Plinko

We made an accessible plinko machine for our Physical Computing Class. It allows for people with limited mobility to play this fun game. A single light switch is used to program this whole build!

Tools:

1. Laser Cutter
2. Computer (For programing)
3. Solder Station
4. 3D printer (Prusa Mini)

Supplies:

1. 1/8 Inch Baltic Birch
2. 1/8 inch acrylic
3. Super Glue
4. Velcro tape - Link (note: the velcro we used was given to us by the school, so we did not see the brand of velcro tape. The link is to Velcro tape, but cannot verify if that is the one we used)
5. USB-A to micro-USB
6. 3 180 degree servo motors - link
7. LED Light Strip - link
8. Jumper Cables - link
9. Aligator to Jumper Cables - Link
10. VL53L1CX Time of Flight sensor - link
11. Raspberry Pi pico - link
12. Bread Board - Link
13. Stemma QT to Jumper Cables - Link

To Setup the Pico, follow the instructions on the Adafruit website. Alternatively, for more visual learners, Prof G, Boston College Professor, has a great setup tutorialfor a Adafruit Circuit Playground Blue-fruit. Follow this video, but instead of installing for the Circuit Playground, install the for the Matrix Portal. Additionally, it may be helpful to install other programs like Circup, to ensure all necessary libraries are up to date and available. (Link to installation tutorial here)

Once the Pico is setup, Copy and this code into your code.py file!

In order to make sure the wires worked over distances, we had to extending them in different methods. I denoted the method of wire extension after each bullet.

Rail Connections:

1. 3V Power --> right power rail
2. Ground --> right ground rail
3. 5V power --> left power rail
4. Ground --> left ground rail (different ground than the right rail)

Distance Sensor:

1. Yellow --> RX (extended with soldered jumper cable)
2. Blue --> TX (extended with soldered jumper cable)
3. Red --> 3V power rail
4. Black --> Ground Rail

Light strip:

1. Power --> 5V rail (extended with alligator clip to jumper cable wire)
2. Ground --> Ground rail (extended with alligator clip to jumper cable wire)
3. Signal --> GP9 (extended with alligator clip to jumper cable wire)

Aiming Servos: There are two servos here that require the same power so I am putting power and ground the same, but the GP pins will be different

1. Power --> 3V power rail
2. Ground --> Ground rail
3. Aiming Servo 1 --> GP17
4. Aiming Servo 2 --> GP16

Release Servo:

1. Power --> 3V power rail
2. Ground --> Ground rail
3. Aiming Servo 1 --> GP21

Port for Light Touch Button:

1. Ground --> Ground Rail
2. Signal --> GP14

Congrats your all wired UP

In order to build the body of the plinko machine we are going to laser cut the body, the ball dispensor, the pegs, and the direction arrows. All Adobe Illustrator files will be available in the description of this step.

Body: 1/8 inch Baltic Birch

Pegs: 1/4 inch Colored Acrylic

Ball Dispenser: 1/8 inch Clear Acrylic

Direction arrows: 1/8 inch Colored Acrylic

Lid: 1/8 inch Clear Acrylic

At the end we used a metal support structure we found lying around but anything that can increase the surface area of the bottom of the plinko machine so it can stand better.

1. Attach all the wooden body parts and glue them together.
2. Glue all the pegs on
3. Paint the score ranges on the bottom of the board
4. Glue the servos to the box and ball dispenser like shown in the picture and glue the ball dispensor to the box.
5. Glue the distance sensor to the box so that it can sense when the ball reaches the bottom of the box.
6. Glue the LED strip to the acrylic box lid and glue the acrylic box lid to the box.
7. Use velcro tape to stick the Raspberry pi breadboard to the back of the plinko machine

Feel free to use any ball you want, but here is the file for the 3D printed balls!

any ball smaller than an inch in diameter will work!

You have now made a Pinko Machine! Enjoy it with your friends!