It has been over a year since my last blog, and nothing much has happened with our table.
In short, something appeared to be wrong with the right flipper diode. The right flipper now only works with half-strength. Dad soldered it once and it was fixed, but it has broken down again.
maandag 31 mei 2010
woensdag 25 februari 2009
1st blog of 2009!
Well... it's sure been a long time since my last blog! Not that nothing happened to PinBot in the mean time.
We have a new item to be concerned about: the plastic over the skillshot has a habit of breaking down. It's terrible! It's broken in 3 different places, and because of its shape, it's hard to glue. Worse, because of its position, we need to remove half the table in order to reach it. At the moment it's broken again, and occasionally breaks balls that are going up the skill shot.
Anyway that didn't stop me from breaking my high score! Today I discovered:
We have a new item to be concerned about: the plastic over the skillshot has a habit of breaking down. It's terrible! It's broken in 3 different places, and because of its shape, it's hard to glue. Worse, because of its position, we need to remove half the table in order to reach it. At the moment it's broken again, and occasionally breaks balls that are going up the skill shot.
Anyway that didn't stop me from breaking my high score! Today I discovered:
- There is a maximum bonus of 99,999 for this table. As the bonus multiplier is 5 max, this makes the maximum total outhole bonus: 499,995. I knew it had a special reward programmed for the top multiplier, but it also has a small program for the 99,999 bonus. I scored both at the same ball, quite possibly the best ball I ever played.
- The table keeps track of more than 1 extra ball at the time. This is not on every table, but it is on PinBot.
- The maximum Superkraft (= bonus for re-shooting a ball through the shooter, after putting a ball in the visor, letting a ball in through the ramp, or extra ball) is 10. I knew that, but I didn't know there was a special programme for that as well.
- Even more fun: there is even a special programme for scoring 1,000,000 when you combine the 10 Superkraft with the 100,000 Skill Shot. It is kind of distracting though.
- It is very well possible to make it into the HighScore without having at least 5 million in the Solar Power Score. I had 2,3 M points stored in there when I won it.
- There is another extra ball for the 5th time you open the visor. There is no extra ball for the 10 Superkraft.
Anyway I just scored BIG! 9,4 million at least, close to the table's maximum! I made a video of me scoring the last few secs, and entering my name in the HighScore. I'm as proud as a duck can be.
Cheers, BB
dinsdag 25 november 2008
Pinbot Restauration Update, 25 November 2008
After putting PB back together again, we had one screw too many, and the cover over the blue ramp (the robo head) missed a screw in the middle.
Because it missed a screw, it pressed heavily onto the plastic that covers the vortex (skill shot snailhouse). When I was playing, the ball landed on the plastic dealie with great speed, causing it to break.
Dad managed to fix Humpty Dumpty, and it's now back in place.
Dad also scored 5.4 million, and ended in the high scores.
Today on playing, the wire of one switch let go. It now looks like it's back in place.
And today I broke another record: 7.4 million. Quite good considering there was under 5 million in the jackpot!
Poor Dad only spent two days in the high score list. It's my revenge for his cheating-making of the top score and being there for weeks.
Because it missed a screw, it pressed heavily onto the plastic that covers the vortex (skill shot snailhouse). When I was playing, the ball landed on the plastic dealie with great speed, causing it to break.
Dad managed to fix Humpty Dumpty, and it's now back in place.
Dad also scored 5.4 million, and ended in the high scores.
Today on playing, the wire of one switch let go. It now looks like it's back in place.
And today I broke another record: 7.4 million. Quite good considering there was under 5 million in the jackpot!
Poor Dad only spent two days in the high score list. It's my revenge for his cheating-making of the top score and being there for weeks.
maandag 17 november 2008
Pinball Pictures
For your entertainment, I'll place the pictures of the ball getting stuck. Above one is what I described in my 16 Nov update.
zondag 16 november 2008
Wait! Update 16th November 2008
So we just installed new rubber bands everywhere, and we have new balls.
At playing, the ball got stuck in the right lane (path that leads to the right flipper), between the rubber bands on either side. We're now wondering whether the elastics are too thick, or the balls are too big.
