Would anyone want a "dumb" electro?

[Patron God of Pirates]

As a hobbies and for my arcade games I do some programing for I/O boards. Mostly off the shelf Arduino's. I wanted to see how easy it would be for me to write some firmware to control a marker. Then I had a forehead slap moment and realized that the basic functionality does not require an micro-controller at all. It would be super simply to just wire up a battery, micro switch, phototransistor (to function as ACE), solenoid, and a couple of resistors, and a capacitor (for analog de-bounce).

There would be no modes, no ramping, no dwell, bells, whistles etc.

I have no intention of building these. I just want to know if anybody want that? Why? Why not?

[luke]

Sounds interesting, do a prototype!

[Cokrkilr]

As an electronic frame, Mag specific? Or a whole marker?

[splat15k]

To be honest, I do not think this would be a popular/successful product.

Players who are looking for simplicity tend to avoid batteries in the first place and stick to mechs or pumps. I've never once heard a player who uses an electro gun complain about having a microcontroller that is too capable. They'll have issues with batteries, solenoids, eyes, and switches, all of which will still exist with this approach. So basically most or all of the reliability issues will still exist and the gun will be able to do less.

Having said that, I wouldn't ever try to deter you from building one; it would be a cool project for sure! I just doubt it would appeal to the masses.

[Justus]

So, basically, an electronic frame that has the same functionality as a sleeper pneumag frame? Except, maybe with ACE too?

[Cokrkilr]

So, basically, an electronic frame that has the same functionality as a sleeper pneumag frame? Except, maybe with ACE too?

This is where I'm at... basically if an electro frame came out that's just bare bones and reliable, for under a $200 price point id be in.

Saves the hassle of buying a frame, modifying it for pneus, setting it up etc... where typically you'd be around $200+/- to set up if you had to go buy taps, bits, set screws, etc.

Plus you'd be bringing a product back to the market that hasn't been around for a while (unless bought used in whatever condition)

[Patron God of Pirates]

Sounds interesting, do a prototype!

Haha. No. The electronics would be simple enough, I have most of it lying around. But I would have to haxor one of my Mags to instal it.

As an electronic frame, Mag specific? Or a whole marker?

If I built it it would be for a Mag. The same concept could easily be applied to other markers but the old eyes would have to be hacked out and replaced. The photo transistor in this set up would function in-line between the switch and the solenoid rather than as just a logic feed back to the micro-controller. Both circuits would have to be closed at the same time in order to ground the feed to the noid.

To be honest, I do not think this would be a popular/successful product.

Players who are looking for simplicity tend to avoid batteries in the first place and stick to mechs or pumps. I've never once heard a player who uses an electro gun complain about having a microcontroller that is too capable. They'll have issues with batteries, solenoids, eyes, and switches, all of which will still exist with this approach. So basically most or all of the reliability issues will still exist and the gun will be able to do less.

Having said that, I wouldn't ever try to deter you from building one; it would be a cool project for sure! I just doubt it would appeal to the masses.

I agree completely. As a product the only way it would have any viability is if organizations like NPPL started requiring it in order to completely prevent cheater modes.

So, basically, an electronic frame that has the same functionality as a sleeper pneumag frame? Except, maybe with ACE too?

Yes.

[Patron God of Pirates]

This is where I'm at... basically if an electro frame came out that's just bare bones and reliable, for under a $200 price point id be in.

Saves the hassle of buying a frame, modifying it for pneus, setting it up etc... where typically you'd be around $200+/- to set up if you had to go buy taps, bits, set screws, etc.

Plus you'd be bringing a product back to the market that hasn't been around for a while (unless bought used in whatever condition)

Sans the ACE this would be absurdly simple to do. With ACE you're talking about modding at least the body and potentially the rail as well. Even then the cost of the electronic components is obscenely minimal. If somebody feels like building a frame for it I can spec it out and/or get quotes on having the electronics done. All I ask is that it be called an "IDIOT Frame".

[Levi]

If somebody feels like building a frame for it I can spec it out and/or get quotes on having the electronics done.

I don't think you would need to build a frame at all. The Intelliframe already has mounting points for a microswitch correct? And room for a small circuit board.

Bare printed circuit boards can be made up at fairly reasonable prices for small quantities. You could then hand solder the components on yourself.

I myself am not terribly into electros anymore, but I'm an electronics guy professionally and would love to watch this develop. I say you should at least build a prototype on a breadboard and post up your results.

[bbotts77]

I just want to know if anybody want that?

If you sent me a schematic, I'd at least breadboard one up to play around with. I might even put something together. I miss playing with electronics.

[BigEvil]

There is no such thing as "drop in" for a mag platform that would be 100% reliable without various means to make adjustments and tuning. Ask Coolhand how he made out with those UEMF frames.

[need4reebs]

Spider had a nice lil build like this..here is a thread he made awhile back:

http://www.mcarterbrown.com/forums/custom-projects-custom-questions/72537-smac-mag-spider-s-minimal-analog-control.html

interesting thread here...most of his threads are tho!

[GoatBoy]

As a hobbies and for my arcade games I do some programing for I/O boards. Mostly off the shelf Arduino's. I wanted to see how easy it would be for me to write some firmware to control a marker. Then I had a forehead slap moment and realized that the basic functionality does not require an micro-controller at all. It would be super simply to just wire up a battery, micro switch, phototransistor (to function as ACE), solenoid, and a couple of resistors, and a capacitor (for analog de-bounce).

There would be no modes, no ramping, no dwell, bells, whistles etc.

I have no intention of building these. I just want to know if anybody want that? Why? Why not?

Is a capacitor alone really enough?

Don't you need some form of comparator and transistor?

[blackdeath1k]

I'm not real big on electric guns. My ancient RT still hums. That said. I have an old trigger frame I'm not afraid to hack up. My wife's minimag that she wouldn't care if I played with. I'm drawing cad schematics now at work. And I play with wires. I'm interested to play with the idea. Use a big battery in the hopper and feed it in the trigger frame. It would just look like a old switch assisted hopper.

[blackdeath1k]

BTW. Instead of eyes why not a pressure switch at the base of the ball feed. Any force fed hopper would have enough pressure to trip it. And it could be hid easily.