Meet Daniel, the Australian Maker Bringing Space Cadet Pinball Into the Real World

Kineticist·article·analyzed·Jun 2, 2026

Analysis

claude-haiku-4-5-20251001 · $0.027

TL;DR

Australian maker CNCDan is building a physical Space Cadet pinball from scratch using 3D printing and custom electronics.

Summary

CNCDan (Daniel McKenzie), an Australian hardware maker and YouTuber with no prior pinball experience, is building a physical homebrew version of 3D Pinball: Space Cadet using CNC machining, 3D printing, and custom electronics. His project has gained significant mainstream tech media attention (Ars Technica, The Verge) but faces skepticism from experienced pinball enthusiasts regarding unconventional design choices like 3D-printed flippers, servos, and custom pop bumpers. He plans to stay faithful to the original game's IP and aesthetic rather than pursue commercial production.

Key Claims

CNCDan has received significant mainstream media coverage from outlets like Ars Technica and The Verge for his Space Cadet project
high confidence · Stated by the Kineticist interviewer and confirmed by CNCDan's response acknowledging 'The response has been much better than I imagined'
A previous company called Deeproot attempted to create a commercial Space Cadet–themed pinball machine but failed to secure IP licensing and pivoted to a gladiator theme, ultimately collapsing before production
high confidence · Article states: 'a short-lived pinball company named Deeproot developed a prototype for a commercial pinball machine based on the playfield layout of 3D Space Cadet. They were never able to secure the licensing rights for the IP, so they planned to base it on a gladiator theme instead. The company failed not long after'
CNCDan had no prior knowledge of existing pinball control systems like FAST Pinball before starting the project
high confidence · Direct quote from CNCDan: 'I have no knowledge of any of the pre-existing pinball systems that are available or what they are capable of'
There was a physical homebrew Space Cadet prototype that received one update and was abandoned around 2012
medium confidence · Article states: 'There was a physical homebrew prototype that got one update and then seems to have been abandoned since 2012'
Pinball parts sourcing in Australia is expensive; solenoids alone cost $60+ AUD, driving CNCDan's decision to use standardized off-the-shelf components
high confidence · CNCDan states: 'just a solenoid alone is upwards of $60AUD, which seems very expensive. That's why I'm trying to use standardised, off-the-shelf solenoids as they are much cheaper'
CNCDan discovered the pinball homebrew community is much more widespread than he initially realized
high confidence · CNCDan states: 'I had no experience [with] the pinball homebrew community before this video. I figured a handful of people probably did it, but I'm beginning to get the impression that it's far more widespread than I first thought'
Very few pre-existing standard pinball parts will be used in CNCDan's Space Cadet build due to scaling issues

Notable Quotes

“The tricky stuff that hasn't been done before is interesting!”
CNCDan (Daniel McKenzie) @ Opening statement — Encapsulates CNCDan's design philosophy and motivation for tackling Space Cadet as a first pinball project—novelty and technical challenge over practical precedent
“There are definitely some concerns from people who say they have been involved in pinball for a long time, so I appreciate their feedback, and I'm working towards at least fixing as many of their initial concerns as I can.”
CNCDan @ Response section — Shows CNCDan's openness to community critique despite being an outsider; signals he is iterating based on experienced feedback
“I had no experience [with] the pinball homebrew community before this video. I figured a handful of people probably did it, but I'm beginning to get the impression that it's far more widespread than I first thought.”
CNCDan @ Interview response — Reveals CNCDan's rapid onboarding to the homebrew pinball ecosystem and the scale of the community he initially underestimated
“I don't really know how to choose, but I'm sure I will work out who the right person is for the job!”
CNCDan @ Interview response on artist selection — Indicates significant community interest in contributing to the project, with many offers to help on art
“Based on the comments, I doubt it. I've found the same with a lot of projects I've done over the years, that people don't like it when you do something differently [from] the 'standard'.”
CNCDan @ Response on pop bumper innovation — Shows CNCDan's awareness that industry conservatism may prevent adoption of his novel mechanical solutions, even if effective
“It seems that most 'real' arcade machines, pinball included, are on the way out in Australia.”
CNCDan @ Interview response on Australian arcade landscape — Signals declining pinball arcade presence in Australia, with only a few dedicated venues like 1up Arcade and Netherworld sustaining the scene
“Since I'm not intending to sell these machines, I don't think I'll get in trouble using the original IP, so for me, it makes sense to match it as closely as I can.”

