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Do you recommend buying a PIN2DMD Display?

  • Yes

    Votes: 32 100.0%
  • No

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    32

MadNat

Site Supporter
Joined
May 11, 2019
Messages
1,047
Location
Warwickshire UK
Don't know what PIN2DMD is?

The full story and details can be found here: https://pin2dmd.com/ - the headline however, is that it is an opensource - non-for-profit colour DMD product for both real and virtual pinball machines.

As it is opensource - people are free to contribute to content, and features over time - so could be a very interesting project for Pinball enthusasts here. As it is opensource the designs can be used to get products made direct from specialist electonics manufacturers - rather than needing buy from a retailer (which I guess could also be done).

It is made up of:
  • A PCB panel - 3 versions to match the originals produced in the Pinball market
  • Standard RGB LED Panels to perform the function of the dots in a traditional DMD display
  • Firmware to make the PCB with installed RGB LED panels behave like a traditional pinball DMD
  • A SD Card reader to store the custom instructions that would colourise Pinball DMD animations

As there is not a manufacturer supporting content and features for specific pinball machine colourisation, this content comes from the opensource community. It seems to be most active in the Virtual Pinball world - which makes sense, those guys get to load and play any game virtually - so a DMD device that can respond dynamically to the current game you're playing sounds like a great solution (which this product can deliver). You will find a wide range of games being worked on constantly here: vpuniverse PIN2DMD Discusssions

If youre a creative lovey - you to can get involved with the free editing tools and customise your own colourised animations for your favourite machines. Some people ask for donations to share their long hours of bit fiddling.

So all exciting stuff - why don't we all get one made???

Following up on the discussions on the forum, and having a bit of extra time on my hands at the moment (and Pick Holder does not!) - I’m happy to coordinate a group buy of PIN2DMD boards and panels if there is sufficient demand here.

No exact figures yet until I can have an idea of numbers, but do expect landed costs in the UK after VAT and duty and a contribution to this forum, including panels for lower than those I’ve seen on the forums.

For complete transparency I expect to factor in a small charge for my time and putting my cash at risk until full payments are received.

I must stress - this is a group buy activity.

You would receive an assembled, flashed and activated unit - you would need to secure or create colourised config files - very simple steps.

Support beyond this would not be provided as part of this group buy. As the project is open source there is a lot of help and support out there, frankly I don’t believe it’s ethical for me to charge for this.

Action required:
1. I need an idea of numbers by version, which are:
EVO128X32
EVO128X16
EVO192X64

Full details of this open source project can be found here:https://github.com/lucky01/PIN2DMD.

Please work out which version is right for your DMD based machine. I ask you to take responsibility to determine which version is right for your machine(s).

2. DM me with the version and quantity please, with your email address.

3. Check into this post where I’ll update regularly with stats on overall interest. If it’s clear there isn’t sufficient demand - I’ll feedback that this group buy is closed due to lack of interest.

4. Once/if I get enough interest to place an economical order for a number of units - I will secure a firm price per version, feedback to those interested and ask a 50% deposit, and full shipping details.

5. My ultimate aim is to place a single order for the required number of units and panels, and share the savings across the group.

6. Check back into this post for Post Order updates (ETA, etc).

7. Products arrives in the UK, with VAT and Duty paid. You will be requested to pay your remaining 50%. I assemble the panels to the boards, flash and activate the panel for you.

8. You receive shipping details for your specific order.

9. Receive your panel(s), config and install (straight swap in most cases).

10. Enjoy your colourised DMD Pinball.

Happy to answer any questions you have on how this group buy would work. However, please don’t expect me to answer technical questions about PIN2DMD - the open source community is far better scaled and knowledgeable to do this.

Hope this is both interesting and helpful to the forum members with mono DMD based machines or virtual machines.

Thank you.
Mike
 
Last edited:
Thanks for the quick reply Keith.

And to anyone else interested - as it’s an open forum, my logic is to avoid retailers pursuing those interested - suggest you DM me with your interest.

I’d also need to know the exact number you’d want (you can always change when we have a price, and before I ask for your deposit).

I’ve got your interest as 2 x EVO128X32 Keith!
 
As it says in my original post - I need firm numbers to get a price. This is to use with the info Pick Holder gave me (which I guess he got from you). Thanks
 
Great I think this is a great idea!
Can I ask what’s the difference in the dmd’s the link doesn’t appear to explain it? I’m guessing different machines sizes etc? Or maybe it’s just me? And would you have a “ball park” price? Just as an indication?
Thanks Tony
 
Hi Tony - different size panels fit different machines. Most Williams/Bally are 128x32, DE Narrow are 128x16, and I think the bigger one (192x64) is for Sega. But I can't take responsibility for what's right for individuals.

As I've mentioned before - I can't give an exact price until I have numbers. I'd like to bulk order the display panels - ideally from a single batch - which means consistent colour and brightness for all, and a great price.

