Hey, I have plans to put an internet terminal in my friends bakery. I would like to make it as user friendly, and low maintenance as possible. Does anyone have any ideas how I could make or find a way to make it accept coins? I have searched google and I only found one page with coin validators, but you must use their software on the kiosk to make it operate. I would like to make this one big modding project, and give it a look that would suit the bakery itself. Any ideas? This would also have to operate on Canadian currency. I can obviously build the computer, and enclosure myself... The only problem is the money system. Thanks!
Making something thats reliable enough at telling fake coins is a mission. I would personally buy a vending machine thats broken or somthing (vending machine repairs or similar will be able to help you there) and work out how to interface the coin sensor. Using a credit/debit card reader would be incredibly simple, but if its small payments (i don't know how expensive your mates backery is ) it wouldn't be economically viable for each transaction.
id ont have a link sorry but i have seen someone that use the coin slot from a vending machine for his computer, because it was froma real machine it worked like a charm i wante to do the same thin but could find any ere to buy the things from
Check with the Coin-op manufacturers, as they have newer units that can provide you with a switched output based upon a dollar value/input. The problem that you have with the Mod project that was identified, was that it uses nothing but a switch ridden on top of the coin switch. This unfortunately, means you can never change the price, and you don't really have a fully functional coin-op. The problem with coin-op mechanisms, unless you are willing to spend $100+ and get a new one, most older mechanisms are purely mechanical (you need to add your own solenoid for the accept/reject pin). That, or if they are electro-mechanical, then you need to supply them with 115Vac and 3-4A to boot. If you are looking to do dollar bills or change the price, you may need to go with a new unit from one of the vending mfgs. These can cost you dearly, as they are extremely complicated. Bill validation is a 40+ step process handled by very complex IR/UV and feeler guages inside the bill validator. This is *not* something you could build on your own (mostly because you'd need specs from the U.S. Treasury, and they won't hand them out to consumers). Coin operated mechanisms are simpler, but they too are farily complicated. You may however, want to try going to your local Office Supply Store and pick up a COIN SORTER machine. Depending on what you are looking to do, you could probably heavily modify something like that for your purposes.
K thanks guys for all the responses. I found this... it may be exactly what I need. Looks solid, USB connection, I think it also comes with the option of accepting different currencies, which is key. You can get it with interfacing software as well, but its super expensive. I wonder if there is any info on writing/making my own way of interfacing the unit... Any additional tips or ideas for setting this kiosk would be greatly appreciated.
Have you considered using a remote access control-type setup, where you have to go pay a cashier to be able to use a PC - essentially, a gateway between some computers and the internet that controls access on a time-based system? Obviously, this is more labour intensive than the coin operated idea, but having had a quick look at what's available in coin-op units, it'll probably work out to a similar cost (especially if you already have some PCs), and it'll be super easy to do in software (I think). I've seen a lot of internet cafes run like this. Having said all that, a coin operated PC would be very very cool - do post a guide if you follow that route!
Yeah I was thinking about remote access, but if possible I'd like to make it consume the least amount of the workers time as possible. But it may end up that I'd have to make it remote access. If I do make it that way, I figured I could make some sort of timer which would effectively just make a KVM switch off of the system so the keyboard and mouse will cease functioning after the purchased time is up. Still working on the idea.
It would be much simpler to have a single machine that controls access to the internet (i.e. a gateway or bridge), which basically does per-machine NAT, which will allow a given machine to send/receive internet traffic for a certain amount of time. I'm sure there are software packages to do this, and it wouldn't be terribly complicated to write one yourself
