Pin-level

[cooldan]

i like gadgets, so when this popped up on my FB feed, i clicked and went to checkout to see what the costs were. but i'm not paying £17 postage.



do any UK suppliers plan on buying a bunch in to sell?
or does someone wanna join me, as i think if you buy a few then shipping may be free (have not checked small print, that may be only in US)

Pin-Level

Pin-Level is a purpose-built pinball leveling device for modern and EM Pinball machines, offering precise angle control, fast setup, and multiple color options.

pinlevel.com

 

[johnh]

Saw this too. I’m in if you do organise a group buy

 

[WolfmansGotNards]

I’d be in too

 

[Fantazia2]

Saw this the other day was going to post in the 3D printing thread but couldnt find it.

@Wayne J New 3D printing project?

 

[JustLikeMe]

I saw these too and I’d be interested in a group buy, but at the moment the design for modern machines is out of stock.

 

[David_Vi]

I don't understand these, flipper alignment varies across games

 

[JustLikeMe]

I don't understand these, flipper alignment varies across games

I don't think it's meant to be used for flipper alignment, just the angle that the machine is set up. The design is so that it sits neatly between the flippers when in use.

 

[Andydn]

I always find the pitch differs between bottom, middle and top of playfield making this redundant. PinGuy app works perfectly well enough.

 

[Fantazia2]

I don't understand these, flipper alignment varies across games

Trust you to mention flipper alignment.

Could possibly be modified with some sort of hinged arrangement so you can change the angle of where it sits on the flippers but still keeps it even with each side of the levels.

 

[Julian Hepworth]

Nice. - I'd be in

 

[Wayne J]

I've seen these as it was first discussed in a 3D printing thread on Pinside.

It would be very easy for me to make something like this and would cost less than £4-5 for the model itself, all you would have to do would be insert the bubble. $29.99 plus postage is taking the p!$$

I didn't pursue it as, quite frankly a digital level is more accurate, cheaper and more versatile. (This coming from someone who is always looking for an excuse to 3D print something)

If there was enough interest I could see about getting something made up, and even purchase the bubbles in bulk and add those

 

[Wayne J]

Could possibly be modified with some sort of hinged arrangement so you can change the angle of where it sits on the flippers but still keeps it even with each side of the levels.

I believe that is what the top horizontal bubble is for.

You get that level, side to side, then the other levels are perpendicular to get your desired angle of slope on the playfield.

Using it for flipper alignment as well is trying to make it in to a Swiss penknife kind of tool to do everything, why not add a flipper gap measuring attachment as well?
You'll end up with one of those type of tools given at xmas, which says it can do everything , but ends up being useless for all tasks.

 

[zxspectrum16k]

i like my gadgets, so put me down for group buy

 

[Spandangler]

Send the work experience kid for the spirit level bubbles. He may as well get a long stand and some tartan paint whilst he’s at it.

 

[Fantazia2]

I believe that is what the top horizontal bubble is for.

You get that level, side to side, then the other levels are perpendicular to get your desired angle of slope on the playfield.

Using it for flipper alignment as well is trying to make it in to a Swiss penknife kind of tool to do everything, why not add a flipper gap measuring attachment as well?
You'll end up with one of those type of tools given at xmas, which says it can do everything , but ends up being useless for all tasks.

I thought the top Bubble was for making sure the pin was level side to side, or have I just looked at it and made an assumption that was what it was for?

Dont think David was mentioning about using it for flipper alignment, but for making sure its even side to side, if the flippers are at a different angle then it wouldnt sit flat and would have to rotate it so the point of contact would sit even and level.

I thought that was the whole point of it, stick it on the playfield and see if its level left and right and what the pitch is. If its just for pitch then dont really see much point to it if a pin already had a graduated spirit level in it.

 

[lukewells]

What is this 6.5° / 7.0° / 7.5°? Is this for levelling pool tables?

 

[taz turbo]

I spotted the .stl file on a website somewhere, however I didn't bother as it will just be as (in)accurate as the bubbles you buy!

I had a loan of a GZ, renowned for SDTM when the balls drop out of the sinking building, it did indeed do this pretty much every time. It had been levelled with PinGuy, so I levelled it with a machine level, a spirit level that is accurate to 0.02mm/M, this showed a few things, PinGuy just isn't accurate (my phone maybe, and yes it was calibrated on a flat surface) and playfields aren't flat, you could get a very different reading left to right at upper/mid/lower playfield. I set it to be 'accurate' at the mid point of the playfield. I never had a SDTM again.

I gave up with PinGuy and bought one of these...

https://www.onbuy.com/gb/p/dxl360s-dual-angle-protractor-dumpy-level-dual-gauge-diagnostic-tool-with-5-side-magnetic-base-eu-plug~p171056451/?stat=eyJpcCI6IjY4LjQ1IiwiZHAiOiIwLjAwIiwibGlkIjoxOTQ4MTY1MDgsInMiOjMwMCwidCI6MTc3MDUzMzk4MiwiYm1jIjowfQ==&exta=gshp&extac=price_segment_60&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=23071637204&utm_medium=pmax&utm_content=776724454487&gad_source=4&gad_campaignid=23071637204&gbraid=0AAAAACRXwGJd19mioltuzCeZX40SVg84x&gclid=CjwKCAiAncvMBhBEEiwA9GU_fhkDWrT2ZXdYCgNafybiSvOWAINpJRvLQXoZ-9NDlNHJfRy5vjQ83xoCdCAQAvD_BwE

Brilliant IMO, accurate and repeatable.


Chris.

