Hi guys,

Some good points and thoughts, though I wanted to help the discussion & understanding with a quick playfield sketch just for the concept (definitely not a playable PF). Left graphic is a playfield with the components assembled, middle is the 2nd layer panel and right is the glass panel.

1. base layer (12mm thick ply) - Main playfield would be the one that would hold all the cabling mounted to it underneath and also the (led) globe fixtures to reduce heat on translite sandwiched graphic panel, along with the second layer mounting points.
2. 2nd layer (6mm thick ply) - ply playfield sections fasten onto the base playfield (check out middle sketch of timber component layer) that the mechanics could fasten to on top as well as any plastics over the top disguising the inserted panels. Also to this would be the timber sides and lane divider and apron etc. The mechanics would also sandwich the 2nd layer to the base layer as it alot of the time they are mounted to the playfield underneath.
3. glass panel (6mm thick) - which is water jet cut and toughened which just drops in (right hand side graphic). On a quick removal of the top pop bumper assemblies and any other component blocking the removal would then allow a quick glass removal, clean and playfield graphic swap over.
4. in between the glass panel and the base layer is a translite style graphic inlay that can be easily swapped out for a different theme.

I use to make cnc laser and router machines and can see a mass production potential for cutting out components and the need for screen printing is removed as the translite playfield graphics can be printed and sealed. Along with water jetting of the glass the accuracy is up to within 0.25mm so that could be accurate along with automatic bevelling with a 4 axis cutting head.

I do agree there would be some design limitations to a playfield and the edges of the glass are the weak areas if hit by a ball.

In the end I was just trying to think of way to clean a playfield and change out the look relatively quickly and cheaply and remove the need for inserts and playfield touchups. You never know knocking around a few ideas stemming from areas of need could create a next gen pinball concept.

I plan to do this but not for a year or two as have a few machines that I want to restore and learn from.

Also the glass would not be mirrored like the blackhole one.