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Aussie Pinball Forums => Technical Matters => Pinball Repairs / Problems & Assistance => Topic started by: ddstoys on December 26, 2012, 08:50:23 PM

Title: Bally Rapid Fire Playfield Problems
Post by: ddstoys on December 26, 2012, 08:50:23 PM
Hi guys I've finally stripped rapid fire to remove the warped plexiglass playfield.   I had an Idea of sandwiching it between two playfield glasses out in the sun but after two days its still the same.  Might try leaving it in the back of the station wagon tomorrow and see how that goes
  Does anyone have any suggestion on how I might be able to get this flat?    Or is anyone out there in the plastic trade with the ability to laser cut a new playfield?

   
Title: Re: Bally Rapid Fire Playfield Problems
Post by: ktm450 on December 27, 2012, 11:39:20 AM
I may be able to find some 6mm lexan but I definitely can't lazer cut it for you.
You would really need to heat it in an oven, the car will not get it hot enough. ask some of the local plastics guys they may have some ideas for you
Title: Re: Bally Rapid Fire Playfield Problems
Post by: Retropin on December 27, 2012, 02:56:47 PM
Youll also need a vector file to get this cut... no need to only laser, can get CNC routing as well
Title: Re: Bally Rapid Fire Playfield Problems
Post by: Pop Bumper Pete on December 27, 2012, 03:17:33 PM
You would really need to heat it in an oven, the car will not get it hot enough. ask some of the local plastics guys they may have some ideas for you

But who would have an oven big enough to fit a playfield? ;)

Title: Re: Bally Rapid Fire Playfield Problems
Post by: ktm450 on December 27, 2012, 04:44:44 PM
You would really need to heat it in an oven, the car will not get it hot enough. ask some of the local plastics guys they may have some ideas for you

But who would have an oven big enough to fit a playfield? ;)



Possibly one of the specialist plastics guys that do vacuum forming would have to use large ovens to heat sheets before moulding
Title: Re: Bally Rapid Fire Playfield Problems
Post by: Pop Bumper Pete on December 27, 2012, 06:20:33 PM
Did you see the smilie after my comment?
A baker would also have an oven big enough

But there are problems with this idea (but they can be fixed)

I am hoping that there is a better idea than Dan sticking his playfield in my oven
Title: Re: Bally Rapid Fire Playfield Problems
Post by: Retropin on December 27, 2012, 06:23:34 PM
Dan sticking his PF in your oven is a top idea
Title: Re: Bally Rapid Fire Playfield Problems
Post by: Pop Bumper Pete on December 27, 2012, 06:31:47 PM
Dan sticking his PF in your oven is a top idea
I have done it to remove mylar, works well, very little paint loss

my problem is that we are heating it up to soften the plastic, which means we need to lay it on something flat
the bench i work on is not flat, so that means a sheet of playfield glass
i know were are only heating it up to 80oC, but a sheet of glass shattering in a bakery is something that I am concerned about
I am closed for a break at the moment, so the risk is miniscule. but worry I must :)
Title: Re: Bally Rapid Fire Playfield Problems
Post by: Retropin on December 27, 2012, 06:37:33 PM
One tap on the edge of the glass and disaster... what you can do is place in the oven once its turned off with the PF on a sheet of 3mm aluminium... place in at about 90c and then just allow to cool with door closed to touch temperature ( about 30c)... it should have slumped back and would be rigid enough to hold its shape and not buckle when pulled out
Title: Re: Bally Rapid Fire Playfield Problems
Post by: pinnies4me on December 28, 2012, 01:51:10 AM

Dan, my best mate owns a plastics factory around the corner from you - forms skylight domes and the like. He's holidaying at the moment, but I'll talk to you about that when I see you next, I'm sure he can give you a hand.
Title: Re: Bally Rapid Fire Playfield Problems
Post by: ddstoys on December 28, 2012, 02:03:07 AM

Dan, my best mate owns a plastics factory around the corner from you - forms skylight domes and the like. He's holidaying at the moment, but I'll talk to you about that when I see you next, I'm sure he can give you a hand.

 This is what I love about AP so many good people willing to help out.
Title: Re: Bally Rapid Fire Playfield Problems
Post by: swinks on December 28, 2012, 08:24:36 AM
I used to make cnc's and laser machines - the beauty with laser cutting is if the operator knows what he is doing he can get his speed and air just right all the cuts will come back glossy edged and no glossing required. With router cutting you may need to burn the edges to gloss up potential risking some sort of damage.

Cost wise the laser cutters will charge a little more per hour but the job will be a quarter of the time to cut so will work out the same in the end so I would find a local laser cutter.

dxf file will be needed for cutting achieved from a cad program which can be gained for free from here - http://www.3ds.com/products/draftsight/overview/
to do yourself, but without some cad experience these 2D cad problems can be a pain. But if you posted a picture and gave me some basic dimensions I could start a file for you, send it to you and then instruct you on how to add the finer details - hole placements etc.

edit - does the playfield have any recess pockets as this will determine laser / router process. Also the plastic type may dictate that it can't be laser cut due to the release of toxic gases created.

