Hobbyist CNCDan is building a physical recreation of the 3D Pinball for Windows – Space Cadet table, a digital game originally included for free with multiple Microsoft operating systems through Windows XP. The project aims to replicate the unique layout and mechanics of the virtual table in a real-world machine.

CNCDan has constructed custom components including 3D-printed mechanical flippers, pop bumpers with embedded LEDs, slingshots, and a raised playfield to mirror features from the original software. After scaling and skewing the on-screen, perspective-shifted view of the Space Cadet playfield onto a 1-meter-tall cabinet, he produced a rectangular playfield just 56 cm wide.

That narrow width created engineering challenges, as it resulted in playfield bumpers measuring only 53 mm across—smaller than any commercially available prebuilt bumpers. CNCDan encountered unreliable performance from plastic microswitches used in the tiny bumpers and resolved the issue by switching to Hall effect magnets. He also faced complications with even smaller bumpers on the raised section of the playfield, which required precise wiring to avoid obstructing a kickback return alley underneath.

To further emulate the digital experience, CNCDan added a physical mechanism that mimics the brief delay occurring in the original game when the ball drops from the raised playfield back down to the flippers. The table’s design stems from the Full Tilt! Pinball collection released by Maxis in 1995, of which Space Cadet was one part. Unlike most pinball simulations, Space Cadet was not based on an existing physical table.

CNCDan is now seeking artists to help produce a hand-drawn re-creation of the original Space Cadet playfield artwork. “I’m sure [AI] can do it, but I’d much rather give this job to a real human being,” he said in a video. He has shared progress updates and technical details through online maker communities and video logs to document the build process.