT finished and WILL vary in shape, size, dimensions, colour and probably every other aspect imaginable.
We are using these cute little flange bearings in our launch mechanism. The brass block will be plated when we finish making them - still tweaking a few dimensions.
It is a HUGE job preparing all of the drawings not only for our own in-house use but the service manual as well. This drawing is preliminary as there are several changes to the mechanism and then the drawing - seems to be like a dog chasing its tail sometimes!
Launch mechanism being tested in one of our VERY ratty test playfields - this piece of board has so many chunks chopped from it I think it's time to retire it!!!
Auckland
Windsor
Quoted from Toads:That pivot point has been an issue with the newer Sterns for a while.
Glad to see it designed a little better
For real. The stern auto launch is a terrible mech. Really poorly designed.
The goal is wide open ... hope Homepin can score. Apparently this is Stern's standard pricing structure, henceforth.
Aerosmith:
Pro Model: $6199
Premium Model: $7899
Limited Edition Model: $8999
Dread to think what the pricing structure will look like in EU / UK / AUS & NZ.
There has to be plenty of margin around the $5k mark for larger operations, still.
Here's a reminder of the price that Homepin is aiming for:
Quoted from Homepin:Pricing - - - I don't want to give too much away at this stage but let's say that the Homepin pricing plan has only been adjusted slightly from our original targets. It seems that some others have different pricing ideas but ours remain solid with only a moderate price rise. If you look at our original "introductory" price of AU5432.10 in Australia (plus GST [tax] and delivery) we are not a very long way from this currently.
That was always a special introductory price for those who took a chance on Homepin and paid up front. The normal retail price is estimated to be ABOUT (and please don't take this as gospel at this stage) AU$6999.
This equates to ABOUT US$5250 in todays money. This will be for a machine that will have many more "bells & whistles" than some others on the market and will be built with Homepins already well regarded high quality.
Things are a long way from finalised yet however so please don't quote that price anywhere else without the clarifying statements.
So if they can hit that target they will be Stern's only competitor at the lower end of the market.
Quoted from rubberducks:The goal is wide open ... hope Homepin can score. Apparently this is Stern's standard pricing structure, henceforth.
Aerosmith:
Pro Model: $6199
Premium Model: $7899
Limited Edition Model: $8999
Dread to think what the pricing structure will look like in EU / UK / AUS & NZ.
There has to be plenty of margin around the $5k mark for larger operations, still.
here is the Aussie's Distributor prices (AUD) for Aerosmith released today
I love this thread! Thanks for all the updates. It is really interesting to hear the trials and tribulations of getting a a manufacturing company started and to see all the little details which go into designing parts.
Vail, AZ
Quoted from swinks:here is the Aussie's Distributor prices (AUD) for Aerosmith released today
Is that with or without tax? If it's with, they're about 15% cheaper than UK prices. Probably 8-10% cheaper than EU.
Quoted from rubberducks:Is that with or without tax? If it's with, they're about 15% cheaper than UK prices. Probably 8-10% cheaper than EU.
It would be including GST (tax) as retailers in Australia are not permitted to advertise goods for sale (to the public) that is not the FULL and TOTAL "pay & walk out" price.
Quoted from desertT1:Out of curiosity, what is the shot volume and clamping force of the injection molding machine used for the drop targets?
They are made "in-house" in our own vertical injection machine. I am not a mechanical engineer and don't profess to know the minute details that you have asked for.
The parts are made from a quality plastic and they pass the break test which is what interests me the most.
Quoted from rubberducks:Is that with or without tax? If it's with, they're about 15% cheaper than UK prices. Probably 8-10% cheaper than EU.
includes 10% GST = final payable amount to a general public customer
Quoted from Homepin:They are made "in-house" in our own vertical injection machine. I am not a mechanical engineer and don't profess to know the minute details that you have asked for.
The parts are made from a quality plastic and they pass the break test which is what interests me the most.
Understand. I have a few molds that I have designed and have most of them made and in my possession. Was going to be starting making parts pretty soon and was curious what that machine was capable of doing.
We just finished a new test jig for another addition to the Homepin replacement board range the A-16807. It makes it a breeze to test these boards with the right test jig.
(sorry about the crappy video - I made it while I was on my own in the factory on Sunday - as all you bosses out there will know, it's usually only the boss who gets to work seven days!!!)
testjig1 (resized).jpg
testjig3 (resized).jpg
testjig2 (resized).jpg
Forgot to put this picture up yesterday of the boxes of assembled flipper mechs.
Our new waterfall painting room was delivered this morning - we need to add air filtering on the extraction side, build a 1.2M extension in front and add air in filtering as well as suitable air outlet ducting. We will also build a lightweight gantry system so that cabinets can easily be slid into and out of the painting room by one person.
Having this part built for us saves a lot of time and effort as the hard parts are mainly done.
Quoted from pinballwil:Why packing everything in plastic, are the parts for resale?
It's amazing how much dust gets on things when they sit on a shelf even for a couple of weeks. We want to make sure everything is perfect when we start assembling machines very soon.
Quoted from Homepin:It's amazing how much dust gets on things when they sit on a shelf even for a couple of weeks. We want to make sure everything is perfect when we start assembling machines very soon.
As a buyer it's appreciated, the care you have taken the whole way through this project has been exceptional Mike. You must be felling good knowing you're close to being able to assemble final machines, after all the things you have been through to get here. Congrats. Can't wait to see it?
