Hello everyone,
I'm new here, I come from the pincab community.
Recently i saw the work of scottacus with is awesome "Cuphead homebrew pinball", and it gave me the idea to try to build a pinball by myself.
I never owned a real pinball, i don't know how it works, but i hope i'll learn enough to go to the end of this adventure.

I'm at the very beginning.
Scottacus gave me some information (and some STL files, thank you again !!!).
In our french pincab community, i'm also learning from "Coolfire", a guy who started his pinball in december.

I'm beginning with MPF and a Cobra Pinboard.
And i'm already stuck !!!!

I'm trying to find a schematic of the wires for a dual wound flippers, controlled with MPF (not with the EOS mechanic).
Coolfire gave me this :
https://imgproxy.pinside.com/xfgl09sAJigt9CmwzW3vD2H4r7W6k4wadm0a0APbc_c/rs:fit:2048:2048/q:70/aHR0cHM6Ly9vLnBpbnNpZGUuY29tLzAvNjMvNDYvMDYzNDY3ZWMxNWMwZDdmYWEzMWVlYWMwZTAwYmE5MWUxMWQwMGYzNi5qcGc

But it's EOS mechanic controlled.
I'm sorry but i don't understand what' i'm supposed to do for a MPF power controlled. I'm reading the MPF documentation but i can't find the solution.
Is there anyone here to help me please ?
Thank's in advance !

If i'll manage not to burn everything, it will be a "Lovecraft themed pinball".
As i said, i'm at the very beginning, here is some pictures of my plank of wood.

https://imgproxy.pinside.com/W171AI-357iqZ_DhQpfQ-JhZNMTtC5dzLiiTA_e03z8/rs:fit:2048:2048/q:70/aHR0cHM6Ly9vLnBpbnNpZGUuY29tL2UvYzMvNTcvZWMzNTdmZDAyMmMxOWZhMTNiYWU0ZWNkYzQxNjdhNDU3ZjA0NmY0Yy5qcGc

https://imgproxy.pinside.com/J_3q7zYnX46jY0agk1h0OtOj20fvIL2h7M-tU8bWwUI/rs:fit:2048:2048/q:70/aHR0cHM6Ly9vLnBpbnNpZGUuY29tLzMvZDgvMzYvM2Q4MzZlMGM5ZDgxNzE0ZDU4ODc3OGZmZWFiMDUyYzE2ZjY1ZjUzYy5qcGc

Thank you if you can help me !

40d8d310 (resized).jpgIMG_0076 (resized).jpgIMG_0075 (resized).jpg

Ball-of-Cthulhu-9 (resized).jpg

TreyBo69 Thank you for taking time to answer !

Did i understand correctly ?
I need to do this, only 3 wires ? (see photo)

No wires between the differents parts of the flippers/coil ?

Sorry if i double checked, but i'm not sure of the meaning of english terms, and google translation can't help me !

double_coil_cobra (resized).jpg

Thank's again !
Yes i'd like to use weak flippers, so i will try this way. Thank's again for your help !

"Small" progress in adding the bumpers.
I'm totally discovering every parts of a pinball. That's very nice to see how it works !

IMG_0114_web (resized).jpg

IMG_0124_web (resized).jpg

Start to look like a real pinball machine !
IMG_0121_web (resized).jpg

That's a very cool advice !
First I need to connect and power the cobra and the flippers, but i will need soon to try the ramp shots.
I'll remember your advice, thank's !

Huuuge step for me today, even if it looks basic for everyone.

I've just powered one flipper and we did some tests with MPF and power (5ms to 100ms).
It's alive !!!!

I need now to wire everything on the playfield (3 flippers, 3 bumpers, slinghots), and I can advance to real test shots for ramps.

Hello everyone.
I have a big problem with dual wound flippers , MPF and a cobrapin. I tried to post int he MPF user group, but my message is erased every time...
I made some tests and some of the coil overheated, and one of the coil sleeve meltdown.
Maybe someone can help !

I have 3 flippers
1 upper flipper, and 2 regular at the bottom.
I wanted to use the software MPF to adjust the power of my dual wound flippers.

When i want to maintain the flipper UP, the 2 regular start to overheat.
It seems the upper one does not have problem.
I don't understand, because i've wired them the same way, like this :

wire_flipper_coil (resized).jpg
Yeah my melting is not very good, but i'm not sure it can be part of the problem.
My power supply is a 48V
The flipper coil are FL11629/50V

branchement_cobra_coil_flipper (resized).jpg

Here is a part of my MPF config file.

#config_version=5
hardware:
platform: opp
driverboards: gen2

opp:
#Use the USB ports defined by your OS for the two STM32 boards
ports: COM4, COM5

#hardware:
# platform: smart_virtual

switches:
s_left_flipper:
number: 0-0-1
tags: left_flipper
s_right_flipper:
number: 0-0-2
tags: right_flipper

coils:
c_flipper_Upleft_main:
number: 0-0-9
default_pulse_ms: 50
c_flipper_Upleft_hold:
number: 0-0-8
allow_enable: true
c_flipper_left_main:
number: 0-0-14
default_pulse_ms: 70
c_flipper_left_hold:
number: 0-0-13
allow_enable: true
c_flipper_right_main:
number: 0-0-12
default_pulse_ms: 70
c_flipper_right_hold:
number: 0-0-0
allow_enable: true

flippers:
Up_left_flipper:
main_coil: c_flipper_Upleft_main
hold_coil: c_flipper_Upleft_hold
activation_switch: s_left_flipper
enable_events: machine_reset_phase_3
left_flipper:
main_coil: c_flipper_left_main
hold_coil: c_flipper_left_hold
activation_switch: s_left_flipper
enable_events: machine_reset_phase_3
right_flipper:
main_coil: c_flipper_right_main
hold_coil: c_flipper_right_hold
activation_switch: s_right_flipper
enable_events: machine_reset_phase_3

I really don't understand what's going on.
Thank's if someone have an idea !

