# Sensor for Pinball Machine **URL:** \ **Category:** Uncategorized\ **Created:** [27 November 2018 03:48 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/sensor-for-pinball-machine/4023 "2018-11-27T03:48:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mark57232](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e480ec/32.png) [@Mark57232](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Mark57232)\ **Post date:** [27 November 2018 03:48 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/sensor-for-pinball-machine/4023/1 "2018-11-27T03:48:17Z")
Hi, We will be making arduino based pinball machines with 110 year 7 students in 2019. Can anyone suggest the best sensor to use / way of detecting a collision? Ta Mark ---
**Author:** ![Stephen](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/forum.core-electronics.com.au/stephen/32/1599_2.png) [@Stephen](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Stephen)\ **Post date:** [27 November 2018 03:58 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/sensor-for-pinball-machine/4023/2 "2018-11-27T03:58:13Z")
Hi Mark, I think that a good sensor might be a force sensor like this one: > **[Force Sensitive Resistor 0.5](https://core-electronics.com.au/force-sensitive-resistor-0-5.html)** > > This is a force sensitive resistor with a round, 0.5 This would change resistance when pressed or touched. Another option might be a well positioned microswitch such as this: > **[Snap-Action Switch with 50mm Lever: 3-Pin, SPDT, 5A](https://core-electronics.com.au/snap-action-switch-with-50mm-lever-3-pin-spdt-5a.html)** > > This single-pole, double-throw (SPDT) momentary switch can be used as a general-purpose micro switch, but the long lever arm makes it especially useful as a tactile bump sensor for your robot (e.g whiskers or antennae). The switch body dimension is... This would be a bit easier to work with! Let me know what you think! ---
**Author:** ![Mark57232](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e480ec/32.png) [@Mark57232](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Mark57232)\ **Post date:** [27 November 2018 04:27 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/sensor-for-pinball-machine/4023/3 "2018-11-27T04:27:12Z")
Hi Stephen, Thanks for your reply. The switch is likely to work the best out of those two. We will see if we can design a simple way of incorporating it. I was wondering if I could wrap a bumper in conductive thread and use an analog input to trigger lights when the resistance and hence the voltage at the pin dropped? Ta Mark ---
**Author:** ![Stephen](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/forum.core-electronics.com.au/stephen/32/1599_2.png) [@Stephen](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Stephen)\ **Post date:** [27 November 2018 04:37 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/sensor-for-pinball-machine/4023/4 "2018-11-27T04:37:54Z")
Hi Mark, That’s an interesting idea! You could probably incorporate capacitive touch in some way: > **[Adafruit Capacitive Touch HAT for Raspberry Pi - Mini Kit - MPR121](https://core-electronics.com.au/adafruit-capacitive-touch-hat-for-raspberry-pi-mini-kit-mpr121.html)** > > This touch-able add on HAT for Raspberry Pi will inspire your next interactive project with 12 capacitive touch sensors. Capacitive touch sensing works by detecting .. read more ---
**Author:** ![Mark57232](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e480ec/32.png) [@Mark57232](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Mark57232)\ **Post date:** [27 November 2018 04:47 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/sensor-for-pinball-machine/4023/5 "2018-11-27T04:47:00Z")
Hi Stephen, I was at a course yesterday with an expert in all things Arduino and robotics and he suggested using an accelerometer to detect movement / vibration. Do you think that would work? I was thinking that may be a problem if the player moves the pinball machine itself rather than the ball actually hitting the sensor? Ta Mark ---
**Author:** ![arb](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/forum.core-electronics.com.au/arb/32/1265_2.png) [@arb](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/arb)\ **Post date:** [27 November 2018 07:15 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/sensor-for-pinball-machine/4023/6 "2018-11-27T07:15:08Z")
You might want to look through the videos Ben Heck and his team made, where they designed a tiny pinball machine. There may be some useful information and tips you can glean from their build. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CD\_DIaPgkDQ&list=PLwO8CTSLTkihDZlIL4i5JH\_eaDMpXtiKT](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CD_DIaPgkDQ&list=PLwO8CTSLTkihDZlIL4i5JH_eaDMpXtiKT) ---
**Author:** ![Stephen](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/forum.core-electronics.com.au/stephen/32/1599_2.png) [@Stephen](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Stephen)\ **Post date:** [28 November 2018 00:26 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/sensor-for-pinball-machine/4023/7 "2018-11-28T00:26:24Z")
Mark, If you use an accelerometer it would not be able to tell the difference between a ball striking the sensor and a hand striking the machine, as both would induce acceleration on the sensor in basically the same way. I also think that is a pretty complex solution to a rather simple problem. While a pinball machine can be made with digital components such as that, you can very likely find a way to build one using only analog components just like they used to be made. ---
**Author:** ![Mark57232](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e480ec/32.png) [@Mark57232](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Mark57232)\ **Post date:** [28 November 2018 10:24 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/sensor-for-pinball-machine/4023/8 "2018-11-28T10:24:35Z")
Thanks guys. That Ben Heck video was pretty awesome! I spoke with Graham today and he convinced me that the micro switch is the way to go. We will just design something to prevent it being damaged 🙂 Ta Mark