Author Topic: TAG - Thunderbirds Pinball - parts update thread  (Read 97048 times)

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Offline Homepin

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I'm not copying traditional methods - I'm borrowing from them but we are doing our own thing....
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Offline swinks

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I'm not copying traditional methods - I'm borrowing from them but we are doing our own thing....

no worries, just watch what ply you use (and the amount of knots in the ply) and the glue that binds the layers together as some won't laser cut nice and all edges will then become blackened.
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Offline Caveoftreasures

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What I personally like about what Mike is doing is that he has decades and decades of engineering experience.
This translates to a smart product that ticks all the boxes. Literally, from the ground up. Example, Mike has chosen the best leg levellers that I have seen. Why hasn't anyone else in the pinball industry used those before ? Self levelling with the ball joint design and rubber feet. Very smart...and YES, it takes an engineer and that experience that Mike has, to do it right the first time. Everyone who moves a machine, always worries about their $10,000 wood floor, or expensive tiled floor. Mikes smart thinking, just on the leg levellers alone, are an indication, that things are being thought out with an engineers brain from the get go.

When the time is right, I might buy 40 sets of those feet Mike (160 pieces) cause I hate the traditional leg levellers that everyone else uses.

I like the fact that you are also doing a Hankin style table. Smart move and the profits from that can fuel the pinball furnace of cashflow.

Advertise the hell out of that product on here Mike, cause a lot of people would buy your product for sure.

I also like the Thunderbirds tie-in with your engineering background, it goesw hand in hand with your personality Mike.
I like the KISS (keep it simple) approach u are taking. I love reading your updates, and don't worry about the knockers, there is probably only 1 or 2 in the whole world, with 99.99999 percent of people fully behind you.

You know Stern and JJP will be buying your product. I bet the first thing they say (off the record) is why didn't we think of that (various engineering designs u have come up with) and then they will say dam, if only we could build our stuff outside of the USA without the locals (USA) going bannanas.

Who cares if its made in China. As long as the product is great (which I know it will be), and Asia is in our backyard anyway. U cant build stuff in Australia, it costs apx $50,000 a year minimum these days to hire just one person (hence most Aussie companies who still build stuff use contractors etc).

I reckon the Japaneese will go crazy for your Thunderbirds Pinball. I am told, Thunderbirds in Japan has a huge following.

Well done Mike, everything is looking great.  ^^^
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Offline studley67

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 ^^^
What I personally like about what Mike is doing is that he has decades and decades of engineering experience.
This translates to a smart product that ticks all the boxes. Literally, from the ground up. Example, Mike has chosen the best leg levellers that I have seen. Why hasn't anyone else in the pinball industry used those before ? Self levelling with the ball joint design and rubber feet. Very smart...and YES, it takes an engineer and that experience that Mike has, to do it right the first time. Everyone who moves a machine, always worries about their $10,000 wood floor, or expensive tiled floor. Mikes smart thinking, just on the leg levellers alone, are an indication, that things are being thought out with an engineers brain from the get go.

When the time is right, I might buy 40 sets of those feet Mike (160 pieces) cause I hate the traditional leg levellers that everyone else uses.

I like the fact that you are also doing a Hankin style table. Smart move and the profits from that can fuel the pinball furnace of cashflow.

Advertise the hell out of that product on here Mike, cause a lot of people would buy your product for sure.

I also like the Thunderbirds tie-in with your engineering background, it goesw hand in hand with your personality Mike.
I like the KISS (keep it simple) approach u are taking. I love reading your updates, and don't worry about the knockers, there is probably only 1 or 2 in the whole world, with 99.99999 percent of people fully behind you.

You know Stern and JJP will be buying your product. I bet the first thing they say (off the record) is why didn't we think of that (various engineering designs u have come up with) and then they will say dam, if only we could build our stuff outside of the USA without the locals (USA) going bannanas.

Who cares if its made in China. As long as the product is great (which I know it will be), and Asia is in our backyard anyway. U cant build stuff in Australia, it costs apx $50,000 a year minimum these days to hire just one person (hence most Aussie companies who still build stuff use contractors etc).

I reckon the Japaneese will go crazy for your Thunderbirds Pinball. I am told, Thunderbirds in Japan has a huge following.

Well done Mike, everything is looking great.  ^^^

+1  ^^^
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Offline Homepin

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The PCB assembly line equipment is coming together at last. A few tables and some shelving and we are ready to go. Still waiting on the $4300 worth of RoHS solder to be delivered.

Some of the Homepin staff can be seen in this video cleaning up the motorised assembly bench and the two guys (also staff) are wiring it into the building (3 phase).



I'm having trouble linking so if the Youtube video doesn't appear above can someone please add the link:

&feature=youtu.be
« Last Edit: March 03, 2014, 09:36:07 PM by pinnies4me »
Replacement Pinball PCBs that remain faithful to the originals

Offline ddstoys

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Where does he get those wonderful toys.    Looking good mike can't wait to see them in action

Offline Homepin

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Where does he get those wonderful toys.    Looking good mike can't wait to see them in action

China........ $#$
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Offline Homepin

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Well it's about 1.45 in the morning here now as I type this (and looking at that pic I now see I haven't changed the date  @.@) and about an hour or so ago we urgently needed 4 threaded mounts machined up from aluminium - we rang the friendly local guy we use a fair bit and he got out of bed for us and made them on the spot:



Here are the finished parts



Back to the factory and glued into place



Perfect fit!!



Nice workplace attire..........



Sunny is the factory manager and works all hours like me. Where else in the world could you make this happen???
How much were they? A total of $12 for the four and he supplied the material!
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Offline solar value

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Awesome, these will be built in no time!

Offline Strangeways

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Offline dealers choice

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Lmao the parts were just 4 bushes internally threaded. i wouldnt wake up for that.  ^&(
I'm not cranky, I just want MORE pins!

Offline Homepin

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OK - here is a Thunderbirds Pinball part.....a motor/gearbox
that runs at 2 RPM - any guesses at what it is for?????




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Offline Pop Bumper Pete

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It retracts the pool so T1 can rise up and launch Virgil multiball !

Offline Retropin

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Im with Pete.. 2rpm must be either the pool retracting or palm trees folding over... too slow to be much else