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Atari PONG Cab Replica Build


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http://i1038.photobucket.com/albums/a462/Kaizen088/Atari%20Pong%20Reproduction/250px-Signed_Pong_Cabinet_zpsipn5pf7v.jpg

 

http://i1038.photobucket.com/albums/a462/Kaizen088/Atari%20Pong%20Reproduction/pong_logo_by_ringostarr39-d8opy2w_zpslwzcmlp2.png

 

 

I've been slowly gathering all the info, artwork and plans to do a decent replica of an Atari PONG cabinet.

 

 

http://i1038.photobucket.com/albums/a462/Kaizen088/Atari%20Pong%20Reproduction/PONG%20Dims_zpsdx9v7r8c.jpg

 

http://i1038.photobucket.com/albums/a462/Kaizen088/Atari%20Pong%20Reproduction/PONG%203D%20Model_zpsaxr89ikl.jpg

 

 

http://i1038.photobucket.com/albums/a462/Kaizen088/Atari%20Pong%20Reproduction/post-8610-1162569390_zpszzrvmtu5.jpg

 

http://i1038.photobucket.com/albums/a462/Kaizen088/Atari%20Pong%20Reproduction/orig_pong_ebay_zpskz5nnnsy.jpg

 

 

I'll build one or two to start off with and if there's enough interest I may do a small run of these.

The game board prototype using a GI AY-3-8500 chip is almost ready, I'll get a small batch of around 25 drawn up and printed.

 

http://i1038.photobucket.com/albums/a462/Kaizen088/Atari%20Pong%20Reproduction/20097723173263_zps3sododcj.jpeghttp://i1038.photobucket.com/albums/a462/Kaizen088/Atari%20Pong%20Reproduction/ay-3-8500video_zpsktffqsdx.png

 

 

This is the latest revision.

 

If you plan to use these Vero layouts please recheck my work as they are captures of works in progress and have errors/omissions that were corrected when building the board, they were not intended to be used for production of a final product.

When the last PCB is built and tested I'll state that it is confirmed correct.

 

http://i1038.photobucket.com/albums/a462/Kaizen088/Atari%20Pong%20Reproduction/PONG%202.3_zpsrownsgwk.jpg

 

http://i1038.photobucket.com/albums/a462/Kaizen088/Atari%20Pong%20Reproduction/PONG%202.3%20CUTS_zpsu9wgh3v3.jpg

 

 

http://i1038.photobucket.com/albums/a462/Kaizen088/Atari%20Pong%20Reproduction/20170529_181131_zpslhrydwhf.jpg

 

The chip in the PCB is 40 years old and still going strong.

 

http://i1038.photobucket.com/albums/a462/Kaizen088/Atari%20Pong%20Reproduction/20170529_181201_zpsbjbfdyfc.jpg

 

It works well and the image is nice and clean, I want to see if I can get the random ball speeds and angles added into it and possibly beef up the sound amp a little.

 

I quickly knocked up a Vero layout for testing the Random Speed/Angles circuit.

 

http://i1038.photobucket.com/albums/a462/Kaizen088/Atari%20Pong%20Reproduction/Pong%20AY-3-8500%20Random%20Ball%20Speed_zpsypcbo43a.jpg

 

 

I could have condensed it a little more but it's good enough to test the circuit, I'll redesign the layout when making the next proto, it's yet to be built and tested.

 

http://i1038.photobucket.com/albums/a462/Kaizen088/Atari%20Pong%20Reproduction/RANDON%20BALL%20SPEED%20ANGLE_zpscp4kklv3.jpg

 

 

 

To complete the build I still have a lot of work to do.

 

First off I need to make some space in the garage to work in... :damnit::headbuttwall:

 

I've decide to get the panels CNC cut so the DWG or PDF plans I have will have be converted for CNC if not compatible.

 

I've got some Laminex samples for the Woodgrain and Yellow laminate that are pretty close to the originals, I can give them to the cabinetmaker so he can find an alternative match from another supplier.

Laminex was pretty expensive when I priced full sheets 2 years ago when I first started researching this project.

 

 

These Laminex swatch I have for the woodgrain is called Palisander and has been discontinued.

 

http://i1038.photobucket.com/albums/a462/Kaizen088/Atari%20Pong%20Reproduction/palisander%20laminex_zpsxb4atrrf.jpg

 

 

This is all that they have available in Woodgrain.

http://www.laminex.com.au/colour-palette.php#!/colour-palette/cherry-riftwood

 

http://i1038.photobucket.com/albums/a462/Kaizen088/Atari%20Pong%20Reproduction/Cherry%20Riftwood_zpscdsrb0xn.jpg

 

Not close by a long shot...

 

The yellow I think is a pretty good match, I'll keep a look out for anything better.

http://www.laminex.com.au/uploads/products/olympia_yellow.jpg

 

http://i1038.photobucket.com/albums/a462/Kaizen088/Atari%20Pong%20Reproduction/olympia_yellow_zpsxsz6lgjf.jpg

 

 

I have the control panel artwork file which was created by Etienne, it's high quality and a perfect replica.

I need to find the best way to produce the control panel but CNC engraved/cut 2mm Brushed Aluminium (possibly Stainless??) is what I'm thinking at the moment.

