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(Topic ID: 156757)

How to start a homebrew project?

By skov

8 years ago

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13 posts
11 Pinsiders participating
Latest reply 8 years ago by Law
Topic is favorited by 5 Pinsiders

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#1 8 years ago

HHS

I've been wanting to start a build of my own for some time. There's is a lot of great info out there on prototyping, board selection, tools etc. But not a lot on the early process. So before I start getting in over my head it'd be interesting to know how people go about the early stages, like:

- Do you settle on a theme first, then sketch -> build and end up with software and rules?
- How fleshed out is your idea before you start on anything physical?
- Do you have the layout all on sketch before doing anything physical, or do you make it up in cardboard or similar as you go along?
- Do I need to worry about artwork at all at this stage?

#2 8 years ago

JIG

jwilson

Pinball Art Prints

Toronto, ON

9y 106K 5,051 6 7

http://pinballmakers.com/

Tons of info there, especially in the whitewood section.

Most people sketch out their playfields on paper first, then go to CAD. You can then print out the CAD and glue it to the wood as a reference for cutting your holes.

#3 8 years ago

NimblePin

Pinside member

13y 121K 5,415

Nordmanite...
Invest in Nordmanite.

#4 8 years ago

SMK

TheLaw

Pinside+ Addict

Ann Arbor, MI

12y 162K 48,038 19 30 1

Theme or layour first doesn't matter a ton...but may need to be adjusted as you go on.
Start making up layouts, build a couple proto PF, start drilling holes for some parts, then never touch it again.

#5 8 years ago

MAX

MarkInc

Pinside member

London, ON

12y 95,150 808 7 24

Pick out a theme.
Figure out a few 'toys' or ideas tied to that theme.
Sketch out ideas on paper or in other drawing tools.
Test out the ideas and layouts in FuturePinball or VirtualPinball.

#6 8 years ago

SBS

o-din

Pinside+ Addict

11y 158K 58,774

Here's a good start.

download_(resized).jpg

#7 8 years ago

JJZ

toyotaboy

RandOM Pinball

Allyn, WA

12y 184K 11,929 3 14

OP
Quoted from skov:
- Do you settle on a theme first, then sketch -> build and end up with software and rules?
- How fleshed out is your idea before you start on anything physical?
- Do you have the layout all on sketch before doing anything physical, or do you make it up in cardboard or similar as you go along?
- Do I need to worry about artwork at all at this stage?

Pinball MFG often do layouts first, but having a theme in mind will help motivate you, and come up with ideas for the layout
Don't get hungup on not trying out concepts (and making swiss cheese out of a piece of cheap $10 plywood). Try to use hot glue to put things down so you don't make too many holes, but don't be afraid to try things out. CAD is good to document (so you can get a clean playfield cut via CNC), but honestly you need to just fabricate to see how flow works first.
Artwork should absolutely be dead last. Whatever you do, use real plywood (not MDF). Even if it's crappy low layered birch, anything is better than MDF.

#8 8 years ago

CDY

cody_chunn

Inactive member

Mobile, AL

9y 64,800 4,520

Buy four leg levelers...then work your way up.

#9 8 years ago

JDS

swinks

Swinks Pinball

12y 136K 10,561

here is a page to sketch some ideas

playfield_doodle_(resized).jpg

#10 8 years ago

JDS

swinks

Swinks Pinball

12y 136K 10,561

here is a good thread as well if you haven't seen it yet

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/lets-figure-out-the-bare-minimum-costparts-to-build-a-whitewood

#11 8 years ago

JCD

WaddleJrJr

Pinside member

Avon, OH

9y 91,900 2,738 22 20

Quoted from swinks:
here is a page to sketch some ideas

playfield_doodle_(resized).jpg

Able to provide one of these in widebody width?

#12 8 years ago

JDS

swinks

Swinks Pinball

12y 136K 10,561

Quoted from WaddleJrJr:
Able to provide one of these in widebody width?

I don't have one designed up, sorry

you could do a cut, paste and scan one though

#13 8 years ago

LAW

Law

Inactive member

9y 87,800 1,320 124

Quoted from o-din:
Here's a good start.

That kit is waaaaay overkill for the first batch....

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