Topic: Virtual Pinball Build (Read 18972 times)

Hilton · « **on:** August 05, 2017, 01:50:35 am »

Hi all

For a few weeks now I've building up a collection and making plans for 28" and 50" Virtual Pinballs with 4K playfields with 2 and 3 monitors. (additional monitors backglass score and DMD.)

I've got a 4K 28" to get me started with a 10" Lenovo tablet using twomon USB Air for a wireless second screen while I build up my table collection and configure everything.

I've also got a Razer Atrox Xbox One fight stick and have proceeded to mod it with extra switches and mercury tilt switches.
Using my overkill SLI GTX 1080 water cooled PC with Rampage IV Black, Intel 4960X and I will probably build the tables with external PC connectivity to keep the vpins small and more portable.

Got joy to key working to access a couple more buttons on the Atrox which doesn't present all buttons in Windows 10 in game mode. (left and right trigger buttons don't work but everything else does)

Anyway enough of the talk here's the test bed and parts ready to go....

Test Bed

Pinball Build by Hilton, on Flickr

Pinball Build by Hilton, on Flickr

Quick game video

Pinball Build by Hilton, on Flickr

Timber frame and aluminium for legs

Pinball Build by Hilton, on Flickr

Panels

Pinball Build by Hilton, on Flickr

Spades, wiring, heatshrink, buttons, micro switches, mercury switches..

Pinball Build by Hilton, on Flickr

Pinball Build by Hilton, on Flickr

Flipper buttons done... lots more to do.. Did I mention how much fun these are!

Pinball Build by Hilton, on Flickr

Pinball X video (front end table selection)

Untitled by Hilton, on Flickr

Hilton · « **Reply #1 on:** August 12, 2017, 03:03:23 am »

Here's the progress on the cabinet construction.

Pinball construction by Hilton, on Flickr

Pinball construction by Hilton, on Flickr

Monitor rails in.

Pinball construction by Hilton, on Flickr

Pinball construction by Hilton, on Flickr

Test fitting Monitor

Pinball construction by Hilton, on Flickr

Pinball construction by Hilton, on Flickr

Finished for the day - time for a test of the table angle

Pinball construction by Hilton, on Flickr

Pinball construction by Hilton, on Flickr

A quick video

Pinball construction by Hilton, on Flickr

Hilton · « **Reply #2 on:** August 25, 2017, 07:58:22 am »

More progress and mame now installed.

I'm pulling the HTPC from service out of my equipment rack and one of my GTX1080's from the main PC and putting an old water cooling system in the pinball cabinet because I have the parts around.

Pincade by Hilton, on Flickr

Pincade by Hilton, on Flickr

Stand offs mounted

Pincade PC by Hilton, on Flickr

Motherboard mounted, CPU water cooler and PSU location and gee that GTX 1080 only just fits length ways. I should have taken more careful measurements but I got lucky!

I still have to fit another combined RAD/pump/res for the GPU so it will be tight. Also need to make a cross bar for the GPU to support it.

Pincade PC by Hilton, on Flickr

Hilton · « **Reply #3 on:** August 26, 2017, 05:42:22 am »

I made some more slow progress today, even after triple checking some measurements I still had to cut a new back panel and start again. Not that it's a problem, I just used the old panel as a jig to quickly set the table saw and had a new one cut in 5 mins.

121mm hole saw and a bit of hole saw/ dremel for the rectangle cooling vent and bobs your uncle.

Pincade fans by Hilton, on Flickr

Pincade fans by Hilton, on Flickr

Monitor only just clears the GPU water cooling pump/res/fan.
I knew it was going to be tight but that's really tight.

Pincade fans by Hilton, on Flickr

Pincade fans by Hilton, on Flickr

Top down you can see the horizontally mounted radiator/pump/res assembly.

Pincade fans by Hilton, on Flickr

Here you can see the old thermaltake all in one cooling system on the top left that first got me into water cooling. Good enough for a GPU.

Pincade fans by Hilton, on Flickr

Hilton · « **Reply #4 on:** August 26, 2017, 08:58:16 am »

Last one for today.

