Engineering Project Kits has developed a DIY pinball machine project that is available in kit form. This project is designed to suit a wide range of makers, from those just starting out to those with more experience. The kit involves both design and construction tasks, using a hands-on, learn-by-making approach to help you build practical skills and knowledge.

Key Features

What you'll be making from the 16 subassembly kits and a cabinet flat-pack kit is a 3/4 sized table-top version of a fully functional pinball machine. The finished machine includes a chrome steel ball, bumpers, both fixed and moving targets, sound effects, a TILT sensor, and a scoreboard.

Customisation and Maker Challenge

Each pinball machine built is one-of-a-kind, as makers get to customise the game theme and design the graphic artwork and sound effects to their own personal preference. Elements of coding are also customisable. Some aspects of the playfield can also be modified, and a challenge exists for makers to redesign the ball delivery ramp to make it a more effective non-return system than the current trapdoor and deflection wedge method being used.

3D Printed Enhancements

There is the option for makers to design and 3D print “hood ornaments” or plastic models that can decorate the playfield on top of the ball guide covers, which normally just have waterslide decal graphic artwork on them. These models could also have LED lights in them for added visual effect, as there are several unused 3.3V DC outlets on the fuse board that can be used for this purpose.

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Educational and Creative Benefits

Building an EPK pinball machine offers a hands-on learning experience ideal for high school STEAM students, combining engineering, technology, art, and fabrication. The project’s modular design allows collaboration and creativity, with opportunities for students to engage in artwork, 3D design, coding, and more.

 

Outcomes and Opportunities

The completed machine delivers an engaging game and can be retained, corporately commissioned, sold, donated, or gifted, adding value beyond the classroom.

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Modern Technological Advancements

• Advanced Manufacturing: Incorporates 3D printing for custom parts and laser-cutting for precision components.

• Microcontroller Technology: Uses Arduino Uno for sensing, movement, and sound response, enhancing interactivity.

• Sensor Technology: Employs an accelerometer and optical sensors for modern, reliable input detection.

• Actuator Technology: Features DC and servo motors with electronic controls, replacing older mechanical systems.

• Analogue and Digital Hardware: Involves analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog conversions for sensor input and sound output, plus serial communication with storage devices.

• Digital Design Software: Utilises tools for 3D modelling, coding, graphic and sonic art, integrating creativity with technology.

 

Overall, the EPK pinball project provides rich learning, fosters technical and creative skills, and exposes makers to industry-relevant technologies and processes.

The pinball machine build process is organised into clear stages: first, all subassemblies are constructed; next, the main cabinet is assembled; finally, subassemblies, wiring, and artwork are integrated into the cabinet and playfield.

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1. Construct subassemblies

2. Assemble the cabinet

3. Fit subassemblies, wiring, and artwork

 

Assembly uses tools and equipment such as hand tools, a 3D printer, soldering iron, and consumables like 3D printer filaments, solder, graphics prints, and decals. No drilling, sawing, or filing is needed because all plywood and acrylic parts are precisely laser cut. Tools and consumables not included in the kit can be purchased from hardware stores or accessed via makerspaces, with lists and examples available online.

Kit Boxes

Each project includes 16 subassembly kit boxes and a cabinet flat-packed kit, providing all necessary components.

Subassembly Kits 1–16

Subassembly kits offer parts to build housings, populate circuit boards, assemble mechanical elements, and attach playfield features. Kits cover targets, bumpers, flippers, ball plunger, ball ejector, circuit boards, and ball guides.

Cabinet Flat-Pack Kit

• Laser-cut plywood: cabinet walls, playfield, base

• Acrylic: artwork protector and anti-dust cover

 

Each kit includes five types of Parts Packs (electronics, mechanical, electro-mech, wood/plastics, modules) and printed Assembly Documents (parts list, BOM, PCB layout, parts diagram, mechanical drawing).

Step-By-Step Video Tutorials

Over 200 hours of video tutorials are available, detailing skills, background knowledge, and assembly steps for kits and final assembly.

