FAST and PROC

[Fifty]

Hi everyone,

I'm considering building a pinball machine. I've considered this many times in the past. I even purchase the plywood for the playfield. I've been jotting down ideas for theme, and rules for over a year now and researching the different boards that are available.

I was originally considering FAST, but they seem to have gone very quiet. Social media shows very old posts for them, and the threads on Pinside have gone dead for months and months. PROC is producing pinball machines, but I don't see any updates or revisions on any of their boards.

Does anyone have any recent experience with either of these vendors?

 

[Deleted member 2463]

PROC is the way to go - three manufacturers using them to build games


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[Fifty]

PROC is the way to go - three manufacturers using them to build games


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Good point. I wish PROC had a starter kit. Putting the boards together isn't that big a deal, but sourcing a couple power supplies (5V, 12V, 48V+) and then sourcing the multiple molex connectors for the boards, wiring... I wish they had an "accessories" kit that you could purchase to get you going.

@Neil McRae is PROC compatible with all the pinball software out there? I'm looking at pinballmakers.com but it's unclear. Maybe I need to have another coffee to open up my mind more.

 

[Epotech]

The problem with proc is that each board does 1 thing. Either solenoid, switches or lamps. Fast has different amounts available in boards so in theory you can do with just one board. Will work out cheaper and potentially be easier to wire. Proc has the advantage of interfacing with existing technology so if you're converting a wpc game you only need the controller. Either system is supported by pypinproc and mission pinball framework.
Forbidden Planet uses p3_roc.

 

[Fifty]

If I went the PROC direction I'd go with the P3ROC as I'm not converting a WPC game. The P3ROC is much cheaper as well.

I understand your point about FAST having everything in one board, but I guess one could argue that if the board fails you lose everything, where as if the solenoid board fails on the P3ROC you only lose the solenoids.

My worries with FAST is just the lack of updates. Documentation has been slow in the past with them, and I'm not seeing anything current on the web. Like nothing from this year, and some of their latest social media posts go back to 2018.

 

[swinks]

Proc is proven and used by mutliple manufacturers and a forum with alot of support.
Fast has potential but apparently there documentation is average and you rely heavily of support from other users. They have a forum of their own which you have to request joining and I found not alot in the area I was curious - more of a chat page for ex pinsiders..

Proc have also developed some cool games using their system which is a great promotional thing to show the potential and the dutch crew doing their The Crazy Mansion is the closest I have seen using the Fast with a build log with Fast but haven't seen a build by Aaron I think who owns the Fast product.

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/the-crazy-mansion-by-the-pinball-amigos

I wanted to do a custom with Fast product but the lack of documentation always held me back.

 

[Fifty]

I wanted to do a custom with Fast product but the lack of documentation always held me back.

Yes, this is what I was trying to say since my original post. Nicely worded. The product sorely lacks documentation.

Great point about the games being produced using each product. I haven't visited the Dutch crew in a long time. I should catch up on that thread.