Engineering Applications

Pinball Project:

Brief:

You must apply all of your engineering knowledge and skills to design and build a fully functional pinball machine with your partner (s).

Component Constraints Template Document

Constraints

Michael Engineering Notebook

Engineering design Notebook

In this notebook we track all the progress and processes taken during each of our projects with a picture and description of what happened on each day of worktime.

Research:

Overall goal and theme's (scoring system/rule baord

IMG_8949.MP4

Launcher/Flippers

The launcher was ok, as in it did the job but sometimes it wouldn't go as far up as you think it would. The flippers were very good and there was no delay, they made the ball go up very far and made it easy to get points.

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Score board/Sounds

The scoreboard had characters, interesting sound affects when you made bonus or hit something, it even had interesting animations that I thought were cool

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Rotating component/ lighting/ballguide

In the pinball the soccer spins and when the ball goes in it gets spun then redirected. The lighting was in sync with when the game started and ended and when you hit one of the components to score.

IMG_8949.MP4

Bumpers (towards end)

The bumpers sit right aboce the the flippers and I would say were pretty good although they didn't get used as much when we were playing it.

IMG_8947.MP4

Targets

The target is past the goalie and if you get it past him then you get a points and then he moves to the other side of the goal to change it up.

Launcher:

Video of component:

IMG_9717.mp4

This is a video of us testing our launcher after installing it and reprinting our rocket a a few times for it to print. We have a metal rod which made the launcher much more stable, and easy to put together. One other thing we found is that its reliability is pretty good but it really depends on the user.

Component Constraints Template Document

Contraints of component

The sheet is outlining how we were to be graded on the component and what steps we needed to take to get a good grade. Ms. White tested the efficiency by launhcing it 10 times as well as the durability by launching it hard. It turned out pretty well in the end after a lot of trial and error and we ended up having a very stable and functional launcher

Parts of Launcher:

Scoreboard:

IMG_7905.mp4

Video of component

This is a video of us testing our scoreboard once we installed it into the back of our board. it was programmed to two switch that I press in the video. One increases the score, while the other switch makes the ball count decrease. We added a smoke like design, and later added a rocket

Component Constraints Template Document

Constraints of Scoreboard

My group completed the code section for our scoreboard pretty fast, although I ddi originally struggle to make the game reset after the game over section showed up. I eventually figured it out and later added the ball count to come up after Game over without clicking the switch.

Component parts

Onshape/ Planning of design

Component Constraints Template Document

Constraints of Onshape

This outlines the requirements for the layout we submit, ours layout met every requirement with a few add on's due to the fact that we're a group of three. We placed everything according to our plan as closerly as possible.

All Students Final Pinball Menu Grading / Overall Component Planning

Final grading sheet:

This is the overall grading sheet for our entire pinball with a few extra added components because we are a group of three.

Hand Drawn layout

Onshape Layout

Pinball Machine Lighting Plan and Scoring System

Lighting and Scoring plan

Ball Return:

Constraints:

How it works:

The ball-return mechanism functions like to a beam-break sensor. When an object interrupts the light between the LED emitter and the receiver, the system registers the break and triggers a programmed response through conditional (if) statements. We used this interaction to accurately track and update the ball count.

Code:

Video/photos of functionality:

IMG_9726.mp4

Flipper:

Constraints:

How it works:

The flipper is a critical component of the game’s functionality. It operates through a system of press-fit pieces attached to a central rod. Beneath the playfield, a solenoid provides the upward force needed to activate the flipper. The lower press-fit piece connects directly to the solenoid’s plunger, and a spring—anchored to an elevated section of the solenoid’s mount—returns the mechanism to its resting position. This design ensures consistent, reliable flipper motion and precise control during gameplay.

Code:

Video/photos of functionality:

IMG_6867.mov

Target:

Constraints:

How it works:

The targets serve as the primary scoring mechanism for players. Each target is positioned over an opening in the playfield and aligned with a switch mounted on the underside of the board. When a target is struck with sufficient force, it depresses the switch, triggering a programmed increase in the player’s score. Each target is assigned a unique point value based on its location and difficulty, allowing for a varied and engaging scoring system.

Code

Video/photos of functionality:

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Status: Currently our group is mostly up to date on every function of our pinball, with only a few more targets to add. We also plan to code Neo-pixels to the targets to create a reaction. The flippers look and work pretty well. Both targets function but we plan on trying to make them more sensitive so that it doesn't take as much effort for them to be pushed. We are confident that we can stay on track now that we have caught up on most of our components and look foward to the next step.

Reflection:

One challenge I faced during the build was getting the flipper to strike high enough on the playfield. Although the initial installation seemed successful, testing revealed that the flipper couldn’t reach the top of the board as intended. To address this issue, I rebuilt the entire flipper assembly and experimented with different solutions—adjusting the spring tension, modifying the press-fit components, and changing the angle at which the solenoid was mounted. Through this iterative process, I was ultimately able to achieve the desired range of motion and overcome the challenge.
The component that I am most proud of would probably be the flipper, mainly because it took so long to get it right, I feel that it finally working is something I have to be proud of. Although I do like how well installed my Target and how reliable it works coding wise.

copy_055C63D0-51E3-477B-9FA8-652FAC3035FA.mp4

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