A Lever and a Solenoid¶
The invention of a paddle is what separates modern pinball machines from the older ones. Paddles enables the ball to go back up, and the player can aim multiple times in one game.
So my machine needs a paddle, in order to call itself a pinball machine.
Files
Parts
- Pulling spring (10mm long 6mm diameter)
- Solenoid
- Paddle
- Solenoid connector
- 2mm nails
- Hot glue
I have described the design of the 3D printable paddle during week 2.
I needed to change the design a bit to incorporate the newly created solenoid. I added a lever at the end of the paddle, to which the solenoid attaches, and pulls.
The design I went with was based on Stern design, from a picture that they have on their website. The idea is to have the paddle be a lever on a hinge, a solenoid attached to the other end, and a pulling spring on the other. The solenoid would pull the paddle to the extended position, and once the solenoid is no longer active, the spring would pull it back to the neutral position.
The solenoid is attached to the paddle via a connecting piece, where one end in attached to the solenoid anchor with a 2mm nail, and the other end of the connector is attached to the paddle with a similar nail.
The spring is attached to the paddle via the hook that was constructed to the paddle. The other end of the spring is attached to the surface with a nail. The distance is dictated by the length of the spring, so that it will be just a bit in tension, when the paddle is in neutral position.
The solenoid itself needs a small, 2mm wide, slit on the surface, where the upper edge of the solenoid can slot into. The solenoid is also hot glued to the surface to prevent it from moving when it activates. The solenoid is quite strong, and often wants to jump out of its slit when possible.
When printing the paddles, the other paddle needs to be mirrored horizontally.
In order to make the paddles prettier, I hid the solenoids with a 3D printed cover. The solenoid fits snugly inside the cover.
Testing¶
The paddles work fine. I’m actually surprised how strong they are, and how well they hit the ball. Of course, the machine is only quarter the size (half the length on each side) of a proper pinball machine, and the diameter of the ball is only half an inch compared to one inch ball in normal pinball machines. But even then, using with the machine actually feels like playing pinball.
Future Work¶
Paddles just work. I have no issues with them. If I redo the solenoids, the paddles need to change with them, but otherwise, I do not see any problems here.