Entities

CNCDan / Daniel McKenzieperson3D Pinball: Space CadetgameDeeprootcompanyJPSalaspersonFAST PinballcompanyTechnology Connectionsperson/content_creatorArs TechnicaorganizationThe VergeorganizationKineticistorganization1up Arcadevenue

Signals

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design_innovation: CNCDan has designed innovative solutions for pop bumpers, particularly for elevated platform sections where traditional pop bumpers would not work. These custom designs generated significant community interest but also skepticism about viability and industry adoption.
high · Article quotes: 'You have some innovative solutions for pop bumpers, especially the ones on the elevated platform, where traditional pop bumpers wouldn't work' and CNCDan's response acknowledging the skepticism
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technology_signal: CNCDan's use of 3D printing and CNC machining as primary manufacturing methods for a homebrew pinball machine signals emerging technology pathways for DIY builders outside traditional manufacturing.
high · CNCDan describes using 3D printing for flippers, custom parts, and relying on his CNC workshop; article notes 'There will probably be very few pre-existing parts used'
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community_signal: Experienced pinball enthusiasts have expressed concerns about CNCDan's unconventional approaches (servos, 3D-printed flippers, custom pop bumpers), reflecting broader industry conservatism toward non-standard solutions despite CNCDan's openness to feedback.
high · CNCDan states: 'There are definitely some concerns from people who say they have been involved in pinball for a long time' and later: 'people don't like it when you do something differently [from] the standard'
?
content_signal: CNCDan's Space Cadet project received coverage from major tech publications (Ars Technica, The Verge), signaling pinball's crossover appeal to mainstream gaming/hardware audiences beyond niche enthusiasts.
high · Article states: 'CNCDan's first video about his project has generated excitement in the tech sphere, garnering coverage from outlets such as Ars Technica and The Verge'

