Mini Air Hockey Table

When I was a little girl, my favorite Christmas that I can remember was the year Santa brought me and my stepsister an Air Hockey table. My stepsister and I, who were never super close, spent every other weekend on step stools, slinging the puck at each other's goals.

So when the competition had first crossed my screen I immediately knew I wanted to recreate my childhood favorite game, Air Hockey!!

My goal with this air hockey table was to create something classic and nostalgic, as if you had just taken it straight from the arcade.

For this project you will need...

-Computer with Fusion 360 and InkScape

-3D Printer

-Laser Cutter

-Filament

-Cardboard

-Plexi Glass

-Tape

-Fan

-LED Lights

Start out by finding all your measurements!

Problems you'll most likely encounter later on in the engineering process will probably be because of a flaw from the original design. Take your time to thoroughly sketch out what you plan to create.

I began by designing the table's walls, including the two boards that will be supported by them. I also designed the puck and paddles.

Through research, I found helpful information about the way air hockey works, such as...

1. There must be at least 4 holes under the puck for the game to be efficient
2. The puck must have a lip to catch the air, allowing it to glide
3. The air must be pressurized

Once I got my final sketches down, I was able to move towards the assembling processes.

After writing down the initial measurements, I began designing the two paddles and the puck. I had a few small criteria that they needed to meet.

For instance, the puck needed to be very small and light, no bigger than 0.75 inches. You will want the air to be able to support the puck and allow it to glide easily.

For the paddles, I wanted to make sure they weren't too large, as I didn't want them to completely block the goals. Allow your paddles to be smaller, with a hollow handle where people can use their fingers to hold it.

P.S.

When printing your paddles, make sure to add a filet around the handle, it can be very brittle if not properly supported!

Now we can get to the body of the project: The Table.

I decided to laser cut cardboard walls with little divots that slide snugly into one another to form the table. I also used cardboard and plexi to create a small chamber to compress the air.

Before laser cutting, you must design a cut sheet (I've attached mine for reference). Make sure you triple check all your measurements, it may take a few prints to get it right.

Finally (with a little help from my cat, Matilda), I began constructing the air hockey table.

You need to secure the fan on the underside of the table, making sure you are able to flick the on and off switch without breaking the integrity of the table.

You can also construct the chutes for the puck on either end of the table as well.

Once down, you can begin the most fun part (DECORATING!!). I decided to got with a classic arcade look, fitted with LED lights under the plexi glass and primary-colored stripes.

All done! I hope this air hockey table can bring you as much joy as mine and my stepsister's did.