At playing, the ball got stuck in the right lane (path that leads to the right flipper), between the rubber bands on either side. We're now wondering whether the elastics are too thick, or the balls are too big.
PinBot Restauration Update 16th November 2008
Last Tuesday, my father and I went to the Flipperwinkel in Arnhem, to purchase parts for our table.
Getting there was not easy: we had used instructions from Google Maps, which told us to exit the highway, drive to an industrial zone, drive a circle there, then go back the same way, and get back on the highway at the same place. It was mildly frustrating to say the least.
We got there, and purchased a solenoid, lamps, rubber bands, a post, two locks, balls, several nuts and bolts, cleaner and table wax. We spent over 100 euros, which is much considering the money it took us to get it to us in the first place, and the maximum value which is 400 E. At least we've had a lot of fun from it!
So over the course of the week, we had installed several of these. And today we made the Big CleanUp: removing particles from every section (sectionwise so it wouldn't get mixed up), cleaning, and replacing rubber bands.
It took several hours. Nasty bits were a lamp in an awkward position, and of course the little rubber bands around the pinned section with the female android on it. On screwing that back together we needed help from on-line pictures, because we hadn't written anything down and we had dinner between the removal and the reinstallment of the parts. It was a major pain in the neck, but for now it seems like we're done!
Except we're thinking we may need a new plunger. And the top broke on one of the pins.
Getting there was not easy: we had used instructions from Google Maps, which told us to exit the highway, drive to an industrial zone, drive a circle there, then go back the same way, and get back on the highway at the same place. It was mildly frustrating to say the least.
We got there, and purchased a solenoid, lamps, rubber bands, a post, two locks, balls, several nuts and bolts, cleaner and table wax. We spent over 100 euros, which is much considering the money it took us to get it to us in the first place, and the maximum value which is 400 E. At least we've had a lot of fun from it!
So over the course of the week, we had installed several of these. And today we made the Big CleanUp: removing particles from every section (sectionwise so it wouldn't get mixed up), cleaning, and replacing rubber bands.
It took several hours. Nasty bits were a lamp in an awkward position, and of course the little rubber bands around the pinned section with the female android on it. On screwing that back together we needed help from on-line pictures, because we hadn't written anything down and we had dinner between the removal and the reinstallment of the parts. It was a major pain in the neck, but for now it seems like we're done!
Except we're thinking we may need a new plunger. And the top broke on one of the pins.
zondag 2 november 2008
PinBot Restauration Update: Nov 2nd, 2008
It's been a while again, but this time, I have news!
Our left slingshot was not working for quite some time. The same was for the outlanes.
It turned out to be one dirty latch, that stopped the low voltage current flow to the slingshot, so it didn't give points, but it did bounce the ball back. There are namely 2 currents that go to the elements: a low voltage one for the electronics, and a high voltage one to cause the movement.
So, the left slingshot works! And we will soon go to the Flipperwinkel to get a rubber band set. Our flippers need rubber bands, apparently.
Our left slingshot was not working for quite some time. The same was for the outlanes.
It turned out to be one dirty latch, that stopped the low voltage current flow to the slingshot, so it didn't give points, but it did bounce the ball back. There are namely 2 currents that go to the elements: a low voltage one for the electronics, and a high voltage one to cause the movement.
So, the left slingshot works! And we will soon go to the Flipperwinkel to get a rubber band set. Our flippers need rubber bands, apparently.
dinsdag 7 oktober 2008
Pinball Repair Log 7 October 2008
OK... it's been real lacking in the updates... College started and all that...
Not much happened in the past month. My sister accidentally deleted my high scores. I beat the 7 Million Points mark twice. We're close to finding out what is wrong with the left slingshot: I think that after that emergency repair with superglue, the rubber is too tight and is continuously pressing the switches.