Transcript

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“The tricky stuff that hasn’t been done before is interesting!” If you fall within a certain age range, the sights and sounds of 3D Pinball – Space Cadet are probably burned into your brain. The ubiquitous virtual pinball game that was packed into every copy of Windows in the 90’s and 00’s may have even been your first pinball experience — it was for me! Nostalgia for Space Cadet has inspired a number of attempted revivals over the years, with not a lot to show for them: there’s a faithful VPX recreation from prolific virtual pinball creator JPSalas, but it doesn’t bring Space Cadet into the real world. There was a physical homebrew prototype that got one update and then seems to have been abandoned since 2012. And, of course, there was an ill-fated, re-themed prototype attempted by Deeproot that didn’t survive the company’s ignoble collapse. Maybe what Space Cadet needs to manifest in the physical realm is some fresh blood. Perhaps a maker who is new to the pinball world but brings a wealth of gaming-hardware fabrication experience, from CNC machining to 3D printing, to circuit board design. Enter: CNCDan, aka Daniel McKenzie, an Australian maker and YouTuber who has decided to apply his skills and his impressive workshop to bringing 3D Space Cadet into the real world. “There are definitely some concerns from people who say they have been involved in pinball for a long time.” CNCDan’s first video about his project has generated excitement in the tech sphere, garnering coverage from outlets such as Ars Technica and The Verge. It will be interesting to see how his project is received by the pinball community, where new techniques are met with suspicion and fear. I was curious to find out just how familiar Daniel was with traditional pinball, and to get more details about why he made some of the design choices he did. I also wanted to see if he was familiar with the pinball homebrew scene, and to get his thoughts on how his playfield layout compares to the prototype that Deeproot attempted. Daniel was kind enough to take the time to answer all of the questions I had, which are presented below. But first, make sure to go check out his video if you haven’t seen it yet! A Hardware Guy, Not a Pinball Guy First of all, thank you for taking the time to speak with me! Could you give people a quick overview of who you are and what you do? My name is Daniel, and my YouTube channel is CNCDan. I do gaming-related hardware projects! You mentioned getting obsessed with physical pinball since watching Technology Connection’s incredible video series about pinball machines. What would you say your relationship to pinball is currently? I don’t actually have much of a relationship with pinball, but I love intricate mechanical things like this, and watching technology connections videos on how a pinball machine works made me realise it would probably be a fun project to tackle! What would you say are some of your favorite pinball machines? It’s probably obvious to anyone that is into pinball, that I have little to no experience with real pinball machines so most of my experience has been with (video) games! Besides Space Cadet, I also played a bit of Epic Pinball back in the day. I wouldn’t say I ever got very good at either of them! An Outsider’s Welcome How hard is it to find physical pinball machines in Australia? Is it difficult to source parts at a reasonable price? It seems that most “real” arcade machines, pinball included, are on the way out in Australia. There are a couple of awesome arcade/pubs that are keeping the scene alive (1up Arcade and Netherworld to name a few), but most kids’ arcades are just filled with claw and ticket-winning skill tester machines. I went to one of the larger ones in my area to get the footage of the Deadpool machine that I used briefly in the beginning of the video, and that was the only “traditional” arcade machine left, and it was tucked away in a quiet corner away from everything else, like it had been forgotten. I have found a shop that sells parts locally in Australia, but just a solenoid alone is upwards of $60AUD, which seems very expensive. That’s why I’m trying to use standardised, off-the-shelf solenoids as they are much cheaper. Your project has caught a lot of people’s attention and received coverage from publications like Ars Technica and The Verge (and now Kineticist!). How has the response been since you posted the first video? Have you noticed a difference in response from those inside the pinball community vs. outside? The response has been much better than I imagined! There are definitely some concerns from people who say they have been involved in pinball for a long time, so I appreciate their feedback, and I’m working towards at least fixing as many of their initial concerns as I can. Are you familiar with the pinball homebrew community, and did you take any inspiration or get any advice from it? I had no experience [with] the pinball homebrew community before this video. I figured a handful of people probably did it, but I’m beginning to get the impression that it’s far more widespread than I first thought. When the project is finished, would you consider bringing the machine to pinball conventions in Australia? I would definitely consider it if there was one close by! I saw a lot of comments from people offering to help with the art. How do you choose from so many options, and have you picked an artist to work with yet? I have had an overwhelming number of people reach out to offer help. I don’t really know how to choose, but I’m sure I will work out who the right person is for the job! Why Space Cadet — and Why Build Almost Everything From Scratch There are a few features on Space Cadet that stretch the limits of real-world physics. Why choose something as tricky as 3D Space Cadet as your first pinball project? I just really like the space cadet table and how clean and simple the layout feels, plus the tricky stuff that hasn’t been done before is interesting! What percentage of the machine do you estimate will be 3D-printed vs. pre-existing parts or custom CNC’d parts? There will probably be very few pre-existing parts used. The scaling of the machine is all over the place, so using something like off-the-shelf pop bumpers would make the upper playfield section very tight. I could scale up the playfield around them, but then other