I Turned an Old DVD Player Into a Pinball Machine 🤯

#arduino Pinball Machine from SCRAP! 🕹️ (and it's impossible) #diy

I turned an old DVD display into a mini pinball machine with spinning animations, sound effects and real-time scoring.

This project combines:

- A TM1628 LED display (from a DVD player)

- Servo motors as flippers

- LEDs and buzzer for feedback

- A custom scoring system with wave animations and spinning disc effect

Every hit triggers:

→ Sound effects

→ LED flash

→ Spinning disc animation

→ Score increase with visual wave effect

It's a simple but very satisfying DIY electronics project with strong visual feedback — perfect for beginners and advanced makers.

Watch the video to see it in action!

Supplies

- Arduino Uno (or compatible) -> Amazon

- TM1628 display module (from DVD player)

- 2x Servo motors (SG90 or similar)

- 6x LEDs

- 6x resistors (220Ω recommended)

- 1x Buzzer

- 2x Push buttons

- Jumper wires

- Breadboard (optional)

- Power supply (5V)

- Power supply (9V) only to servos

Some links in this project may be affiliate links. This means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

PIN CONNECTIONS

TM1628 Display:

- DATA → Pin 7

- CLOCK → Pin 6

- STROBE → Pin 8

Servos:

- Left Servo → Pin 9

- Right Servo → Pin 10

Buzzer:

- Pin 11

Buttons:

- Left Button → Pin 2

- Right Button → Pin 3

LEDs:

- Connected to A1, A2, A3, A4, A5 and Pin 12 (with resistors)

HOW IT WORKS

The system works like a mini pinball machine:

1. Random LEDs light up as targets

2. When you press a button:

- A servo moves like a flipper

- A sound effect plays

- LEDs flash

- The score increases

3. The display shows:

- A spinning disc animation (DVD-style)

- A wave animation on the score

- Combo effects at certain score values

4. The game gets faster over time, increasing difficulty.

CODE

Upload the following code to your Arduino.

Make sure you install the TM1628 library before uploading.

#include <TM1628.h>

#include <Servo.h>

// ---------------- DISPLAY ----------------

#define DATA_PIN 7

#define CLOCK_PIN 6

#define STROBE_PIN 8

TM1628 display(DATA_PIN, CLOCK_PIN, STROBE_PIN);

// ---------------- LEDS ----------------

int leds[] = {A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, 12};

// ---------------- BUZZER ----------------

int buzzer = 11;

// ---------------- BUTTONS ----------------

int btnLeft = 2;

int btnRight = 3;

// ---------------- SERVOS ----------------

Servo servoLeft;

Servo servoRight;

// ---------------- GAME LOGIC ----------------

int currentLed = -1;

unsigned long lastChange = 0;

int speed = 400;

// ---------------- SCORE ----------------

int score = 0;

unsigned long lastScoreTime = 0;

int scoreStep = 1;

// ---------------- DISCO / VISUAL EFFECTS ----------------

byte discoEnd[] = {1, 3, 11, 13, 7, 9};

int discoFrame = 0;

unsigned long discoTime = 0;

int discoSpeed = 90;

// ---------------- NUMBERS (7-Segment Mapping) ----------------

const byte numbers[] = {

0b00111111, 0b00000110, 0b01011011, 0b01001111,

0b01100110, 0b01101101, 0b01111101, 0b00000111,

0b01111111, 0b01101111

};

void setup() {

display.begin(true, 7);

clearAll();

for(int i=0; i<6; i++) pinMode(leds[i], OUTPUT);

pinMode(buzzer, OUTPUT);

pinMode(btnLeft, INPUT_PULLUP);

pinMode(btnRight, INPUT_PULLUP);

servoLeft.attach(9);

servoRight.attach(10);

servoLeft.write(20);

servoRight.write(160);

randomSeed(analogRead(A0));

}

void loop() {

// Random LED logic

if(millis() - lastChange > (unsigned long)speed){

lastChange = millis();

for(int i=0; i<6; i++) digitalWrite(leds[i], LOW);

currentLed = random(0, 6);

digitalWrite(leds[currentLed], HIGH);

speed = max(120, speed - 1);

}

// Input Handling

if(digitalRead(btnLeft) == LOW){

flipperAction(true);

}

if(digitalRead(btnRight) == LOW){

flipperAction(false);

}

runDisco();

}

// ---------------- FLIPPER ----------------

void flipperAction(bool left){

if(left){

servoLeft.write(70);

delay(60);

servoLeft.write(20);

} else {

servoRight.write(110);

delay(60);

servoRight.write(160);

}

hitEffect();

addScore();

}

// ---------------- HIT EFFECT ----------------

void hitEffect(){

digitalWrite(leds[currentLed], LOW);

for(int f = 1000; f < 2000; f += 150){

tone(buzzer, f, 10);

delay(5);

}

for(int i=0; i<6; i++) digitalWrite(leds[i], HIGH);

delay(40);

for(int i=0; i<6; i++) digitalWrite(leds[i], LOW);

}

// ---------------- SCORE ----------------

void addScore(){

if(millis() - lastScoreTime < 200) return;

lastScoreTime = millis();

score += scoreStep;

if(score > 9999) score = 0;