Thank's for your anwser.
I tried but the problem still here.

Very strange : with the multimeter, i tried to measure the voltage between each lug of the coil.
On the upper flipper, there's no voltage between first and second lug when we maintain the coil.

On the two others (wich are overheating), there's 45V between these two lugs, when we maintain it.....
And they produce a small crackling electric sound...

Maybe I just "destroyed" the 2 coils with my 70ms config, and the only one that remains good was configured with 50ms.
But now with 25ms, they start heating despite the change.

I tried to invert wire from "bad coil" to good one.
The good one was making the awful crackling noise !

Then i tried to reconnect the bad one, to make a test.
Bad smoke and i blow a fuse on the CobraPin....

I have a huge problem and i really don't understand it... Arf...

edit : very "strange" (for me).
It seems to come from "the wires" (the way i made it).
I took 2 wires, and i put them directly into the cobra.
The Coil is not overheating anymore !!!!

I've put some connectors, to easily plug in the pinball. So i'll get rid of them and try a direct connection between the cobra and each element.
Not easy to manipulate, but it look like the problem comes from here !

I've also add the semi-automatic plunger and the ball ejector (not configured yet in MPF).

IMG_0181_web (resized).jpg

I worked a little bit on my pinball.
Lot's of time trying to make some wood ramps... I think i'll pass, i'm not good enough to do it.
Maybe i'll try some metal ramp...

The playfield start to fill with stuff, it's nice to play with it !

IMG_0251 (resized).JPG

Cardboard ramps
IMG_0253 (resized).JPG

And "real" butons, to avoid another silly situation (before thaht, I was playing with the contactors in my hand...)
IMG_0255 (resized).JPG

I'm back with a first metal ramp !
It took me hours and hours, first time I try something like this...
I'm proud because i'ts a unique ramp, made by myself, no Bally or Stern have this particular shape...
But the result is... Average. Maybe I can enhanced it with sanding and painting.

IMG_0325_web (resized).jpg

IMG_0324_web (resized).jpg

IMG_0323_web (resized).jpg

IMG_0326_web (resized).jpg

A friend of mine asked me why I don't maintain the ramp with some 3D print ? (not for working, for the final result)
Did anyone already tried something like this ? Or similar ?
ensemble_tiges_flip (resized).JPG
I think the ball will trash the piece apart', but i'm not sure.
Any suggestion ?

I'm not sure of the english word, I think i used the "solder" welding (brasure in french).
I will keep in mind the solid rubber post ! Thank's !

The wires are 4mm steel bar.
Are you sure it's too thin ? I can barely bend them !
You're 3d parts look promising. They are not trashed by the ball ? (because it look like the ball is touching them).

I made my real first 3D print this weekend.
I'm still learning and discovering Freecad, not very easy.
I'm quite please by the result (25 hours of print !!! ) because i'ts matching perfectly the playfield dimensions.

rxyu (resized).jpg

IMG_0347 (resized).jpg

IMG_0348 (resized).jpg

But I need to redone the thickness of the ramp.
I think that it will be destroyed easily by the ball (even if I put a metal flap at the entrance).

What will be a good thickness for a ramp, do you have an idea ? (edges and below)
I'm printing with PLA.

Oh, ok I'll keep that in mind, thank's everyone for the information !
I have "lot" of PLA to use, i'll do my test with that and reprint everything with PETG if it's not working or breaking.
Thank's !

Slowly progressing, in rythm with my 3D print and my modelization errors !

I'm trying to modelized a "180°" ramp, like the "D ramp" of Jurassik park or this one from Monte Carlo ->

IMG_20220423_193611 800 (resized).jpg

Is someone have the dimensions of these kind of ramp please ?
I tried to print one, but it's huge, too big in the middle of my playfield.

The eject ramp (2 parts) looking nice now (better than cardboard ).
cthulhu_eject_ramp (resized).jpg

Thank's for the informations !
I'm slowly progressing, but step by step the playfield start to look good.
With the information and a new welding approach, I made my "D ramp".

I tried a new way, a literal translation could be "cored wire welding".
I'ts arc welding "for dummies".
Perfect for me !

I used this kind of welding machine.
img_0324 (resized).jpg

My D ramp is made with a 3D print (flap ramp at the entrance) and some welding parts.
It's not perfect but it's actually working !

img_0323 (resized).jpg

Wich rings are your talking about Cmartin ?

After a long wait, i'm back on my WIP.
It took me a loooong time to did some welding for ramp support (lot's of mistake).
The 2 wire ramps are now well attached.

IMG_1042 (resized).JPG

Ok, Thank you, I understand now !
I'll continue filling the playfield, i won't do some changes now, but I keep that in mind. It's easy to add some wire to fill the holes you spot (I can see more of these traps). Thank's for the advice !

Yep !
I hope to work with a friend of mine, who did my pincab art. It will be long (because he don't have a lot of time)
You can see it here :

img_5712 (resized).jpg