Introduction: Mini Desktop Pinball Game

About: I love to give unused household items a new life by using them for all my projects. I am interested in design, technology and robotics. I hope I can learn more from this amazing platform, with likeminded users!

Are you bored and have nothing to do? Do you have cardboard lying around and don't know what to do with it? looks like you have come to the right place. Today i will show you how to make a desktop pinball game i make which is fun to play with. This should be simple and lets jump right into it.
(yes the cat got some marks on her head please don't get concerned)

and my apologies if the pictures are not clicked properly

Step 1: Items Needed:-

Materials :

-Cardboard

-Popsicle stick

-Straw

-Hot Glue Sticks

-Wooden Skewer/Toothpicks

Tools :

-Hot Glue Gun

-Craft Knife/cutter

-Scissors

-Pencil

-Scale

Step 2: Cutting the Pieces

I am putting all the parts needed to cut in one step. If you want to make it the way i did, you can refer to the measurements you can find in the pictures. Some parts might need a pit of cutting here and there, so don't get worked up if it doesn't fit perfectly.

1.Sides- Make a slanting shape which will be the sides. Refer to the pictures for the measurements. You need 2 of these.

2. Front - A rectangle which fits in the front side (shorter side)

3. Main base - the biggest rectangle of all the pieces. This has to be at a slight angle, you can change the angle if you like but more the angle, faster the ball will roll down. The main base will need a small hole cut at one side so that the ball can fall down, showing that it's game over.

4. Back panel - almost a square piece, this is the piece that goes at the longer end of the sides.

Step 3: How It Works

1-Cut the Popsicle stick in half and extend it by adding cardboard to the ends. Staple in place if needed. These will become out flippers

2-Cut a hole in the sides big enough to fit the Popsicle sticks on both sides. Cut a piece of straw slightly smaller than the hole cut in the sides.

3-Do a test and insert the wooden skewer and glue the straw close to the end of the flippers (where the cardboard and Popsicle stick meet).

Keep the pieces to the side.

Step 4: Assembly

Attach the side pieces to the base first. Then add the front and back.

After assembling the body, re-insert the skewer, cut to size and glue from the top on both sides.

Step 5: Extras

I had some remaining skewer, so i decided to make a small flag by cutting a cardboard triangle and attaching it to the top of the stick. then i made a small hole in the base and attached it to the base.

You can also make other obstacles like a mini bridge, a spinner or even something as basic as a small cube. Its up to your imagination!!

Step 6: Finished!!!

This was a simple yet fun tutorial on how to make a mini desktop pinball game, i hope you all enjoyed and keep thinking!

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