Download Files

Downloadable resources include printed instruction documents, digital design templates, Arduino code, and 3D printing files, supporting both online viewing and reprinting.

Making Activities

During the build, makers engage in five making activity types:

• Wood and Plastics: Construct housings from laser-cut plywood and design custom plastic parts using 3D printing.

• Electronics: Solder through-hole components onto PCBs to create the electronic hardware.

• Electro-Mechanics: Wire data and power cables and assemble mechanical parts with nuts and bolts.

• Coding: Load and modify Arduino Uno code to operate the servo motor, detect TILT, and trigger sound effects.

• Artwork: Design, print, and apply digital graphics to various parts, and craft custom sound effects to enhance gameplay.

You have several options for building a pinball machine. Home garages are common, but places like Makerspaces, Hackerspaces, and FabLabs offer more resources and community support.

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• Makerspaces: Community workshops with shared tools (digital fabrication, electronics, wood and metal workshops). Members pay fees, and spaces feature specialty activity rooms for projects.

• Hackerspaces: Focused on technology and electronics, these may not have extensive wood or metal workshop areas but usually offer laser cutters and 3D printers.

• FabLabs: Geared toward digital fabrication and prototyping with equipment like CNC routers and 3D printers.

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For pinball machine build projects, makerspaces are ideal, providing access to woodworking, digital fabrication, and electronics workshops.

Institutions running makerspaces include:

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• Community Makerspaces: Often not-for-profit, open to public, requiring membership fees (about $500/year or $50/month).

• High School Makerspaces: For STEM classes; less common due to setup costs and low enrolment, only for students.

• University Makerspaces: Well-equipped, often open to the public for a fee, free for students.

• Library Makerspaces: Open to library members after safety training, typically free but limited in equipment and hours.

• Home Makerspaces: Setting up at home gives flexibility but is costly and lacks immediate community support.

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​Choose the space that fits your needs and budget best.

​This project is designed for makers of all skill levels, from beginners to experienced individuals. It's ideal for those interested in:

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• Understanding mechanics and exploring how things work

• Problem-solving in design, engineering, or technology

• Storytelling through graphics and sound effects

• Challenging themselves with retro games

• Learning digital fabrication

 

Participants should be capable of safely using a soldering iron, so high school students and adults are best suited—though younger makers may join with adult supervision.

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Types of makers who may enjoy this project include:

Solo Makers

• Retro game enthusiasts

• Tech hobbyists seeking new projects

• Collectors looking to enhance their games room

Team Makers

• Parent-child duos bonding over a shared build

• Small groups collaborating for team building or fun

STEM Ed Makers

• High school, college, and university students, especially those in STEM fields or technical colleges

Community Makers

• Men's Sheds building for charity

• Scouts and youth programs offering hands-on experience and practical skills

• Councils engaging youth in creative projects, such as pinball artwork

• Inmates developing trade skills to prepare for future employment

​Build time for the pinball machine depends on kits built per session, session hours, and maker skill. Each Activity takes about 3 hours (including video tutorials and instruction review). Skilled makers may need less time; beginners may need more.

• Each Kit has five Activities at 3 hours each, totaling 15 hours per Kit.

• With 16 Kits, that's 240 hours.

• Four Final Assembly clusters (5 Activities each) add 60 hours.

• Total project time is approximately 300 hours.

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Solo Makers

Solo makers complete all tasks sequentially, requiring the full 300 hours. For example:

• 8 hours each weekend leads to completion in about a year.

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STEM Ed Makers

A high school program with 72 students can finish in 15 weeks (if one full-day or two half-days per week):

• Students build kits in either morning or afternoon 3-hour sessions.

• Cohorts tackle 8 kits every 5 weeks; final assembly takes another 5 weeks.

 

Team Makers

Teamwork divides the total build time:

• Two makers working two days a week finish in 10 weeks.

• Four makers working one day a week also finish in 10 weeks.

 

The build time adjusts with group size and session hours and frequency, but the total hours remain consistent.