// Progression: Increase points per hit every 10 points

if(score % 10 == 0 && scoreStep < 5){

scoreStep++;

}

discoSpeed = max(50, 90 - score);

discoWaveEffect();

numberWaveEffect(score);

comboEffect();

}

// ---------------- DISCO ANIMATION ----------------

void runDisco(){

if(millis() - discoTime >= (unsigned long)discoSpeed){

discoTime = millis();

for(int i=0; i<6; i++){

setIcon(discoEnd[i], 0);

}

setIcon(discoEnd[discoFrame], 2);

discoFrame++;

if(discoFrame >= 6) discoFrame = 0;

}

// ---------------- DISCO WAVE EFFECT ----------------

void discoWaveEffect(){

for(int i=0; i<6; i++){

setIcon(discoEnd[i], 2);

tone(buzzer, 1200 + i*120, 10);

delay(12);

}

for(int i=5; i>=0; i--){

setIcon(discoEnd[i], 0);

delay(10);

}

// ---------------- NUMBER WAVE EFFECT ----------------

void numberWaveEffect(int value){

int d1 = value % 10;

int d2 = (value / 10) % 10;

int d3 = (value / 100) % 10;

int d4 = (value / 1000) % 10;

byte digits[4] = {d1, d2, d3, d4};

for(int seg=0; seg<7; seg++){

byte val = 0;

if(bitRead(numbers[digits[0]], seg)) val += 1;

if(bitRead(numbers[digits[1]], seg)) val += 2;

if(bitRead(numbers[digits[2]], seg)) val += 128;

if(bitRead(numbers[digits[3]], seg)) val += 4;

display.setSegments(val, seg);

delay(18);

}

// ---------------- COMBO EFFECTS ----------------

void comboEffect(){

if(score % 50 == 0){

// 💥 Explosion effect

for(int i=0; i<3; i++){

display.setSegments(255, i);

}

tone(buzzer, 2500, 100);

delay(120);

clearAll();

}

else if(score % 20 == 0){

// ⚡ Strong flash

display.setSegments(255, 0);

display.setSegments(255, 1);

tone(buzzer, 2000, 80);

delay(80);

}

else if(score % 10 == 0){

// ✨ Light flash

display.setSegments(255, 0);

tone(buzzer, 1500, 50);

delay(50);

}

// ---------------- LOW LEVEL COMMUNICATION ----------------

void sendRawCommand(byte cmd) {

digitalWrite(STROBE_PIN, LOW);

shiftOut(DATA_PIN, CLOCK_PIN, LSBFIRST, cmd);

digitalWrite(STROBE_PIN, HIGH);

}

void setIcon(byte address, byte value) {

sendRawCommand(0x44);

digitalWrite(STROBE_PIN, LOW);

shiftOut(DATA_PIN, CLOCK_PIN, LSBFIRST, 0xC0 + address);

shiftOut(DATA_PIN, CLOCK_PIN, LSBFIRST, value);

digitalWrite(STROBE_PIN, HIGH);

}

// ---------------- CLEAR DISPLAY ----------------

void clearAll() {

for (int i = 0; i <= 20; i++) {

display.setSegments(0x00, i);

}

sendRawCommand(0x40);

digitalWrite(STROBE_PIN, LOW);

shiftOut(DATA_PIN, CLOCK_PIN, LSBFIRST, 0xC0);

for (int i = 0; i < 16; i++) shiftOut(DATA_PIN, CLOCK_PIN, LSBFIRST, 0x00);

digitalWrite(STROBE_PIN, HIGH);

}

BUILDING THE PINBALL

- Mount the servos on each side to act as flippers

- Position the LEDs as targets

- Place the buttons where you can easily press them

- Secure the DVD display in a visible position

You can use cardboard, wood, or 3D printed parts for the structure.

GAMEPLAY

Press the buttons to activate the flippers.

Each hit triggers:

- Sound effect

- LED feedback

- Spinning disc animation

- Score increase

At higher scores:

- The disc spins faster

- Visual effects become more intense

VISUAL EFFECTS

This project includes several visual effects:

- Spinning DVD-style disc animation

- Wave animation on score digits

- Combo flashes (10, 20, 50 points)

- Synchronized sound + light feedback

These effects make the project highly engaging and visually satisfying.

IMPROVEMENTS

Possible upgrades:

- Add real collision detection (only score when hitting targets)

- Add combo multiplier system

- Use a larger display or OLED

- Add ball tracking sensor

- Improve enclosure design

You can turn this into a full arcade-style game!

VIDEO

I Built a Mini Pinball with Servos 😳 #arduinoproject #games

I Turned an Old DVD Display Into a Pinball Machine 🤯

Check out the video to see the full effect in action!

FINAL

If you liked this project, consider liking and sharing it!

If you want to build this project, check the parts here:

- Arduino Uno (or compatible) Kit -> Amazon

- 2x Servo motors (SG90 or similar) -> Amazon

Some links in this project may be affiliate links. This means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Let me know in the comments if you want the next version with real scoring logic 😈

See the Hackster version for schematic, code, and extra build details.