Adding vertical space by lowering play field?

Luskmonster

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I am aware this is a crazy idea, but I am intrigued and need expert advice on viability.

Pinball machine with no ramps, no vertical movement. Lower play field down enough to accommodate a ramp, potentially more.

Obviously the plunger and flippers would need modifications to work. This seems pretty doable, and I wonder why I've not seen it done before.

So I should get started today?
 
Can't say I've ever seen it done, but if you're doing a home-made custom pinball of some sort, I'm sure it's doable. Will depend upon the type of cabinet you're using (ie, something with a hinged playfield, or an older style that just slides out).

If you used a playfield that doesn't use a plunger (ie, you press a button and a coil fires to put the ball into play), that would simplify that part.

If you can find a more modern cabinet that was designed for a playfield that *did* have ramps, that would be your easiest bet though - it's already going to have the vertical room you'd need for your custom setup. Seems like a lot of work to try and modify a classic cabinet to make a more modern playfield fit into it, especially if you're wanting to stick with a plunger setup. Also - think of how your hands rest on the lock-down bar, and your fingers reach the flipper buttons. If you can't rest your hands up top like that because you've lowered the playfield 3 or 4 inches in the front, it's going to be uncomfortable to hit those buttons easily...
 
its all about the cabinets not the location of the play field in the cabinet, if one were to examine the early SS stern machines, the cabinet sides became taller when the upper playfield feature was added - iirc, they added 2" to them in the rear - more modern cabinets reflect this same change in side heights

so what you would want to do if build a cabinet to accommodate your additional height needs not lower the playfield in an exisying cabinet for reasons outlined above
 
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