Desktop Skeeball

I love Skeeball, but it's not often I can get my fix. So instead of trying to get out to the local bar that has a machine, I decided to just make a small one with some cardboard, coffee cups, and hot glue.

It actually works pretty well and came together in about an hour. Check it out.

Step 1 Cutting up the cardboard

I made an EPS file for all the pieces I would need in Illustrator. I'm using 1/3" ball bearings as balls so I scaled everything around that, making this a 1:9 scale of the full size machine.

Thanks to the folks at this forum where I got the layout for the target area.

With the file handy, I cut all the pieces out on our Epilog laser cutter. I know, I know, you don't have one of your own, but with an X-acto you can cut everything up just fine. For the holes you can maybe use a drill.

Note: I attached eps and svg files so that they can be opened and edited in Illustrator or Inkscape. Since these files are not what I consider final, I am not providing a pdf.

Comments

[cornonthecobert]

I remember when i made a working mini bowling alley with a ball return, pin sorter, out of some carpet, a step stool, some small boxes, tape, hotwheel tracks, and a few other knick-knacks... It was pretty cool, this reminds me of it.

[ToxicAvenger]

I made a ball return

[gamelvr5]

It would be nice if I could view the file...but I cant. Nor can I find a converter that can successfuly convert it without an error.

[jbryant jr.1]

thats kinda cool to just play when your bored.

[~•SMART•~]

This seems like an awesome project! I can't wait to build it! Thanks

[where is waldo]

great project! i used a McDonalds straw cut in half for a return ramp

[klercke]

this website:
http://www.fileformat.info/convert/image/svg2pdf.htm
has a great svg to pdf converter.

[uytksa]

how do you use it

[zap8004]

how does that work

[klercke]

it is very simple to use. you just download the svg file attached and convert!

[zap8004]

yeah , but my computer downloads itas a VCR file

[myakka]

ill try and post some pictures

[myakka]

im working on another one now made completely from circuit boards!

[fungus amungus]

Cool, I'd love to see both!

[myakka]

i made mine completely out of 5 gallon paint bucket stirrers. :P
its 2 sticks wide(3 inches) and 13 1/2 inches long.

it was kinda hard to make because for one, the sticks were made in china. two, the sticks were made of scrap wood and as strait as Ellen Degeneres .

[Air_Assassin]

Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[thing 2]

 have you tried one of those toy car launchers or battle b daman?

[fungus amungus]

Don't have either of those. Never even heard of the second one until now.

[gunman15]

i remember those those are fun

[sub893]

how long should the ramp be?

[kenzi50198]

probably like half a foot, depends how much shooting range you want

[chaoshawk]

do u think u can make plans in pdf plz

[TheKnexDude]

My computer turned them into PDF's instantly

[sub893]

thats so cool!!!!

[Quazzaazazazaazaza]

Yesterday I made this, mostly out of hot glue and popsicle sticks with the ramp made out of card board. I also added a return ramp underneath the first. Thanks for the idea!

[jukkum]

it's just awesome, thanks man!!

[chaoshawk]

do u think u could make a pdf version of the plans.

it wont open in the other formats

[thesnoball13]

i didnt have small marbles so i sized everything up and used ping pong balls

[fungus amungus]

Awesome. Post some pics here. I'd love to see it.

[Mischy-Renee]

I can't open this either a pdf would be very helpful

[wolf555hound]

aha. I am making this very soon and adding the ball return. Might post pictures if I can find my bloody camera.

[emotschwiller]

love it, i'd love to make a mini floor version.. maybe 6 ft long instead of the 10 or 13 in arcades. you could try to use some sort of firing device similar to the crossfire game too thanks!

[andrew242]

can you please make a pdf file instead because whenever i try to open it it says the document cant be opened so can oyu make a pdf file instead?

[arudiver]

Dear fungus amungus, i am 1 of the happy few to own a laser, and i would like to cut cardboard, but dont' know which setting to use on my 75W machine. Hope you can help me, i just have my machine for a month, so a lot to learn. thnx

[fungus amungus]

It depends on the cardboard a little. I think it was 100 power / 40 speed, but not sure. Just do some tests first. Cardboard's cheap and it'll only take you a couple minutes.

[camelsamba]

Fun! This also needs to be connected to some kind of flashing lights and a noise maker - but I suppose there are instructables for those if I look hard enough :^)

[dkfa]

This automatically calls for a Large Scale Version. With a ball return. Thanks for the idea's. Now I need to ask my mom where I can put the large scale version.

[sfcsarah]

This seems like an amazing instructable (props on the video), but does it last for long? It seems to me that all those collisions would rapidly bend yours out of shape.

[ahmad5204]

 Next time please make it in pdf file thanxxx

[fungus amungus]

If I considered these files to be final I would. Since these files are still a little rough and still require some tweaking, I included files that can be edited a little more easily.