elements would be the wrong size too, so there is no easy way to use standard parts IMO. This is obviously not meant to be a commercial product, and I think a lot of the commenters have missed that part, so I am probably less concerned with the longevity of the parts than they think I should be. How do you plan to handle all the boards and circuitry for the project? Are you planning to design and custom-order everything yourself? Have you considered a third-party pinball board system like FAST pinball? I have no knowledge of any of the pre-existing pinball systems that are available or what they are capable of. I will probably end up building most of the control gear myself, just so I can fully understand it! Different Approaches for Pinball Pop bumpers are complicated and temperamental, and have always been difficult to keep in working order on traditional pinball machines. You have some innovative solutions for pop bumpers, especially the ones on the elevated platform, where traditional pop bumpers wouldn’t work. Do you think you could revolutionize pop bumpers for the entire pinball industry? Based on the comments, I doubt it. I’ve found the same with a lot of projects I’ve done over the years, that people don’t like it when you do something differently [from] the “standard”. So, regardless of how well mine end up working, I would be surprised if they ever gain enough traction to catch on. You invoked the device-who-must-not-be-named in pinball – the dreaded servo. Pinball operators tend to be loudly outspoken against the use of servos in pinball machines due to gradual wear and high failure rates. Do you share those concerns, or will that not be an issue in your design? I had no idea people in this hobby didn’t like servos. I picked the servo because the solenoid I had here didn’t feel powerful enough to reset all three targets at once. Now that I’ve realised that the solenoid is still quite small compared to real pinball ones, I may reconsider that choice when some of the larger solenoids I’ve ordered arrive. Modern pinball machines use a lot of opto switches over leaf switches now. I noticed you weren’t using any optos – is there a reason for that, and do you have any plans to incorporate optos in the future? I didn’t know opto switches were being used in pinball machines. I’ve actually struggled to find good information on a lot of things, especially the size of the solenoids that are used. I will definitely look into opto switches for the roll-overs, as that seems like an ideal solution for them. Your flipper design with the 3D-printed “rubber” seemed to draw the most skepticism in the comments. Do you plan to continue forward with a 3D-printed rubber or move to a more traditional flipper rubber? Are there 3D-printed materials that can approximate the feel of a traditional flipper rubber? At the time, I wasn’t sure how hard the rubber used on a pinball flipper is. I assumed going too soft would dampen the power of the flipper, so I was aiming for something a little harder than I probably should’ve been. There are definitely better-suited 3D printable materials, but fortunately, the flippers are one of the only components that has worked out to be a mostly standard size and I have managed to track down some real pinball rubbers that I can use for them! That steel ball is heavy! Have you considered less-destructive alternatives, like a smaller ball or different ball material? Are you familiar with the “powerball,” which is a lighter ceramic ball that was used in Twilight Zone and a few other games? I’m considering a smaller ball, just to keep the scaling correct. At my current playfield size, a 20mm ball would be “scale accurate.” I like the idea of the ceramic ones, but I think I will need to stick with steel for some of the mechanisms to work! Copyrights & What Comes Next Are you planning to open-source your designs? Would somebody be able to download your designs and print their own 3D Space Cadet? I’m happy to share the designs of my mechanisms, but I am unsure about the whole table due to copyright concerns. If I can get the okay from whoever owns the copyright for the game (if anyone still does), then I will be happy to do so! Do you see potential for a wave of 3D-printed homebrew pinball? Could 3D printing bring pinball into more people’s homes? I definitely think it’s possible, although I doubt it will be with full-size and very complex machines like this. I’ve seen a Kickstarter in the last few weeks of a basic 3D printed pinball game, so I think you will see a lot more of that and a lot less of this! The Ghost of Deeproot A few years back, a short-lived pinball company named Deeproot developed a prototype for a commercial pinball machine based on the playfield layout of 3D Space Cadet. They were never able to secure the licensing rights for the IP, so they planned to base it on a gladiator theme instead. The company failed not long after, and the game was never produced. What do you think about how they attempted to adapt the video game to a standard-sized pinball machine? I had no idea that this existed! It makes sense for a company that is trying to produce a table to sell that it uses standard parts, and I think that the layout is still very recognizable although it would be better if it was themed to match! What differences do you see between their approach and yours? Is there anything about their implementation that surprises you? One of the main differences, besides the use of off-the-shelf pinball hardware, seems to be the ramp. I am also concerned about the angle/height of the ramp, so I’m not surprised they have extended the ramp to try and lessen the angle required. How important is it to you to capture the original sights and sounds of 3D Space Cadet? Do you think a physical game with a similar layout but a different theme is worthwhile, or does it miss the whole point? Since I’m not intending to sell these machines, I don’t think I’ll get in trouble using the original IP, so for me, it makes sense to match it as closely as I can. I still think the similar layout is worthwhile, even without the matching theme, as I’m pretty sure even as a complete machine it would’ve been instantly recognizable as the space cadet layout! Again, thanks so much to Daniel aka CNCDan for answering our questions! We are definitely wishing him success in his project and looking forward to seeing future updates on his YouTube channel.