Title: Re: Bally Rapid Fire Playfield Problems
Post by: ktm450 on December 28, 2012, 12:02:47 PM
Did you see the smilie after my comment?
A baker would also have an oven big enough

But there are problems with this idea (but they can be fixed)

I am hoping that there is a better idea than Dan sticking his playfield in my oven

Sorry mate, now I got ya  @.@
Bit slow after nightshift
Title: Re: Bally Rapid Fire Playfield Problems
Post by: ddstoys on January 08, 2013, 10:35:35 PM
Sorry for the delay but a Massive thanks you to pop bumper Pete for taking the time to try help flatten my playfield we pushed our luck as far as we were willing but with no luck just wouldn't soften but Pete convinced me it wouldn't be that hard to cut out another one and he was spot on.

   $40 for new plexiglass and an hour on a scroll saw and I have a new one.

  Thanks also to everyone for there suggestions and help
Title: Re: Bally Rapid Fire Playfield Problems
Post by: ddstoys on January 08, 2013, 10:59:26 PM
forgot how long its been since i used my pc..  Here are some photos of the finished playfield
Title: Re: Bally Rapid Fire Playfield Problems
Post by: ddstoys on January 08, 2013, 11:02:56 PM
 ^^^
Title: Re: Bally Rapid Fire Playfield Problems
Post by: Pop Bumper Pete on January 09, 2013, 04:13:51 AM
Sweet, a very strange looking game
Title: Re: Bally Rapid Fire Playfield Problems
Post by: ktm450 on January 09, 2013, 10:25:50 AM
Well done mate, look forward to a game one day
Title: Re: Bally Rapid Fire Playfield Problems
Post by: swinks on January 09, 2013, 05:04:58 PM
be cool if you could post a quick vid if it is working
Title: Re: Bally Rapid Fire Playfield Problems
Post by: ddstoys on January 09, 2013, 05:48:35 PM
if i can drag my son away from the xbox for a few minutes i can make a video Jady
Title: Re: Bally Rapid Fire Playfield Problems
Post by: swinks on January 09, 2013, 06:48:58 PM
if this game pumped out tickets i recon it would be a popular machine today in an arcade.

I reckon your right, kids would love

that would be cool daniel
Title: Re: Bally Rapid Fire Playfield Problems
Post by: ddstoys on January 09, 2013, 07:56:00 PM

Title: Re: Bally Rapid Fire Playfield Problems
Post by: swinks on January 09, 2013, 11:59:12 PM
 :thanks for the video, cool machine.

So is like space invaders meets pinball?
Title: Re: Bally Rapid Fire Playfield Problems
Post by: ddstoys on January 10, 2013, 12:00:44 AM
Yeah that's how I'd describe it. Jady
Title: Re: Bally Rapid Fire Playfield Problems
Post by: ajlaird on January 10, 2013, 02:10:34 AM
Looks pretty cool in action!
Title: Re: Bally Rapid Fire Playfield Problems
Post by: Crashramp on January 10, 2013, 11:51:37 AM
Nice vid, thanks for taking the time and sharing. The game looks very cool indeed.
Title: Re: Bally Rapid Fire Playfield Problems
Post by: rustalan on January 11, 2013, 02:14:01 AM
Didn't see this thread till too late. I work with thermal plastic and to get it hot enough to mold it goes into an oven that is controllable up to 230c. It looks like a huge pizza oven that holds 20 large wire trays and each one travels through the oven taking about 10m to 30m again controllable. I think I could have got permission to do your  playfield as my boss loves pinball.
Title: Re: Bally Rapid Fire Playfield Problems
Post by: ddstoys on January 11, 2013, 07:29:27 AM
Didn't see this thread till too late. I work with thermal plastic and to get it hot enough to mold it goes into an oven that is controllable up to 230c. It looks like a huge pizza oven that holds 20 large wire trays and each one travels through the oven taking about 10m to 30m again controllable. I think I could have got permission to do your  playfield as my boss loves pinball.

   That's cool I'm actually glad it didn't work the old plastic had big scratches and compared to the shiny new on would have looked shit anyway.

    Thanks anyway
Title: Re: Bally Rapid Fire Playfield Problems
Post by: TUF-427 on January 15, 2013, 12:10:56 AM
Cool to see it working Dan hows the Hyperball going?
Title: Re: Bally Rapid Fire Playfield Problems
Post by: ddstoys on January 15, 2013, 07:39:07 AM
Cool to see it working Dan hows the Hyperball going?

Hyperball is in storage at the moment I have everything running except the most important part the cannon lol