Also more PCB's that need to be produced and assembled - the cheaper that unit costs. One big shipment is much more effective that lots of little ones from China. Obviously Shipping, VAT, Import Duty and exchange fees come into effect on bigger values - so its not a simple case of component costs.

My personal target is under £150 per unit... If we get enough interest (say 20+), I'm confident we can smash that number.

Hope that helps.

FYI - story so far:
128X32 x 7
128x16 x 1
194x64 x 1

a good start... needs much more interest however... but I am very encouraged by everyone's early enthusiasm!
 
Last edited:
EDIT: Never mind, engaged my brain for just a second and there's no way these are landing before Xmas. Therefore I'm 100% up for one. Will DM you
 
End of day 1 update:
Sum of EVO128X32Sum of EVO128X16Sum of EVO192X64
11​
1​
2​
I do need your email address, so I can keep track of each request and send you confirmation, quote and order progress updates. Without your email, I'll assume you're not serious. Please only DM your email address.


Thank you
 
Ok interested in this but “as usual” a bit late to the game, how do you colour this thing? Are coloured files available to download? Or do you have to colour each frame yourself?
How easy / difficult is either?
Thanks
 
Ok interested in this but “as usual” a bit late to the game, how do you colour this thing? Are coloured files available to download? Or do you have to colour each frame yourself?
How easy / difficult is either?
Thanks

I've been avoiding this for ages but now i am going to bite the bullet!
 
Ok interested in this but “as usual” a bit late to the game, how do you colour this thing? Are coloured files available to download? Or do you have to colour each frame yourself?
How easy / difficult is either?
Thanks
Some machines have been coloured by the community, free or a donation to download - http://vpuniverse.com/forums/forum/138-pin2dmd-dmd-colorization-works-in-progress/
There is an editor, you can colour your own game in detail, takes skill, time and patience I would assume based on my experience with a similar editor - https://pin2dmd.com/editor/
You can choose a different default palette to match the standard shades of orange, this reportedly works well for games like Tron using shades of blue.
 
Ok so it seems that some people are colouring them and then selling them on ( nothing wrong with that it looks to take a lot of time up ) has anyone done this? How much does it cost? Is it straight forward to load into the hardware?
Sorry for dumb questions
 
Hi Tony

There are a number of config files (colouring in) out there by the community. For the majority of machines is my understanding.

Also a colour palette can be applied to the standard animation - not ideal but it’s simple and adds colour.

Most created by the community I’ve seen expect a contribution for their effort(fair enough in my book). The work tends to be exceptional, as they’re enthusiasts like you and I.

The tools to create your own colouring in are available for free. Quite a bit of effort though I’d say. Results could be a nice earner if it’s an obscure machine.

Nothing to stop several owners of the same machine approaching authors for a shared copy of the config files. They can only say no.

They tend to expect $5-$25, so not a lot compared to the price of the display.

Hope that helps.

Mike
 
Really strong support so far - please keep your requests coming.

More than 17 member requesting more that 25 products so far - which under 24 hours is more than I had expected.
We could be heading close towards £100 ea territory, if the demand keeps growing.

We have passed the magic 40 units for panels, which can be installed into the EVO128x32 and EVO128x16 units - this means I can confidently bulk order from the same batch.

EVO194X64 is struggling, and as it requires a slightly different panel, it really needs to see more support from those users, please do get in touch if that version is of interest to you.

Keep your requests coming - the bigger the demand the lower the cost for us all.

Again - please simply DM me with your email address and version(s) with quanitities.

Thanks again all for your interest.

Mike
 
Would be good if there was a guide in the OP ?
I'm down for 2 of the EVO128X32 ,
Are they the standard DMD size?

EDIT

which results in a 128×32 display of 320×76.8mm. This can be mounted into an existing DMD/speaker panel from a pinball cabinet
 
Evo128x32 = standard bw/ data east, stern, sega, Gottlieb etc eg Whitewater, Getaway, Teed Off, Avatar, Breakshot

Evo128x16 = smaller data east etc eg hook, Checkpoint, DE Batman, Star Trek 25th and Turtles
Evo128x64= larger Sega screen Maverick, Baywatch and MS Frankenstein
Perfect. Thanks Ian.
 
To be clear, is this both the board /cables and DMD? I.E. everything required to have a colordmd ?

Interested for sure
 
To be clear, is this both the board /cables and DMD? I.E. everything required to have a colordmd ?

Interested for sure
I'm building costs for a complete working product, the end user would need to add colour config files for their desired machine.

To be clear:
Populated board (landed UK with VAT and Duty paid)
Panels and cables (landed UK with VAT and Duty paid)
Flashed and Activated PIN2DMD firmware
UK Shipping to your address

You would use your existing DMD cables for power and data from your machine to the PIN2DMD.

Hope that helps.
 
I’d like in on this for my FT which I think is
128x32


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
DM me with your product(s), quantities and email address please... I'm only accepting full requests per the instructions - to avoid any miscommunication and potential disapointment!

Quite a number interested now - so being quite strict about this.

Thank you

Mike
 
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