Will your next pin be announced shortly after Thunderbirds? Interested in knowing what it will be! Any hints yet.
Quoted from Homepin:It's amazing how much dust gets on things when they sit on a shelf even for a couple of weeks. We want to make sure everything is perfect when we start assembling machines very soon.
Outstanding.
I visited the small family business that does most of our metal stamping yesterday to see how things are coming along.
They are currently making a set of metal stamping dies for a playfield micro switch bracket and also a very complex set of dies for making the lockdown bar receiver mechanisms.
I visited the factory that assembles our surface mount parts on circuit boards yesterday. This is quite a specialised job and I don't want to gear up for it.
They were making COB's while I was there (Chip On Board). This process involves gluing the I.C. chip to the printed circuit board and then welding very fine gold wires to the PCB and the chip.
The chips are so tiny it is amazing. The videos show the wire welding machine in action and a guy testing the finished boards before the chips and wires are covered with a "glob" of black epoxy.
These boards are for electric toothbrushes.
In one room, at the end of the PCB assembly process a worker was using an automated testing machine that checked the boards for accuracy of placed parts and for any other things wrong.
The last video shows the assembly of some novelty clock radios.
thanks for sharing everything that you've been mike
while I won't say that I'm a fan of the theme (thunderbirds were never a huge hit here in the states), I will say that you are not only really passionate about your product, but you're also taking strides in the right direction in addressing many issues that some [other] manufacturers have (and continue to ignore
they say that competition breeds innovation, and you sir are doing some great things here 
Quoted from j_m_:while I won't say that I'm a fan of the theme (thunderbirds were never a huge hit here in the states)
Thanks for your comments. Note that Thunderbirds is Homepins FIRST pinball machine NOT the only one we will be making. Thunderbirds is targeted at countries OTHER than the USA although I can say I have had serious interest from the US about it.
Perhaps one of our machines that we produce in the future will be more to your liking?
Once we have made all of the parts and got everything up and running we will be able to work on different future machines.
Wow, you really come off as a perfectionist. Good work! What are your personal interests regarding themes- are you more keen on generic themes, movie themes, ___ ? Just trying to get an idea of what sorts of machines you would be most inclined to produce.
Quoted from Homepin:Thanks for your comments. Note that Thunderbirds is Homepins FIRST pinball machine NOT the only one we will be making. Thunderbirds is targeted at countries OTHER than the USA although I can say I have had serious interest from the US about it.
Perhaps one of our machines that we produce in the future will be more to your liking?
Once we have made all of the parts and got everything up and running we will be able to work on different future machines.
if you keep up the level of perfection that you're striving for, I'm sure that you'll sell a lot of the thunderbirds machines (especially in england and europe). chances are you'll eventually release a theme that I'm interested in
I really do hope your company makes a huge splash with thunderbirds and proves that it can be done and done correctly
not that this is your motive, but I could also see you selling aftermarket parts to replace some of the inferior parts that we're currently suffering with on some of the machines made by [other] companies. your auto-plunger assembly looks to be engineered a lot better than what's currently available
Wow, you really are going for the real deal on this! It's great to see all the behind the scenes manufacturing work that you are doing - - probably the only new pinball start-up that has shown HOW they will be able to build their games before showing off the game itself. Impressive - should build lots of confidence in new buyers. It's especially refreshing seeing how you are making a lot of your own parts and supply - hopefully that's not an obstacle for you in getting games out once you are really ready and up and running. I've heard that is a major issue for other manufacturers...
I think that Thunderbirds isn't even the most interesting part of this, it's other, smaller manufacturers getting access to quality parts at much cheaper pricing!
At least I hope that's Homepin's aim - to sell quality generic (and possibly specific) parts to home builders and smaller boutique manufacturers.
Quoted from jwilson:I think that Thunderbirds isn't even the most interesting part of this, it's other, smaller manufacturers getting access to quality parts at much cheaper pricing!
At least I hope that's Homepin's aim - to sell quality generic (and possibly specific) parts to home builders and smaller boutique manufacturers.
Yep, a FAST-brained/Homepin-fitted kit? I'm drooling!
Quoted from jwilson:I think that Thunderbirds isn't even the most interesting part of this, it's other, smaller manufacturers getting access to quality parts at much cheaper pricing!
At least I hope that's Homepin's aim - to sell quality generic (and possibly specific) parts to home builders and smaller boutique manufacturers.
Gary just popping in to check out Mike's factory and his video games.
I'm sure that days discussions were interesting...
Quoted from Toads:Gary just popping in to check out Mike's factory
Wait a minute, he certainly won't fly half around the world just for a little chitchat. There must be more to this ... Stern evaluating production in China? Let the rumor mill churn! 
Quoted from fishbone:Wait a minute, he certainly won't fly half around the world just for a little chitchat. There must be more to this ... Stern evaluating production in China? Let the rumor mill churn!
It's in Shenzhen .... Stern almost certainly have electronics (and more besides) made there.
Assuming you're right, I still don't believe this to be just a courtesy visit with a new competitor. 
Mike? ^^
Quoted from fishbone:Assuming you're right, I still don't believe this to be just a courtesy visit with a new competitor.
Mike? ^^
Yet you think Stern would gladly become beholden to a supplier that clearly wants to compete with them, and resides entirely offshore?
They may want some parts from HomePin eventually .. but looking at how solid everything looks, I suspect they're rather more interested in cheaper products given their continual cost cutting.
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