**Completed ** The "I Miss my Pins" Mini-Pin Build –

[Randyre Participant]

So, I completed a full size VP based on a Gottlieb Genesis cabinet. https://www.vpforums.org/index.php?showtopic=39643

Even took it to a Pinball show in Seattle, and got very good feedback on it.  After the show I put it and my actual pins in storage as I we had decided to move clear across the county and I didn’t want to rerpacjk thyem again. Nor did I have time to play with them.

Fast forward to today and the Pins are still in storage waiting for my shop to be built. But decided that I had to have a pin, plus thought, why not make one that I can easily move around with me when I head to work. (<i>I’m gone two weeks at a time.)</i>

So I ran through a parts list and decided on a 23″ playfield, and 16″ Backglass and a 10″ DMD.

The 23″ and 10″ I already had, as well as a bunch of parts from my other build. So off I go.

I’ll update with a parts list and build photos as I go.

 

Randy

 

 

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[Randyre Participant]

So pulled out a Mini Fanless computer I had lying around for a MAME project (needs a VGA port or would just use  a RP3+) it has an Intel Pentium Silver (the latest) and an Intel 605 graphics. Loaded up VPX and it runs like a champ. Pretty decent settings including AA4x and using B2S and third monitor DMD. Minor flipper lag once in a while, turned down the settings, and since its running on a 24″ PF, don’t really notice it.

Now for the problems. intensive tables such as the Walking Dead and Jurassic Park are unplayable, even with everything turned down or off. Flippers lag way behind and the ball skips around or “warps” from place to place. Also any table with a PuP Pack runs great, but the videos stutter, and sometimes are so far behind that the next one is queued up before the previous even runs. this is not acceptable, I want a Mini-Pin, but a full size experience.

So as most problems, easy to fix if you just throw money at it. Looked up the specs on the best Intel Dedicated Graphics and the intel 630 is not much better than an old Nvidia 275.  So looked up what AMD has to offer and WOW is all I can say. the  Vega 11 graphic s built into the 2200G and 2400G is on par with the Nvidia 8xx series.

Been years since I purchased or ran an AMD chip, but given the promised graphics capabilities and the need for integrated graphics to keep the size down, off to MicroCenter I ran and picked up an MicroATX AMD 450 chipset MB and a AMD 2400G, a WD Black NVMe 256GB drive, 16GB RAM and a super tiny case to enclose it all in.

Two days later built and tested, running VPX  with all three monitors and all I can say is, runs as good as my full size VP with an i5 7600 and GTX1050.

 

Graphics are smooth, no lag on the ball or flippers and videos run great.  On to the Cabinet next…

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[Randyre Participant]

Started on the cabinet today. Got some 1/4 finished melamine board, not sure what else you’d call it. Basically pressboard with a plastic surface on both sides.

Gorilla glue, 1″ square hardwood, some angle aluminum and screws.

Also last week I ordered some aluminum corners for 1/4″ boards.

Here’s some pics of the beginning cuts…

Supports for the playfield monitor. Secured with Gorilla Glue.

 

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[randr Keymaster]

This is great… I’m thinking of making my kids a mini for gifts since I have 100’s of used monitors at the office I could use. Thinking 20” for playfield and 17” for backglass myself

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Messing with the VPinball app and push notifications.
So if you haven't downloaded app yet what are you waiting for!?
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[Randyre Participant]

That’s a perfect size especially if you’re going to use old monitors you have anyways. I originally was going to use the 16″ I have for the PF and an 11″ for the backglass and make a really portable micro-pin withought a dedicated DMD monitor, but these old eyes couldn’t handle it, plus since I wanted to run PuP and more complex tables, I needed more space for a larger computer as well, so went with a 23-24′ PF.

My plan is to run SSF to reduce the complexity,  size and weight of using even a couple contactors. I have extra exciters and the mini amps left over from the full size build as I bought too many.

Also bought a mini 10RPM gearbox from Amazon for $6 and vibrating motor for $7, both are 6V so will be powered from the USB ports to eliminate the need for extra power supplies.

I ordered lighted 24mm arcade buttons since full size pinball or arcades are a little large at 30mm, these are already a 5V LED. I’m using a Zerodelay controller I had left over from my MAME build and the extra SainSmart I had before I realized you needed a LEDWiz or something similar to properly do the LED’s.

I have already tested it and the buttons light properly with the sainsmart, but the blink rate seems to change since I believe DOF is actually attempting to control the brightness with PWM, but the SainSmart interprets it as a rate. Still seems to work well enough.

 

 

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[Randyre Participant]

PF Monitor supports complete. Will use weather-strip and angle aluminum to hold it in place, that way I can also make the bottom cabinet solid without the need for any access panels.

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[Randyre Participant]

Since its too thin to use t-molding around the backbox, I ordered some 1/4 U-Molding.

this should do nicely.

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[randr Keymaster]

NICE! full feedback in a mini! VERY COOL! i love it

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Messing with the VPinball app and push notifications.
So if you haven't downloaded app yet what are you waiting for!?
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[Randyre Participant]

Plugging along. Cabinet base is complete. on to the backbox. I always dread this part as attaching the monitors is always tricky to figure out.