Cutout done for PSU power and ventilation underneath and magnasave buttons and plunger button mounted and GPU cross brace mounted.

Just need to pick up some tubing tomorrow and I'll be good to run a full test.

I'll also try finish the arcade control panel, side rails and front rail tomorrow.

Pincade buttons and GPU mount by Hilton, on Flickr

drmimosa · « **Reply #5 on:** August 27, 2017, 07:12:14 am »

Man, that's impressive! Nice work.

How did you set up the software for the project?

Hilton · « **Reply #6 on:** August 27, 2017, 07:14:23 am »

Quote from: drmimosa on August 27, 2017, 07:12:14 am

Man, that's impressive! Nice work.

How did you set up the software for the project?

The software is Pinball X for the front end which allows you to select different games and have a preview of gameplay, instructions and additional info about the games.

Pinmame runs the roms and tables which is installed as part of Visual Pinball X which is the table editor.

There's also a separate installation of mame 64 for the old arcade games which is again navigated by the pinball x front end.

Pinball X also acts as a front end for Pinball Arcade which I have about 60 tables I've paid for. There's a freecam mod installed for Pinball Arcade to allow the 2 screen setup and put the DMD and backglass on the second monitor.

Visual Pinball X supports animated backglasses and upto a 3 screen setup with Playfield, Backglass and DMD. I'm currently running 2 screen for both Visual Pinball X and Pinball Arcade with the second screen mod.

Pinball X also supports Future Pinball and Pinball FX2. (I have neither of these running at the moment.

Visual Pinball X is DX11 and has the best graphics and physics - extremely realistic.

Many die hard pinheads that have real machines say they favor VPX now over the real tables for the convenience and lack of maintenance.

Pinball Arcade is also very good but not quite upto the quality of VPX. Pinball Arcade only supports 1080p with the camera mod, where I can run full 4K with VPX. (without the camera mod Pinball Arcade will run at 4K but you loose the 2 monitor support.

Pinball is the primary focus for me but having mame running old classics is good to change it up.

And a quick update..
Back up and running with watercooled PC installed.
Didnt get time to finish the rails and control panel but I'm going to enjoy some pinball while watching the F1.

Pincade up and running by Hilton, on Flickr

blgentry · « **Reply #7 on:** August 27, 2017, 08:52:03 am »

I've watched your play demo video about a half dozen times and shown it to numerous friends. I am blown away at how realistic it looks. The shading and motion all just scream "this is real". I hope that it looks similarly real in person.

I've never built one of these before and I really don't like working with Windows at ALL. But this makes me consider doing it!

Thanks for sharing.

Brian.

Hilton · « **Reply #8 on:** August 27, 2017, 06:39:18 pm »

Quote from: blgentry on August 27, 2017, 08:52:03 am

I've watched your play demo video about a half dozen times and shown it to numerous friends. I am blown away at how realistic it looks. The shading and motion all just scream "this is real". I hope that it looks similarly real in person.

I've never built one of these before and I really don't like working with Windows at ALL. But this makes me consider doing it!

Thanks for sharing.

Brian.

Thanks it's definitely fun and certainly as real as it gets for a simulation. In person it feels real and you quickly forget it's a simulation.

When the cabinet is finished it will look and feel even more the part.

Here's a few minutes of multiball madness of Cirqus Voltaire with a gopro strapped to my cap. Sorry for the at-times wobbly video, but I was obviously working hard at it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4-tLYmwHmM

JimH · « **Reply #9 on:** August 27, 2017, 06:59:46 pm »

My wife is impressed. That's something.

Hilton · « **Reply #10 on:** August 30, 2017, 02:44:39 am »

Front rails and lock bar (if you can call it that!) done.
Suitcase corners from Bunnings Hardware provide a nice round corner for your palm with the nice steel angle radius bend on the front bar. (until I get a proper lock bar made)

Not as comfy as a real one but pretty good for now!

Pincade rails by Hilton, on Flickr

Hilton · « **Reply #11 on:** August 31, 2017, 10:40:53 am »

Do you guys think this would look too weird in a backglass box that has cutouts for backglass and DMD and Topper all on the 2nd monitor?

