Bally Rapid Fire Playfield Problems

[ddstoys]

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?

   

[ktm450]

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

[Retropin]

Youll also need a vector file to get this cut... no need to only laser, can get CNC routing as well

[Pop Bumper Pete]

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? ;)

[ktm450]

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

[Pop Bumper Pete]

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

[Retropin]

Dan sticking his PF in your oven is a top idea

[Pop Bumper Pete]

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 :)

[Retropin]

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

[pinnies4me]

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.

[ddstoys]

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.

[swinks]

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.

[ktm450]

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

[ddstoys]

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

[ddstoys]

forgot how long its been since i used my pc..  Here are some photos of the finished playfield