Now i have some time to start working with the DW elevator again, some of you may have read about the first job i did so you know I spent a few hours with the elevator before.
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/modified-doctor-who-mpf-elevator

I was really excited about the suggested idea of using an actuator and did a video this summer of the elevator during game play, it seemed possible to use an actuator at the time but after some more testing recently with startup and simulating a interruption i realised it won't work, as you can see about 3:48 in this video the cam rotates clockwise past the bottom position to locate where it is after the shut down, this won't be possible to do with an actuator

So my next modification will be similar to what someone did on dendocs elevator, but my intention is to make it as easy as possible for any DW owner to mount.
I have an idea of how to do this and i ordered some parts that I'm currently waiting for so i can begin, this modification will take a few months to finish and there's a chance I will fail but I really like the challenge of making a improvement kit to the elevator
I will update as often as I can or when have something to show, my English may not be the best all the time so feel free to correct me!

The bottom of the outside bracket was slightly bent so while waiting for parts i reinforced it with a piece of flat iron to prevent it from bending again as i did in my first mod, I want the bracket to be as straight and perpendicular as possible because i will mount linear guidings on the inside.

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I made a new brace with tight holes and fixed distance for retaining the bracket in parallel.
I'll probably have to mount the linear units a little loose because the bracket is made of bent sheet metal and may vary somewhat dimensionally.

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I have received the linear units, the quality seems to be really good, especially for this application.
My only concern is if the black dust that occurs inside the pinball machine will affect them.
I'll start making the mounts for them, still waiting for more parts though.

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The mounts are finished and fits almost perfectly into the opening for the original rolls, I have milled them manually and grinded the corners to fit the opening, all parts for the prototype will be manufactured by hand because my CNC is not running yet.

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attachment for the shafts on linear unit.

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The linear guide block for shafts and mounts under the mini playfield is finished.
I did an offset on the attachment for the mini playfield so mpf is further back in order to make more space to fit cliffys.
I miscalculated it a lot so they have to be made again, about ⅛” instead of 1/32” , but it will work for testing.
I won't be able to do work on this during rest of December.

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Thanks, so far it looks quite good but it's a slow progress.
As time goes by i find small improvements i can make on this prototype, i will use the pieces I have made in the test jig, if it works as supposed i will make new ones before testing in the pinball machine.
I bolted the sliding unit together with a piece of flat iron which has the same screw distance as mini playfield and made a short video clip to show movement manually.

I hope i will be able to make a kit, that's my intention if I succeed, i want it to be a reliable modification if I'm going to sell it.

I used my fixture to make threads in the shaft of the cam, i will mount a rod end ball joint here.
Except for the three holes in the bottom of the outer bracket for the reinforcement, this is the only intervention that has to be done so far on the elevator to install my modification.
A hole through the shaft with a nut on the other side might work as well, I'll check if there's enough space behind for a nut later.
I'm nowadays a happy owner of three Doctor Who

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I'll just change translite to each and one of the actor's , I have not seen the series yet but I will for sure someday.
Three is more than enough for me, i got an opportunity to buy one more, it's being stored for the moment and one is used for this modification.
The third is in play, I have installed new speakers and Pinsound board in it, a really nice modification, especially with Doctorine’ the Tardis music.
This is a great pinball imo and a keeper for sure.

Thanks for sharing the backstory, interesting reading from someone who knows the series, I'll start looking for it, seems like I've missed something and have a lot to learn about Doctor Who.
As for the modification i will hopefully start some testing during this or next week.

It's up and running!
I made a mpf dummy of a thick flat iron with a weight of 2.5kg, the original mpf weight is almost 2kg.
I added some extra load with a weight of 2.5kg, so the total load of 5kg is about 2.5x times more than normal.
This was only for testing, it won't be good for the gearbox with a heavier load in the long run.
These parts will not be installed in the pinball because the mpf level will be a little too high, and too far back.
My CNC is working now so i will make the new pieces with it, I'll do my best but our second child is about to be born any day now so don't have to high expectations on this for a while.

Thanks, we are looking forward to it.
I will at least try the original mpf in the test jig within a few days, I'll post a video if it works as supposed.

I want to spare this topic, and the followers from my personal life
I can be added on other social media like facebook or whatsapp, though I'm not so active on them it's interesting to know people with the same interests, just send me PM.
Here's a video of the elevator mounted in the test jig

Thanks! I believe it will be a nice improvement when it's finished, I haven't done much since my last update.
I'll do my best to have 1 or 2 beta kits available during this year for someone to evaluate.

I'm really glad that there is an interest in this modification , and I would really like to finish it as quickly as possible but it will take a few months for me to complete the beta kits with everything else going on in my life
How ever i have decided to skip the threads in the shaft of the cam as there's enough space for a nut on the other side.
A screw with a nut will act as a support for the shaft attachment as it seems to be riveted in the cam, only drilling a hole will also make it a little easier to install.

When the time is up for testing I think it will be most fair to offer the kits to those who have expressed an interest of buying or testing the modification in this thread, of course if they are interested and agrees to my short list of testing terms.
Although it feels a little early to make a list I have to draw a line from posts made until yesterday for making these beta test kits, which probably means I have to expand the number of 1 or 2 kits anyway, i won't be able to handle too many kits in the beginning if some changes has to be made.
I guess a beta list should look something like this if they are interested:
dsuperbee
Clnilsen
Rdoyle1978
adams_arcade
superJackpot
I hope that I have not misjudged or overlooked someone before my post yesterday who wants to participate, please tell me if that's the case.

Thanks for interested to participate and help me testing this modification, I'll do my best to have It ready at the end of the year.
I will contact the rest on the list later to see if they have an interest of testing it and hopefully I can have pinball_faz to join me in this as he seems very positive too.

With development and testing it might take up to a year before i can sell it if approved, but your and other interest are taken.
In my opinion the original bracket is not really an optimal design but I agree with Rdoyle1978 and Clnilsen, the bracket can be a beast to adjust you may even suffer from a bad gearbox, the best chance to determine, test and get it working better without burning your motors is with no doubt from the help of Faz.