 

http://i1038.photobucket.com/albums/a462/Kaizen088/Atari%20Pong%20Reproduction/jean_blue_zpscitedd81.jpg

 

 

I have a few 14" CRT TV's set aside so for a few cabs I have that side of things sorted (anyone want to donate a B&W Hitachi TV set?? :unsure)

 

http://i1038.photobucket.com/albums/a462/Kaizen088/Atari%20Pong%20Reproduction/Atari-Pong_wip_4_zps745ookou.jpg

 

http://i1038.photobucket.com/albums/a462/Kaizen088/Atari%20Pong%20Reproduction/_Beige_1_zps6g0kf9pz.jpg

 

The bezel is just made from black cardboard ,I'll see if I can find a template for it, otherwise I'll work out the dimensions myself once I have a cabinet built and a monitor in place.

 

 

At this stage I'll most likely be using AU20c Asahi mechs, I also have a few of them stashed away.

If I can source something that looks closer to the original I may do that but it's not a big issue in the grand scheme of things.

 

 

 

http://i1038.photobucket.com/albums/a462/Kaizen088/Atari%20Pong%20Reproduction/_57%201_zpsloafe94y.jpg

 

 

That's pretty much it as far as what's needed (apart from funding for production of multiple cabs, and time...).

If someone interstate is wanting a flat pack of the panels and CPO/Marquee art, I will look into that when I get the CNC cutting done.

The initial build will be no more than 1 or 2 cabs.

 

Edit:

I've just noticed that Al Alcorn's handwriting is the same as mine, the A is almost a perfect match.

Hmmm... should I do a replica of the signed version... :unsure

Edited by Kaizen
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Cheers mate, it'll be a lot of effort, time and money but if the end result is what I expect it will be well worth it even if I just build one cab.

I'm also finding I get a lot of enjoyment out of the build process as well having an awesome looking iconic cab.

I'd probably never get the opportunity to purchase an original.

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Getting there mate. Is the first diagram, the one marker SeekIC.com in the bottom right corner, the circuit you will be using?.

 

I noticed it is using a 4073B IC and only 5 inputs are being used and this was the chip you were having troubles sourcing?.

 

Knowing this now after seeing the IC in the circuit, I can replace that chip with an easier sourced one to do the same job.

 

It won't be a OR gate but you can use two NOR gates to become a OR gate and that is actually why you were having troubles sourcing the original chip.

 

If you were using all the OR gates this wouldn't be suitable but seeing as you are only using 5 of the 8 gates, a better way to go.

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Getting there mate. Is the first diagram, the one marker SeekIC.com in the bottom right corner, the circuit you will be using?.

 

I noticed it is using a 4073B IC and only 5 inputs are being used and this was the chip you were having troubles sourcing?.

 

Knowing this now after seeing the IC in the circuit, I can replace that chip with an easier sourced one to do the same job.

 

It won't be a OR gate but you can use two NOR gates to become a OR gate and that is actually why you were having troubles sourcing the original chip.

 

If you were using all the OR gates this wouldn't be suitable but seeing as you are only using 5 of the 8 gates, a better way to go.

 

That's actually the NTSC version, pinouts are the same but different schematic.

 

This is the schematic that called for the 4072 ICs that I based my original circuit on.

 

 

http://i1038.photobucket.com/albums/a462/Kaizen088/Atari%20Pong%20Reproduction/AY-3-8500_zpsdppw38yx.jpg

 

 

 

 

I've taken the time to digest what you've said and now understand the 'logic' workaround, thanks.

I'm still learning about TTL/CMOS logic and your suggestion has improved my understanding a little more.

 

I found that 1N914 didoes worked fine and save a bit of space and $ on a PCB.

The 1N914's cost 2c for four of them where two CMOS chips with sockets will be a few dollars.

I'm trying to design it so all of the required components except for the AY chip, are available from Jaycar.

Cost and local availability is important factor when designing the PCB.

Edited by Kaizen
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I got impatient and wanted me a PONG cab so I converted this old bartop (sorry @namastepat) for testing.

It's a pain trying to use both pots at the same time when not mounted to a panel.

Initially I was just going to mount them in a Jiffy box for testing but then the Bartop unit caught my eye.

I scrounged what I had lying about, the yellow bezel was the only yellow thing I had, it just an old file folder roughly cut with scissors.

The 'stainless' control panel is just an offcut of a Laminex sheet.

 

30 minutes later and the transformation is done.

It's rough as guts but looks the part... kind of...

Okay it's not my best work and it was nice not having to pay as much attention to detail as much as I normally would.

 

 

http://i1038.photobucket.com/albums/a462/Kaizen088/Atari%20Pong%20Reproduction/20170531_223348_zpsqm7rnfp4.jpg

 

http://i1038.photobucket.com/albums/a462/Kaizen088/Atari%20Pong%20Reproduction/20170531_223243_zpsk15i2brg.jpg

 

http://i1038.photobucket.com/albums/a462/Kaizen088/Atari%20Pong%20Reproduction/20170531_223508_zps2qvljzbo.jpg

Edited by Kaizen
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You might find a better match for the timber laminate here.

 

http://www.surfacesquared.com.au/product-category/high-pressure-laminate/woodgrain-laminate/

 

cheers,

 

s

 

Thanks for that, I'll check them out.

 

I had a 'non working' reversing camera monitor that I was told to replace on a job a while ago.

I kept the original screen and tonight I thought I'd have a look at what was wrong with it.

There was a broken cable inside the plug so I chopped it off, found the pinout and hooked it up to 12v.

It worked perfectly so I tried the Pong PCB on it. It's a nice image though it's a pity it's not 4:3 but I have one of those on order from ebay for $20.

I want to slap together a 1/2 size version of the Atari Pong cab this weekend if I have time and put one of these monitors in it.

 

 

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