 

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[randr Keymaster]

Looking good. Keep the updates coming 👍🏻

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Messing with the VPinball app and push notifications.
So if you haven't downloaded app yet what are you waiting for!?
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[Randyre Participant]

More progress, backbox almost complete. Hopefully the final product once all trimmed out and assembled will look better than the progress pictures. As mentioned I just moved, and had to leave a lot of tools such as my table saw, radial arm saw and drill press. So doing this with minimal tools has been a challenge. Also no real plans, just some measurements and go to it. Would love to have used thicker wood, but I needed to keep the weight down as part of the idea was to make this portable as well as just mini.

 

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[Randyre Participant]

Nearly done with the cabinet. ready to mount computer and drill holes for buttons.

 

Latches to hold backbox to base.

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[randr Keymaster]

Looking really good. Hard to tell it’s a mini!

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Messing with the VPinball app and push notifications.
So if you haven't downloaded app yet what are you waiting for!?
*******************************************************

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1 user thanked author for this post.

Randyre

[Randyre Participant]

randr wrote:

Looking really good. Hard to tell it’s a mini!

I appreciate the kudos.  Wish I was more of a woodworker, but given that this is going to be transported back and forth to work, I know it will get knocked around a fair bit, so not a deal breaker.

I ordered some laser printer glossy decal sheets, I’m going to do some cheepo graphics with my color laser printer just so it’s not so plain.

just completing the last of the main computer setup so I don’t have to deal with the screen rotation while working on it.

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[Randyre Participant]

Time for more updates. Took the Pin and all my tools and parts to work. Using the hangar for a workshop. Weather is bad so no flying anyhow, so good time to get some extra work done on the Mini-Pin.

Lockdown bar complete. Not the most professional, but it works.

 

Shaker motor mounted.

Buttons mounted

Exciters and amplifiers mounted.

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[Randyre Participant]

Completed, running and works great.

VPX. PuP, DOF, DOFlinx for PBFX3 and PinballX all installed, configured and working.

The toys are a Beacon, Shaker, Gear, and Strobes. The Start, Coin, Launch and Fire buttons are DOF controlled, and the rest of the buttons are just static lit.

here’s a few Pics.

 

 

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[Randyre Participant]

And a couple Videos.

PBFX3 Archer

VPX Attack From Mars

 

 

 

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[MarchAFB Participant]

Nice job!

 

I am in the process of building my mini as well. I am using my older I5 proc and MB that came out of my larger cab when I upgraded it to an I7. I found a cheap GTX 1050 Ti graphics card as well. For the monitors I am using a 19″ wide screen and a 24″ monitor for the PF and BG, then I am using an old 15″ LCD panel (turned portrait) that I pulled from an old laptop for the DMD. You can find driver boards for these on Amazon to adapt them to VGA, DVI or HDMI. I have an old I-pac and cabinet buttons from a previous MAME build as well. Although I may steal your mini shaker and gearbox ideas!

The only thing I have not figured out is how to make some sort of lockdown bar. I am good with woodworking, but not metal   . Can you give a little detail on how you made yours?

 

thanks

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[Randyre Participant]

Looks like a good pla

MarchAFB wrote:

Nice job!

I am in the process of building my mini as well. I am using my older I5 proc and MB that came out of my larger cab when I upgraded it to an I7. I found a cheap GTX 1050 Ti graphics card as well. For the monitors I am using a 19″ wide screen and a 24″ monitor for the PF and BG, then I am using an old 15″ LCD panel (turned portrait) that I pulled from an old laptop for the DMD. You can find driver boards for these on Amazon to adapt them to VGA, DVI or HDMI. I have an old I-pac and cabinet buttons from a previous MAME build as well. Although I may steal your mini shaker and gearbox ideas!

The only thing I have not figured out is how to make some sort of lockdown bar. I am good with woodworking, but not metal . Can you give a little detail on how you made yours?

thanks

Looks like a good plan. Why turn the 15′ portrait? If you keep it landscape it gives you a place to put topper videos.

 

As for the lockdown bar, I’m neither a woodworker or metalworker. I just winged it.  I measured the distance across on the lock bar, cut right on the 90 deg bend and then folded it down, then cut a 45 degree and folded it down, then radiused the corner and used a hammer to flatten as well as I could.

 

I started to take pics, but decided I needed to just do it while I was inspired. I’ll see if I n draw something and post in a bit. I think I also have a piece left over that I measured wrong and can take a pic.

 

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[MarchAFB Participant]

That would be cool, whenever you have time to post the drawing or any other pics you have of the lockdown bar. Thanks!

I am not really a fan of the topper videos being between the PF and BG (just personal preference as I like the look of the original machines), but that got me thinking of maybe adding another LCD on top of the backbox in a true “Topper” position as a fourth monitor. Hum… I’m thinking I like that idea, as long as my dual video cards can handle 4 monitors without dragging down the performance of VP…..

Thanks for the idea!

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