DIY Pinball

Laser cut, 3D print, make by hand, and even code to create a custom pinball game for one or two players.

Start with a prototyping grid playfield and add your own features like bumpers, ramps, lights and sounds. Once your design is play-tested, switch to a solid playfield and permanently install features, add a theme, graphics, and decorations to bring your game to life.

On this page:
Overview videoGet buildingGet inspired!

This is a great starter project for Makers in and out of the classroom:  laser-cut the plywood playfield; use shop tools to cut lumber and assemble the base; 3D print your own set of flippers and buttons; design and fabricate any number of creative obstacles, features and decorations; code your own scoring, sounds, lights and motion; express yourself through the theme for your machine; collaborate with others for 2-player mode.​

‍Scroll on to download the plans to make your own pinball machine from common hardware.

Get Building!

Flat lay of wooden pinball base parts and screws arranged on white background.
Machine base parts
Side view close-up of an assembly with orange paddle and pusher parts joined by screws, washers, lock washers, hex nuts, and lock nuts labeled in red and blue text.
Paddle assembly
DIY pinball project on a white board featuring a microcontroller, LED strips, buttons, a speaker, and various wired components labeled with handwritten notes.
Wiring example and test board
Custom-built electronic pinball machine with LED lights, flippers, control board, and wiring on a wooden frame.
Example base machine with electronics board

Get Inspired!

Children and adults interacting with colorful, electronic marble maze games on tables at a crowded indoor event.
Wooden single-player DIY pinball machine with blue flippers, orange bumpers, a white dog figurine, and a target on a pegboard playing surface.
Man and two young girls interact with an illuminated electronic pinball-style game at a Maker Faire event.
A tabletop pinball game with a blue water-themed surface featuring orange koi fish, red and purple lotus flowers, golden bamboo structures, and green flippers at the bottom.
Hands holding a wooden pinball game decorated with ocean-themed elements including a black anglerfish silhouette and colorful coral designs.
Two people wearing masks playing a tabletop pinball game indoors.
Homemade pinball machine with a pink heart and cartoon character at the center, decorated with purple color and metal balls.
A tabletop pinball game with a blue water-themed surface featuring orange koi fish, red and purple lotus flowers, golden bamboo structures, and green flippers at the bottom.
Wooden pinball machine with purple flippers, a green dinosaur figure, a blue propeller, a red toy dog, plastic tubing, and elemental symbols for water, air, earth, and fire.
Wooden pinball machine with purple flippers, a green dinosaur figure, a blue propeller, a red toy dog, plastic tubing, and elemental symbols for water, air, earth, and fire.
A young person playing a tabletop pinball game with a colorful design and purple flippers.
Young boy with blonde hair in a blue hoodie playing with a wooden pinball machine while others watch.
A boy examines a wooden mechanical model with colorful gears while people and tables are in the background at a busy indoor event.
Hands playing a colorful tabletop pinball game featuring a map of New Jersey with Rutgers-themed decorations.
Children gathered around a custom wooden pinball machine with colorful parts and electronic wiring, actively playing and interacting.
Two children engage with a wooden marble run game at a table, one child in a wheelchair, at an educational exhibit with posters and tables in the background.
Young boy intently playing with a homemade wooden pinball board at a craft fair or workshop.
A hand near a handmade wooden pinball machine with blue painted inside, green and purple details, and metal balls.
Wooden Kuromi-themed pinball game with purple bumpers, flippers, and a character illustration holding a plush toy in the center.
Two young people using cordless drills to work on a woodworking project indoors.
Two people wearing black face masks sitting at a table playing a tabletop game with a green flying saucer piece.
Homemade pinball game with a space theme featuring a rocket, stars, yellow flippers, purple bumpers, and steel ball bearings inside a cardboard box.
A hand near a handmade wooden pinball machine with blue painted inside, green and purple details, and metal balls.
Person using a screwdriver to assemble a wooden box with orange components and wires on a cluttered workbench.
Three people playing with a colorful pinball machine prototype on a wooden table with electronics and flyers nearby.
Handcrafted pinball machine featuring anime-themed artwork and characters, with orange flippers and yellow accents on a wooden frame.
Close-up of a wooden tabletop bowling game with red and green pins set up on a blue table.
Wooden single-player DIY pinball machine with blue flippers, orange bumpers, a white dog figurine, and a target on a pegboard playing surface.
A group of children and adults gathered around a table engaged in a hands-on STEM activity with electronic components and colorful toys.
Two young men working together on a tabletop robotics project with LEDs on a wooden circuit board in a classroom.
Red wax seal with "MAKE" stamp on envelope icon.

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