Not much happened in the past month. My sister accidentally deleted my high scores. I beat the 7 Million Points mark twice. We're close to finding out what is wrong with the left slingshot: I think that after that emergency repair with superglue, the rubber is too tight and is continuously pressing the switches.
zondag 7 september 2008
Pinbot Restauration Update 7 September 2008
Been two weeks since the last update... and not much happened. The most interesting thing that I've learnt, is that the timers can be altered using the menu. It's very well possible that, when we were just working our way through the configuration menu, we accidentally changed it ourselves. So there's not some "mysterious error" or "PinBot Phantom" that sneakily altered the timers for the drop targets and ramp.
...Bit of a shame, really... Oh well. Saves money on the exorcist.
...Bit of a shame, really... Oh well. Saves money on the exorcist.
zaterdag 23 augustus 2008
Pinbot Restauration Blog 23 Aug 2008
Yesterday I grabbed the microfibre cloth and scrubbed whatever I could reach on the playfield. Most of it is black, but the light coloured decorations on it looked awfully dirty, so I worked my fingers to the bone, trying to get it off. There's this undefinable brown muck on it, like real dirty frying grease.
That fancy blue shiny cloth is not so fancy anymore, some of the threads were badly cut. And it's filthy!
That fancy blue shiny cloth is not so fancy anymore, some of the threads were badly cut. And it's filthy!
dinsdag 19 augustus 2008
Pinbot Restauration Log 19 Aug 2008
Managed to repair the elastic on the 13th. I fixed it with superglue. Dad's suggestion, and I'm amazed it works. I couldn't restore it myself, as it required for many covers (and screws) to be removed. But the rubber band is back in business.
The slingshot is still not functioning properly. It won't give points or cause flashing, although it bounces back. The ramp and outhole still give errors in test.
I now hold the top 3 scores, close to beating my father's cheating. And today I managed to balance the ball directly on top of the pin in front of the drain.
The slingshot is still not functioning properly. It won't give points or cause flashing, although it bounces back. The ramp and outhole still give errors in test.
I now hold the top 3 scores, close to beating my father's cheating. And today I managed to balance the ball directly on top of the pin in front of the drain.
dinsdag 12 augustus 2008
Pinball Restauration Blog 12 Aug 2008
Yesterday evening, while my father was playing, the elastic on the left slingshot snapped. Much to my surprise: I thought the one on the right would give in first.
He asked me to attempt to repair it with superglue. I did, but when I wanted to put the band back, I discovered I needed to unscrew the entire lane cover first.
So there'll be no playing for a while... :(
He asked me to attempt to repair it with superglue. I did, but when I wanted to put the band back, I discovered I needed to unscrew the entire lane cover first.
So there'll be no playing for a while... :(
maandag 11 augustus 2008
Pinbot Repair Log 11 Aug 2008
I've been a little low on the updates... it's just that there's not much to do until I'm able to pick up the lamps and rubber bands in a week. Another trip to Arnhem, yay.
In the mean time, I solved the high score issue by playing my fingers to the bone, scoring immensively on one ball and reaching 5,8 million points, thus knocking my father's fake score off first place!
The dirt is still an issue. I can't stress enough how dirty it is. You just can't get below the glass without your hands getting dirty. Every wire you touch leaves these dark smudgy stains... every ball lodge salvation is icky...
In the mean time, I solved the high score issue by playing my fingers to the bone, scoring immensively on one ball and reaching 5,8 million points, thus knocking my father's fake score off first place!
The dirt is still an issue. I can't stress enough how dirty it is. You just can't get below the glass without your hands getting dirty. Every wire you touch leaves these dark smudgy stains... every ball lodge salvation is icky...
woensdag 6 augustus 2008
Pinbot Repair Log Aug 6 2008
I'm now convinced the machine is either haunted, or has a will of its own.
The left slingshot will sometimes work, and sometimes not work. Actually it always works, but won't always score points. Fortunately it only scores 10 points per hit, so I can live with that.
The timing is still giving problems. Yesterday the drop targets would resurrect quicker than the ramp would lower.
(when you hit a drop target that's lit, the ramp goes up. You can then shoot a target under it for a lot of points, but the time is limited. The time that one or two targets stay down, is also limited. Usually the ramp lowers way before the targets resurrect, but yesterday it was the other way round.)
