Tom's Projects 'n' Stuff

Ok so the propeller microprocessor has 32 Input/output ports. That is 32 wires from the CPU that can connect to other circuits. Now with a pinball machine project that uses many lights to make it look pretty, solenoids for the playfield, a video screen that I may use up to 4096 LEDs with, plus all the sound/music. 32 ports are simply just not enough. (continue reading…)

The inner workings of the pinball machine will be controlled by a microprocessor. I have chosen the propeller processor by Parallax, http://www.parallax.com/ the same as what Ben used on his Bill Paxton Machine. It has a very good community with forums and sample code to help anyone get started. I purchased the P8X32A-Q44 SchmartBoard Kit which is a cheaper option but you have solder it all together yourself. And the parts are TINY!

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After a bit of research on what is required to make a pinball machine I’ve made a list of all the things I need to be able to do: (continue reading…)

Ok, its easy to say “yeah i can do that” but to actually get off my arse and do it is another thing.

So the first thing I started to do was look and read all about pinball machines.

My friend Kenny suggested that I look at virtual pinball machines and to try and create one virtually first. So a few Google searches later I found Future Pinball at http://www.futurepinball.com/

It is a really incredible piece of software (and it’s 100% free!) (continue reading…)