I have heard that the the latest GoT, SMVE and GB's are made in house ??? not sure but apparently the insert pockets have been routed slightly too deep so with play the inserts drop down and separate around the edge near the playfield timber edge. I suppose in time this area will crack and break out. Ideally the insert pockets should be routed just a hair thickness shallower than the insert thickness so once installed so the insert is hard up against a timber edge with glue locking in place and then the playfield is sanded flat knocking the tops off the inserts.
How can the insert holes be routed incorrect:
- programmed too deep
- inserts changed in thickness
- playfield ply not held down (vacuum) properly, allowing the board to rise and be routed deeper
- ply is varying in thickness
- tool depth not set correctly (not sensor checked regularly)
- doubt the ply is too green as it would shrink fractionally creating insert edge cracking not ghosting.
Ideally the ply should be vacuum held down on a good and level waste board with the spindle, tool and vacuum pickup set as a maximum depth cut controlling the depth cut.
A US guy got this fair so reckon anyone with issues send the below details to the distributor and then send the same info to Stern.
"I called Stern regarding ghosting on my SMVE and spoke to tech support.
He indicated that ghosting is a known issue on some current run games. I was told management, engineers and suppliers are investigating the issue. I was asked to send an email and I would be included in a list of reported machines.
The solution/resolution to the issue is to be determined.
The requested information was: game model, serial number, manufacturing date, purchase date, distributor name and a de******ion of the issue and with supporting pictures.
I received an email acknowledging the receipt of the information.
The email I was given to send the information was: parts.service@sternpinball.com"
If anyone has a problem make sure to tell them especially due to the money that was spent by lots of people and if people don't they will keep going as is and ignore people but if just a playfield costs them $300USD plus postage to people they are probably up to 500 playfields = a lot of dollars to correct the issue, and the other downside also that if they do send out a playfield who knows if it is any better as you might chose to store it and by the time you use it, it could have the same issues.
excellent, does this person have a name and contact details I can have or do I just quote his avatar?
Btw I thought inserts are installed a little proud of the surface and then sanded level on a machine not too dissimilar to ones that make table tops 'perfectly' flat??? I could be wrong, so someone in the know could explain the process. Or is Stern just pushing the inserts in by finger and then slapping on a cc? Thanks and good to see action taken???
