Someone asked me how I'd make the head components disconnect from the cabinet components.... My plan is to run my wiring off the terminal blocks at the bottom of the main panel to multiple circular connectors. This will allow for an easy disconnect. For the network cables, I built a box to easily connect and disconnect the two cables. AC power will be on it's own connector along with the DC power (12/5vdc). 48volt power supply will be located in the main cabinet body.

Total wire count from head to cabinet (SO FAR):
CONNECTOR #1:
1 - 120 VAC
2 - Neutral
3 - GND

CONNECTOR #2:
1 - RGB CH1 DIGITAL OUT
2 - RGB CH2 DIGITAL OUT
3 - RGB CH3 DIGITAL OUT
4 - 5VDC
5 - 5VDC
6 - 0VDC
7 - 0VDC

CABLES:
9 - NETWORK CABLE OUT
10 - NETWORK CABLE IN

We're trying. All the guys involved have been great about meeting and moving things forward. Right now, unfortunately, we're waiting on hardware controllers to continue the programming. We can't wire up everything and test the components without the parts.

Hah. Well, there's always a lull in projects. It's just the way it is. I'm lucky that I have access to the shop all hours and weekends so it's helpful in that respect. On the other hand, the guys involved are very responsive and have great ideas. They all have a great understanding of the gameplay which is where I lack. I really think this will end up a very playable and fun game.

We were even fortunate enough to find someone who might be interested in helping with the coding and implementing some deeper rules.

These is our currently layout for the next test. This will be made to be playable. Once this version is assembled and electrified, we'll concentrate on programming and other aspects of this runaway train.

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Couple other shots.

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Oh God! The pressure. Now I have to get it done.

Finished the main panel today. Moving to the lower cabinet I/O panel tomorrow

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I still need to build a cover for the line filter. I ended up using the 30A filter rather than send it back and getting the correct one. I don't really like that the terminals are so exposed so I will work on a clear finger shield to go over it.

We did this test print today of the sign. It seems ok. We are breaking it down so it will light as it did in the film.

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Thanks. Yes. Changed the title.

Headed down to the shop to cut the lower cabinet panels. Going to try to get these wired up by tomorrow night... yeah right.

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Is it true that anything that's worth doing is worth overdoing?

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Boy these things take forever!

Who's Grig?

... kidding

It's weird because aside from the ultra shitty special effects, the film had a lot of heart. It was ground breaking for special effects because it's the first feature length film to utilize CGI to produce all of the visual effects but the software and hardware just wasn't quite there yet.

Oh snap! I had no idea.

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LOL. Spaceship from the film.

The printers are relatively decent. We only use them for mock ups and things we will not really end up using in the end but overall, they've performed pretty well. There are a couple things we did to fix some design flaws.

I've got the lower cabinet power panel wired up. Just waiting on some more terminals and the filter board. I was thinking about redoing the I/O board and adding terminals but I don't want to introduce any additional connections that aren't necessary. Especially on the low voltage I/O stuff.

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Hah. That's actually just the way industrial wiring is done. I don't know of a controls company who wouldn't fire you if you didn't wire this clean or better. I was fortunate enough to work for a controls company for about 4 years doing electrical design under UL standards. I can only apply what I learned there but for this, it should be fine.

Good news. My linear power supplies will be here tomorrow. I can finally wrap up the main panel wiring and put that to bed.

Oh crap. Somebody better talk to TIME and let him know that the game needs to work.

He's already done more on the program than I was able to do in weeks. I feel so inadequate....

Meanwhile one node's worth of wiring is half done. Aside from wire numbers (ugh. I hate wire numbers)

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Seems to me like things are moving along ok. I think that once this first assembly is complete and playable, we'll start moving forward faster. It's a little bumpy right now because we are still in our early development stage.

Hah. Me too! Can't wait to play this thing!

Here we go. The ol' version 3 playfield is done. Going to start attaching devices tomorrow.

This will be our first playable version of the playfield. The next version will probably have some adjustments.

Thanks to all of you who have offered suggestions. Some were implemented and some were disregarded as garbage. ...kidding

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A few people have asked me to put my electrical drawings package up for public view. I will do so for sure. I need to go through it and prove the connections first. It's still not 100%. I'm on REV B right now. We are getting the new playfield setup to test and I will need to wire in many of the components so the guys can all have their way with her. We'll probably play it like this for a week or so before going nuts on a revised playfield.

Time is working on the program. I'm going to try to help him as much as I can since that is the biggest part of this entire project. All the wiring, construction, etc. is easy when compared to the programming. Very appreciative that he is able to jump in and help us out.

Holy cow. We're officially 60 days into the project! Kind of... I guess it's really just 60 days since the thread started. We got a group together about 3 weeks after I started this thread. So technically I guess we are only into it by about 37 to 40 days. We'll get there. We'll celebrate when we hit 90 days for sure.

What the heck could this be?

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