The IJ Project

Goal: Create a Protector for the Drop Target Bank

Update: First run is in!

We have the first run of parts. These parts use a tough spring steel. The clip onto the playfield, and are held in place by a post screw. We also have some prototypes in phosphor bronze. These will require a lot more testing, as the material is a little less strong than the spring stainless, and we don't know how it will darken in the long term. It will need an occasional polish and wax to stay nice. We also cut new ramp flaps in both stainless and phosphor bronze. These new flaps are .050 longer than the originals, and cover playfield wear. Availability is imminent.

Here's the stainless steel version.	Phosphor bronze version.
As set of flaps and the hole protector.
Here's how the phosphor bronze kit looks on a machine. The flaps are held on with tape for the picture.	And stainless steel flaps.

History and Prototyping

The trick is, keeping it thin. So it gets the same approach as the work for TSPP, MM and Cirqus Voltaire: a hard metal protector one hundredth of an inch thick. These are computer designed and will be laser cut, design, manufacturing and finishing processes that we have been working on for a while now.

Here's the first prototype, installed the first time. This one is cut from hard brass; the stainless steel that we will use for production cannot be cut with hand shears.	Here's the view from the underside. Note the spring lip that holds it all tight.
The finished prototype, polished, front view.	And the rear view. We are hoping to have some stainless steel to test within a couple of weeks. We are also investigating material for gold finish; we don't think that brass will take the beating.
Germans are known for their fine engineering, but pinball techs are the same everywhere. Here's an example of double-stranded fuse repair.	GI connectors burnt up? No problem! Don't forget to bend the pins so that they cannot short out.   Bonus: single strand fuse repair!
Battery test time. Pinball machines are perfect for this application, as they take three at a time. The WPC95 upgrade keeps the juices off of the CPU board. Germany (left) and USA (right) pass the test, but China (center) fails.	Tip: when you forgot your bulb bag, there are always a few in the backbox. Unless someone else go t there first.
Nice new rear rails, but where did that latch come from?	A fine example of fade. Where's the Sharpie master?
Tape makes up for weak clips.	Rubbers are expired.
Boy, this coin door wiring is complicated. Guess that we didn't really need it.	Simple paperwork covers "Tilt" problem.
Where does that flipperspringen go again?	No idea. Just no idea at all. I guess it works, and I'll leave it at that.