Warning
This is the dev documentation for an unreleased version of MPF!
This is the documentation for MPF 0.56, which is the “dev” (next) release of MPF that is a work-in-progress. Unless you’re specifically looking for this version, you probably want to use the version of documentation called “latest” which is for the latest released version of MPF. That documentation is at docs.missionpinball.org/en/latest.
Magnets¶
Related Config File Sections |
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magnets: |
MPF supports the ability to control precise timing for magnets which you can use to grab and release balls. It also includes the ability to set timings to “fling” a ball by grabbing, releasing, then pulsing the magnet again.



Video about magnets:
Hardware¶
Magnets are quite strong single wound coils and everything in the coils section also applies to them. Especially, the Strength and Current calculations apply to them. Expect a resistance in the range of 2 to 10 ohms for a magnet coil.
Connecting Magnets¶
Please refer to the Connecting Coils section for single wound coils.
If you do not have a diode on your magnet we recommend to add one. Magnets are strong coils and they can easily fry your driver board otherwise.
Magnets often got a thermal fuse soldered inline to the connectors. Those should not limit you in any way.
Part Numbers¶
Assemblies:
- PBL-100-0007-00 (with 511-5065-ND coil)
Coils:
- 20-10197
- 20-9247
- 511-5065-ND
- 90-5064-02
- A-15685
Dedicated driver boards:
You can use a board such as 520-5068-01
to connect up to
three drivers to four logic level outputs (3 inputs + 1 clock).
The board contains FETs with flyback diode and a logic buffer for further
protection.
Config¶
This is an example:
coils:
magnet_coil:
number:
default_pulse_ms: 100
default_hold_power: 0.375
switches:
grab_switch:
number:
magnets:
magnet:
magnet_coil: magnet_coil
grab_switch: grab_switch
release_ball_events: magnet_release
fling_ball_events: magnet_fling
coils:
magnet_coil:
number:
default_pulse_ms: 100
default_hold_power: 0.375
switches:
grab_switch:
number:
magnets:
magnet:
magnet_coil: magnet_coil
grab_switch: grab_switch
release_ball_events: magnet_release
fling_ball_events: magnet_fling
Monitorable Properties¶
For dynamic values and
conditional events,
the prefix for magnets is device.magnets.<name>
.
- active
- Boolean (true/false) as to whether this magnet is actively on and in the powered state.
- enabled
- Boolean (true/false) which shows whether this ball hold is enabled.