It's a 27" 1920x1200 I had around which I've set in portrait mode.

I've got some logitech speakers to mount to each side of it that will make the backbox about 2" wider each side - or I could make the DMD smaller and fit them in unused space either side of the DMD like a normal DMD display, but with the monitor set back. *The latter would be a more complicated build but I could do it.

Pincade topper by Hilton, on Flickr

Pincade more toppers by Hilton, on Flickr

blgentry · « **Reply #12 on:** August 31, 2017, 05:31:45 pm »

The pictures look great to me. Of course they have a solid black background, presumably because you took them in a darkened room. So it's hard to judge anything other than the pictures on the various monitors.

That being said, I'm impressed. I'd love to have one of these to play with.

Brian.

Hilton · « **Reply #13 on:** September 01, 2017, 10:22:50 am »

More done - (video) ready to start building the case for the backglass and install the sound system.

Pincade Tron Video by Hilton, on Flickr

Hilton · « **Reply #14 on:** September 02, 2017, 03:47:46 am »

Decased Backglass/DMD/Topper monitor

Pincade backbox by Hilton, on Flickr

Just checking.....

Pincade backbox by Hilton, on Flickr

Ran out of "noisy time" so I didn't get to finish cutting... but everything lines up! Amazing what you can do with a table saw and dremel with router attachment. More to come tomorrow....

Pincade backbox by Hilton, on Flickr

Hilton · « **Reply #15 on:** September 02, 2017, 08:44:53 am »

My Pincade with MC23 running a movie as a topper..

No stutter either!

Video
https://youtu.be/DJfG2-peeiM

Pincade and movies anyone? by Hilton, on Flickr

Hilton · « **Reply #16 on:** September 03, 2017, 05:24:05 am »

Backbox coming together from hand drawn dimensions.. none of that CAD stuff for this little black duck.

Pincade backbox by Hilton, on Flickr

Pincade backbox by Hilton, on Flickr

Mounted and running and everything lined up.. looking good to finish all the rough edges and get this reassembled and glued together. Time to think about the graphics for the cabinet and get some vinyl prints made up.

Pincade back box done by Hilton, on Flickr

Hilton · « **Reply #17 on:** September 08, 2017, 05:46:48 am »

Beer and Star Wars Pinball does it get any better?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAqL2QvQ1hY

Hilton · « **Reply #18 on:** September 13, 2017, 05:10:33 am »

Small update

I've experimented with a quick change to the Backbox fascia design and mounted speakers. I like it because the Topper cover for the top part of the monitor will now be separately framed and enclosed and it's easier to cut and assemble the backbox.

I still have to disassemble the Logitech Z533 subwoofer cabinet and build a custom enclosure and bass reflex port inside the pincab because of the limited internal space. I'll mount the volume dial underneath at the front.

I've worked out how to do 2 sets of legs that can quickly be removed from the outside, a shorter set for sitting height and wheeling it about and another set for standing height. (and no legs for transport) Also worked out how to secure the backbox with butterfly nuts to the Cab which will makes it easily portable. More to follow on that.

Pincade speakers by Hilton, on Flickr

Hilton · « **Reply #19 on:** September 17, 2017, 04:40:48 am »

Its got legs! with lockable wheels....

Pincade subwoofer by Hilton, on Flickr

Logitech Z533 2.1 subwoofer being reinstalled in the cabinet.

Pincade subwoofer by Hilton, on Flickr

Hilton · « **Reply #20 on:** October 14, 2017, 04:14:46 am »

Which Table to play.... the pinball pretty much just needs a coat of paint and some vinyl sticker! https://youtu.be/Ze4BMBGY1mA

imugli · « **Reply #21 on:** November 25, 2017, 05:39:00 am »

Holy cow dude! What a masterpiece!

I'm putting building one of these on my bucket list

rolf_eigenheer · « **Reply #22 on:** January 22, 2018, 11:15:01 am »

Great work!

