Cool idea, I’m sure basic homebrew heads will be interested

I own a stern trident pin, I thought this was a thread for that machine, could be a cool name though

Great idea. I’ve been toying with doing a homebrew for a while, and I think this would be a cool service. Following.

I would most likely be interested in a white wood starter Playfield and templates/jigs - preferably router jigs for most/all standard inserts.

I've got a lot of parts already for a build, got the basics designed in Virtual Pinball, have a a p3-roc and most boards I'd need, etc, but I've stalled out on taking the next step.

I've been debating learning CAD and getting a Bob's CNC setup capable of cutting a playfield and convert my VP table into something usable to do the playfield - but that has a number of challenges and $$ outlay too. My initial plan had been to do it manually and make my own router jigs for inserts - a starter kit in that direction seems ideal...

I'm pretty skeptical of the economics. I think the one thing that you could offer that people would be mildly interested in are blank playfields with an Italian bottom, shooter lane, trough, etc.. already cut in. Some routing jigs are a good addon too. But even that I think you'd be limited in how many youd actually sell.

The rest is mostly you being a personal shopper for the basic easy to get stuff? Don't see much value there

I think you're opening a can of worms by offering pre-configuration and wiring guides.

Anyhow, start slow...I don't think anyone provides ready to go blank playfields. That is a niche within a niche within a niche, but at least one you could fulfill where there is no competition.

As a homebrewer, that's the only thing that would interest me.

I would offer a blank AFM playfield

Perfect shooter, all the mechs and ramps are available, any possible patents expired a decade ago

FAST pinball has talked for at least a few years of offering something similar, don't think they ever got it of the ground but they seem to be pushing more stuff lately so ???

Neat idea but like everything else I'm sure it would depend on price point.

We have been inching our way there. The customer support is the most expensive part that gets overlooked in endeavors like these, both time and $.

We have been focusing on the needs of our commercial partners and expect that those efforts will trickle down in the form of more complete and sustainable pinball build starter kits.

If anyone with Trident would like some free insights, PM me and let's jump on a call. We all want more people making pinball!

Aaron
FAST Pinball

Yeah and I don't think you want to jump into providing customer support for that, yet you're venturing out into a giant land mine field.

Most of the work will be providing customer support to people who can't correctly wire things or know how to troubleshoot errors in their code. Think long and hard about what sort of support you'd need to provide to people.

Programming is a major hurdle, but you'd have to make a very compelling argument that you're providing something of value in terms of pre defined code coming with the bundle. (Also maybe just contribute to MPF's cookbooks and examples?)

Octomodz Very interested in this and would be a customer. It’s a daunting amount of information to process to get started and having a kit to jumpstart the process would get me building and learning so much faster. I think you’re right in the fact that the desire is there for people to build a machine but knowing where to start I’d what keeps them/me from pursuing it. I would be all over this.

If you have more details or are close to a starting point to demo a few customers, reach out to me please.

Can you post a picture of everything?

I just dropped a PM asking for the same.

I'm excited to start this process of building a homebrew. Planned on beginning this year, and I think this will just help me jump forward 6 months in that process.

Do you know what SBC you will be using? asking for a friend

Should hook up with Jon Norris and offer one of his designs as a kit!

Thanks for doing this, a cool idea.

I think the best way to get a playfield done is to have a cabinet shop do the CNC work from your file. Maybe 150$ of work.

You can easily create the CAD file in a simple program like Corel draw or Ai, it does not need to be an advanced cad program or complex. All of the inserts are stock files available on there own, you just really need to move them around as you like.

With just a little knowledge you could do your layout file pretty quickly then the shop will take care of generating the tooling paths for the cnc, might even be automatic now.

You could so it with a router but there really is so much involved that I don't think it's worth the small savings and the outcome will be so difficult to achieve anything close to a CNCs perfect tollerances.

First thing you want to do is create a small test file with your inserts to make sure they will fit the cut perfectly, then adjust as needed.

Doe's anyone have a list of which brands basic components are preferred or best for their specific use, like Stern vs Bally/Midway parts.

Bally, Stern, or?
Lower Playfield-
Bumpers-
Drop Targets-
Flipper assembly-
slingshots-
Ball trough-
Eject-
Etc.

Most use Williams designed because all those patents expired a while ago and can be gotten new now.

A few minor exceptions would be most use the Stern slingshot design (simpler and easier design than Williams) and then Data East pop bumpers (easier to install, though some use the Williams design because it has a smaller footprint. It’s just a trickier cut if you were routing by hand vs cutting one 3 inch hole and they don’t drop in and out of place like the other design)

Thanks that's is what I'm looking for, basically which is preferred and why.

I do prefer Williams only because I like Williams, but I do not know enough to know if Stern has better flippers of something like that.

The flipper mounting hardware is pretty similar, the main difference is Stern uses single wound coils vs dual wound coils (much more common). The technical differences and pro/cons to each method could go on for a while…

The hardware stuff really isn’t even that noticeable to a player. How the developer tunes their software and power will be more apparent to the player. And of course how sensitive switches are, if any parts are binding, etc

Thanks makes sense. I was thinking for doing a play field layout video to show how quickly one could layout a field in Coreldraw and save to a cad file.

So I'm guessing then that sterns playfield is preferred or are there any Williams items preferred, It could always be hybrid.

So this ISN’T about Trident?

Pick a less confusing name.

Or just read the entire thread title for context…

So how is “homebrew kit” explanatory that it’s not about building up new Tridents?

I’m definitely considering it, but tallying the cost at the same time. A standard trimmed cabinet kit is around $1000, plus $2200 for the necessities you provide. Another $500-$1000 easy for additional parts, lights, etc. Not to mention sculpts, mechs, ramps, etc. I’m close to $5000 out of the gate, and that number only rises.

However, it’s something I’ve always wanted to do and I know I’d finish it. Still deciding if it’s worth selling a game and giving up a spot for a few years.

Don't forget the Limited edition 1 of 1 plaque. Priceless

Can the Cobra board drive an LCD?

I like the idea. Already have myself quite the box of parts but would be interested in the blank playfield angle as well as support.

Maybe I’m missing it but I am actually quite surprised there is not more activity in the homebrew forum. Don’t get me wrong there is a ton to learn from all those lone wolf builds but a more active version of Pinball Makers with solid info for the noobs would be huge…

Good luck with the venture. I’ll be following!

I am close to making my first whitewood, and I agree just providing a lower 3rd blank would be great. Hell I would even buy the files as an option just to make sure what I drew up I is correct.

Pinball Makers is fine, but it feels out of date and I had to mix a lot of things together with random forum posts to get what I needed. Im not even sure if the pinball life through position will be correct.

I will say finding a modern cabinet was way harder than I thought it would be. People aren't junking games like they used to. I almost had to go to the vp cabs route. A modern Stern style flat packed cabinet would be amazing.

I'm getting a price from my CNC guy to see what he is charging for this, they do a bunch of custom cabinet stuff.

Thanks. Last noob question… the PROC board seems to be for modifying existing games, and the Mission Pinball software and Cobra board seems to be a user friendly way to code homebrew. Is this semi-correct?

Worth mentioning PROC and P3ROC are different things. I like the P3ROC. Costs a bit more but very flexible feature set.

I’ll mock something up in CAD. I have an artist I’m talking with, so if everything works out, I’ll likely pick up your kit and go from there.