Right now, it's "repaired itself": the ramp lowers once again before the targets do, but strangely there is still not much time between the two, even if it was there before.
A few days ago I advanced to the planet "Earth". It took us some time to figure out that making it so far meant the first "special" planet is Mars, not Jupiter. (For the record, you start at Pluto (Ahhh! Good old days) and make your way to the sun).
I also cleaned the table a little with a dry microfibre cloth. It got incredibly dirty! Maybe I need to use some cleaner. Thing is, in order to clean it properly, we need to unscrew all the dealies first, which is going to take a long time.
The left slingshot will sometimes work, and sometimes not work. Actually it always works, but won't always score points. Fortunately it only scores 10 points per hit, so I can live with that.
The timing is still giving problems. Yesterday the drop targets would resurrect quicker than the ramp would lower.
(when you hit a drop target that's lit, the ramp goes up. You can then shoot a target under it for a lot of points, but the time is limited. The time that one or two targets stay down, is also limited. Usually the ramp lowers way before the targets resurrect, but yesterday it was the other way round.)
Right now, it's "repaired itself": the ramp lowers once again before the targets do, but strangely there is still not much time between the two, even if it was there before.
A few days ago I advanced to the planet "Earth". It took us some time to figure out that making it so far meant the first "special" planet is Mars, not Jupiter. (For the record, you start at Pluto (Ahhh! Good old days) and make your way to the sun).
I also cleaned the table a little with a dry microfibre cloth. It got incredibly dirty! Maybe I need to use some cleaner. Thing is, in order to clean it properly, we need to unscrew all the dealies first, which is going to take a long time.
zondag 3 augustus 2008
Pinbot Restauration Update Aug 3 2008
Been a while since last blog... The errors still haven't been found out, and worse there's a new one. Left slingshot is now refusing to work.
woensdag 30 juli 2008
Pinball Repair Log 30 July 2008
Once again, our machine is troubled. It now has 4 badly working switches:
44: Ramp Down (moves down (and timer runs) much too fast)
20: Shooter Switch
56: 10 Point Switch
17: Ball Trough (balls won't load quickly).
We probably won't be able to check them out until the weekend: I'm not a technician and dad has to work.
In the mean time: photos!
44: Ramp Down (moves down (and timer runs) much too fast)
20: Shooter Switch
56: 10 Point Switch
17: Ball Trough (balls won't load quickly).
We probably won't be able to check them out until the weekend: I'm not a technician and dad has to work.
In the mean time: photos!
dinsdag 29 juli 2008
Pinball Repair Log 29 July 2008
The slingshot switch didn't give any more problems today! But now Pinbot seems to have timing issues. It counts a lot faster than it should normally do, or at least that's my experience. This results in drop targets being pushed upright much quicker, and the ramp shots being much shorter available.
maandag 28 juli 2008
Pinball Restauration Log 28 July 2008
And today something else gave in: the left slingshot. The switch works, but no points are given. On first glance it seemed the rubber had slipped, we put it back on correctly, but it's still not responding.
zaterdag 26 juli 2008
Pinball Repair Log Update: 26 July 2008
We found that all the non-working switches were caused by 1 loose wire in the connector plug. Now the ramp is no longer clicking, the yellow and green targets work, but the left outlane is still not responding.
We also found that the rubber band near the ramp was not in the right position: it had slipped off. This caused the 10 point switch error. It was easily fixed.
Need to delete the high scores. In the testing process (with glass plate removed, trying out all switches) Dad managed to get the 1st place, over 5.2 million.
We also found that the rubber band near the ramp was not in the right position: it had slipped off. This caused the 10 point switch error. It was easily fixed.
Need to delete the high scores. In the testing process (with glass plate removed, trying out all switches) Dad managed to get the 1st place, over 5.2 million.
Pinball Repair Log 26 July 2008
We found 6 broken switches during the checkup: Left Visor; ramp down, left outlane, shooter switch, RS Bank, Top Jet. Some checking up to do! Hopefully cleaning the contacts will be sufficient...
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