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How to Design a Pinball Machine

Pinball software such as Visual Pinball and VPinMAME allows pinball fans to emulate and play classic pinball machines using their computers and special front end software. With the recent availability of inexpensive high definition flat panel displays and falling prices for extremely powerful computer hardware, pinball hobbyists have begun to design their own pinball cabinets that use video displays to create classic pinball machines of the past. Nearly all materials used are available at any standard hardware, computer or electronics stores. Investing some time and effort will produce a professional looking pinball cabinet that can be used to play hundreds of games.

Things You'll Need

Medium to Large Size Workshop or Open Space (Garage)
Screwdriver or Power Drill
Wire
USB Cord
Input Controller Board
Pushbuttons
Power Saws (Various types depending on size of pinball cabinet being designed)
Safety Goggles
Hammer
Sandpaper
2 Sheets of Plexiglass
Two Flat Panel Computer Monitors or High Definition Televisions
Computer with Decent Video Card
Virtual Pinball and VPinMAME software

Instructions

Design the Cabinet
- 1
  Choose the size of the two displays that will be used for the pinball cabinet. The pinball cabinet will make use of two flat panel computer display monitors or HD televisions. One display will be positioned vertically and act as the playfield. The second display will be used as the backglass of the machine.
- 2
  Measure the dimensions of the playfield and backglass displays and write them down. The cabinet will essentially be two boxes designed to enclose the displays. The main cabinet will usually be about 40 to 48 inches long, and 20 to 28 inches wide.
- 3
  Design plans for the pieces of wood that will be needed to build the cabinet. The cabinet will consist of two pieces, the body that contains the playfield and the computer components to run the system and the backbox that contains the backglass display and the speakers.
Obtain and Prepare Wood
- 4
  Purchase several sheets of wood to use in the construction of the pinball cabinet. Most hobbyists prefer to use medium density particleboard, however, other types of wood can also be used.
- 5
  Cut the sheets of wood into the shapes needed to build the cabinet using a powered saw.
- 6
  Sand any rough edges left by the saw.
- 7
  Cut holes into the pieces of wood where buttons will be placed later.
Assemble the Pinball Cabinet
- 8
  Screw the pieces of wood together to assemble the cabinet.
- 9
  Mount the playfield display in the cabinet body and backglass display in the backbox.
- 10
  Place the computer in the cabinet body and connect it to the two displays and a power source.
- 11
  Install a sheet of plexiglass in the cabinet body and backbox to protect the displays from accidental damage.
Install the Wiring and Buttons and Test
- 12
  Install pushbuttons into the holes that were cut earlier.
- 13
  Connect the pushbuttons to the input controller board using wire.
- 14
  Connect the input controller board to the computer using a USB cord.
- 15
  Boot the computer and launch the emulation software.
- 16
  Play a game of pinball on the new cabinet.

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