 

[HomerRamone]

(This coming from someone who is always looking for an excuse to 3D print something)

Wait, what ? You need an excuse to 3d print something now.. sad times are these

Funny enough first thing I thought when I saw it is "could 3d print that"

 

[Wayne J]

Wait, what ? You need an excuse to 3d print something now.. sad times are these

Since my last stall I've been so busy, that it's more can I afford to take up machine time printing something that's not earning.

But if people are willing to pay $30 for it I may have to reconsider. Say it's a pinball mod or widget, or throw some LEDs at it and it seems you can charge silly money.

(My Star Wars lithophane light box needs rebranding as a bespoke topper and I can charge £800 rather than £200.)

 

[Wayne J]

It will be just as (in)accurate as the bubbles you buy

And that is the another reason I didn't pursue making these.

 

[cooldan]

i'm in touch with the guy who makes these and have asked about prices for bulk buying and the postage costs.
anyone else interested? i'm sure if i could reach 20 orders, the price would come down a bit.

i also use the phone app, but the bevel on my phone means this is never perfectly flat to begin with

 

[cooldan]

I saw these too and I’d be interested in a group buy, but at the moment the design for modern machines is out of stock.

it's a different product - the guy who makes THIS one saw this thread and got in contact with me via Pinside:

5 Diamond Multi-Tool™ for Pinball Owners & Operators

One tool. Total setup. Zero guesswork. Built for players, operators, technicians and restorers who want their machines dialed in, not guessed at. The 5 Diamond Multi-Tool™ combines the most common pinball setup and calibration checks into one compact, shop-ready instrument. No juggling separate...

nimr0dpinball.com

he said he could sell them to me at these prices:
If you wanted to do 10 of them, I could do a pack to you for $200 + $45 shipped. If you did 25 quantity, I could do $425 + $45 shipped.

so 10 = $24.50 each
or 25 = $18.80 each
i think the excange rate makes those about 70% of the price, in £.

so who's interested?

those are the prices to deliver to me in London. you'd have to pay me upfront and then also pay the postage to you.

 

[Fantazia2]

Wait, what ? You need an excuse to 3d print something now.. sad times are these

Funny enough first thing I thought when I saw it is "could 3d print that"

Im pretty sure it is 3D printed looking closer at the pictures on the site.

 

[Andydn]

i'm in touch with the guy who makes these and have asked about prices for bulk buying and the postage costs.
anyone else interested? i'm sure if i could reach 20 orders, the price would come down a bit.

i also use the phone app, but the bevel on my phone means this is never perfectly flat to begin with

The calibration on the app accounts for the bevel and takes seconds. By rotating it and taking two readings the app knows where ‘level’ is. I’ve tested this with a spirit level and digital level and it’s always spot on.

 

[Fantazia2]

it's a different product - the guy who makes THIS one saw this thread and got in contact with me via Pinside:

5 Diamond Multi-Tool™ for Pinball Owners & Operators

One tool. Total setup. Zero guesswork. Built for players, operators, technicians and restorers who want their machines dialed in, not guessed at. The 5 Diamond Multi-Tool™ combines the most common pinball setup and calibration checks into one compact, shop-ready instrument. No juggling separate...

nimr0dpinball.com

View attachment 300157

he said he could sell them to me at these prices:
If you wanted to do 10 of them, I could do a pack to you for $200 + $45 shipped. If you did 25 quantity, I could do $425 + $45 shipped.

so 10 = $24.50 each
or 25 = $18.80 each
i think the excange rate makes those about 70% of the price, in £.

so who's interested?

those are the prices to deliver to me in London. you'd have to pay me upfront and then also pay the postage to you.

Dont forget to add 20% VAT and another £10 for the shippers fees on top of that, unless he marks it as under £130 to try and cheat the system.

 

[Kduff]

I think he should work with a EU company and sell in EU. I like that it has more to it than pinlevel. And the full degree vs half gives so much more measurements. We all know it doesnt have to be the exact 7º pitch and you can eyeball .5º with the bubble; the left-right is more important. the IN and MM markers on top are kinda useful. And who doesnt pull a loose screw out of their bag and try to determine its size by looking.

 

[russdx1]

I miss the days when you could design and develop a product and it was not stolen 2 days later by a 3d printed clone

 

[Kduff]

You think this is? They are pretty different, and level tools like this have been out for a long time. I like the extras of measurement of balls, screws, distance as well as multiple bubbles for EM to current models. They are on etsy and other sites in different shapes and forms. As to printing, yea not owning a printer I like that these are available as products vs stl files.

 

[Asiapinball]

i like my gadgets, so put me down for group buy

 

[Wayne J]

it's a different product - the guy who makes THIS one saw this thread and got in contact with me via Pinside:

5 Diamond Multi-Tool™ for Pinball Owners & Operators

One tool. Total setup. Zero guesswork. Built for players, operators, technicians and restorers who want their machines dialed in, not guessed at. The 5 Diamond Multi-Tool™ combines the most common pinball setup and calibration checks into one compact, shop-ready instrument. No juggling separate...

nimr0dpinball.com

View attachment 300157

he said he could sell them to me at these prices:
If you wanted to do 10 of them, I could do a pack to you for $200 + $45 shipped. If you did 25 quantity, I could do $425 + $45 shipped.

so 10 = $24.50 each
or 25 = $18.80 each
i think the excange rate makes those about 70% of the price, in £.

so who's interested?

those are the prices to deliver to me in London. you'd have to pay me upfront and then also pay the postage to you.

Realistically, these are less than a fiver to make to less than 0.05 degree accuracy 3D printed. Add your own bubbles and save the hassle, and cost. Give me until Friday and I'll have the same knocked up.. It's only that long because I'm P!$$ed tonight and am busy the next 2 nights.


If you want to throw money at him after that, go for it.