IRL Pong
Summary
I am planning to be building a Pong board with a physical ball and paddles. It will be a lot like normal Pong, but with a new way to experience it. I am excited to build it because I live by a place called Pinball Jones, and there I found a Pong game a lot like it.
Plan
I won’t need many tools other than my 3D printer, and wood working tools in my garage. I will make simple files for the controls (just little wheels). The software will just control the paddles and ball, along with taking in input. I have made a JavaScript version of pong, so I believe it wouldn’t be too hard to port that code to this project.
- First, I will make a simple board, likely just smooth wood. (around 1 day)
- Then, I will build a simple gantry to move a magnet around underneath the board. (with wiring, probably 2 days)
- After that I will get simple balls and paddles with magnets inside (around 1/2 day)
- Then, it’s just the software, then I will be done.
Budget
Product | Supplier/Link | Cost |
---|---|---|
Arduino Uno | https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11021 | $27.95 |
7-segment display | https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11408 | $3.50 |
Magnet (x10) | https://www.sparkfun.com/products/8643 | $16.00 |
Stepper Motor (x4) | https://www.sparkfun.com/products/9238 | $70.00 |
Breadboard | https://www.sparkfun.com/products/12002 | $5.50 |
Wires (M/M) (x2) | https://www.sparkfun.com/products/14284 | $5.50 |
Wires (F/F) (x2) | https://www.sparkfun.com/products/12796 | $4.20 |
Small Stepper (x2) | https://www.sparkfun.com/products/10551 | $17.90 |
Subtotal | $150.55 | |
Tax | $6.78 | |
Total | $157.33 |