For my pinball cabinet I used the Timeshock ProPinball. While the simulation software does the most, my job was to build the cabinet and adding a realistic 'force feedback'. Two heavy solenoids are activated whenever simulated bumpers or flippers are energized.

https://mytimeshock.jimdo.com/

RD James · « **Reply #23 on:** May 08, 2018, 05:20:11 pm »

For anyone that's interested in this sort of thing, it looks like Pinball Arcade are going to be removing all Williams/Bally tables by June 30th as the license holder has decided not to renew it.
They are only going to be removed from sale rather than removed entirely, so if you buy the tables before then, you will retain access.
If you buy the table packs on Steam, everything should still be available through it without being reliant on any other service if Farsight were to shut down for example. I don't believe that's true if you buy the tables individually, or for some of the other platforms such as iOS.

Hilton · « **Reply #24 on:** May 12, 2018, 02:37:30 am »

Hi All

Also note that from the 16th May you can also purchase fully licensed official full backglass and DMD cabinet support for pinball arcade for Steam for $149USD from arcoodapinballarcade. (for 76 tables from Pinball Arcade)

They also have 76 Pro tables standalone for a VP cabinet installation without the hassle of steam, and an enhanced version for their own custom acroodapinbalarcade cabinet - both for $499 USD (excluding their cabinet)
They also have full size 42" tables pre-configured for sale.

Offers Expire 30th June 2018

https://www.arcoodapinballarcade.com/#Purchase

So you only have just over a month to get all this together. I'll be ordering on the 16th and let you know how it goes in my cabinet.

(already have all seasons)

Hilton · « **Reply #25 on:** May 12, 2018, 02:56:57 am »

OH - And.... Guess who has a new Job as Global Head of IT for TEEG.

The Entertainment and Education Group. (Timezone, Playtime, Kingpin, AMF (AMF now known as Zone Bowling (for Australasia)

Really excited about bringing IT together for this new group of companies across 7 countries and more than 250 family entertainment centers.

I'm really looking forward to working in the industry and seeing where digital pinball can go!

RD James · « **Reply #26 on:** May 12, 2018, 04:50:21 am »

That's a great price if you don't already have Pinball Arcade on Steam. I was half of that to get up to date on all the seasons before the licenses expire.

And congratulations on the new job.

JimH · « **Reply #27 on:** May 12, 2018, 06:18:14 am »

That seems like a perfect job for you. Congratulations!

Hilton · « **Reply #28 on:** June 10, 2018, 07:54:44 am »

Thanks Jim - I do love the job but it's still in a conventional corporate office. (albeit a very nice one) I'm still doing the same or similiar IT job as the last, just have some perks of working with some leading edge cloud tech with AI and Machine learning using IBM Watson across machine data and crm/client behaviour data mixed with weather, geography and demographic data.

Some pretty cool and slightly creepy tech.

For those interested the cabinet mode for The Pinball Arcade by Arcooda works wonderfully. Updated graphics and physics models too with better camera angles. (4 cabinet view angles that vary the depth and slope of the table - Camera 3 being my favourite - pic below)

TPA cabinet mode by Hilton, on Flickr

Manfred · « **Reply #29 on:** June 10, 2018, 11:38:26 am »

You are doing really cool stuff!

IBM Watson is also cool stuff

Hilton · « **Reply #30 on:** June 15, 2018, 08:07:39 am »

The Pinball got a little upgrade today so I could take my GTX 1080 out of it and put it back into my main PC to run SLI again.

The new card is a Zotac GTX 1080Ti mini - very cute and a lot smaller. I'm not going to bother water cooling it.

Pincade GTX 1080TI upgrade by Hilton, on Flickr

Compared to the old water cooled GTX 1080

Pincade GTX 1080TI upgrade by Hilton, on Flickr

Pincade GTX 1080TI upgrade by Hilton, on Flickr

The guts of it

Pincade GTX 1080TI upgrade by Hilton, on Flickr

Pincade GTX 1080TI upgrade by Hilton, on Flickr

Mercury tilt switches to simulate nudging

Pincade GTX 1080TI upgrade by Hilton, on Flickr

warrenf · « **Reply #31 on:** June 24, 2018, 08:18:54 pm »

You are doing really cool stuff!! It's the better version of Pinball Arcade!

INTERACT FORUM

Author Topic: Virtual Pinball Build (Read 18972 times)