Star Tech Journal

22
STAR*TECH JOURNAL/OCTOBER 1983
ta.]
TECH
SHOP
PROFILE
ST J: Jerry, what is your technical background and experience?
JA: A varied career has served me well in this field. I was a
machinist, a mechanic, a pneumatic and hydraulic tech, a tech in
the Ford Motor Co. R&D Dept. I then went on to LTV
Aerospace in Guided Missile R&D. When I got into this field, I
started as a field repair tech for a service company. I was chief
tech for 2 other distributors in the Detroit area before coming to
World-Wide. I also teach classes in electronics, from basics to
microprocessors.
ST J: What types of repairs and services does your shop
perform?
JA: We repair and recondition nearly all brands and types of
legal coin-op equipment We do complete service, from a
cabinet scratch to a PCB repair. We are authorized distributors
for Williams, Stem, Taito, Sega/Gremlin, GDI-Destron, Exidy,
Deco, Cinematronics, NSM, Seeburg, Hamilton, Lacross,
Electro-Vend, I.C.E. Arachnid, Kay and other products. We
can service any major equipment brand.
ST J: Besides in-house servicing, do you offer street service?
JA: World-Wide does no street servicing or operating. We have
been doing a lot of conversions lately - legal only. It's a good
way to make an old piece look and earn like new.
ST J: Is there one frequent problem common to all amusement
machines?
JA: Yes, marginal engineering. For example, connectors too
small to carry the amperage, el cheapo sockets that lose contact
whenever the game is moved, unkeyed connectors, insufficient
information on schematics, etc.
ST J: What types of test equipment do you use?
JA: We use Williams pinball test fixture and Defender test
fixture, Stem SAM IV test fixture, Universal Module 101,
Bally/Stem test fixture, Benchmate 400 monitor tester, Sencore
transistor testers, Kurz-Kasch TF650 PCB test fixture, Atari
C.A.T. Box, Fluke 9010A Micr<>-System Troubleshooter.
ST J: What types of repair equipment do you use?
JA: We use the Tektronix 465 0-scope, Kurz-Kasch logic
probes, Beckman and B&K DVM's Heathkit 10-102 scope with
a junction tracer I built into it, Heathkit audio signal tracer, Eico
capacitance decade box (for substitution) and some special units
I designed and built.
ST J: What types of repair/rework tools do you use?
JA: We use the Pace PC-10 desoldering unit, Ungar Imperial
soldering irons, Weller WTCP soldering station and 250-watt
gun, Sears' ¾" reversible variable speed drill with screwdriver
This month~ issue highlights the Service Department of
World-Wide Distributors, Inc. in Royal Oak, Michigan.
Service Manager, Jerry Aiello offers his insight to questions
asked by the Journal.
WORLD-WIDE DISTRIBUTORS TECH SHOP
PHOTOS AT RIGHT
LEFT TO RIGHT: GENE FILIPOWICZ: Has worked for World-Wide
since Sept. 1980. His background includes 2 years vending repair
in high school, 2 years at National lnstituteofTechnology(formerly
RETS). He has a degree in Electronic Engineering Technology. He
troubleshoots and repairs monitors, pinballs, video games,
changers, vending machines, PC boards, and does some work on
jukeboxes. He does conversions, cabinet repair and can also
run the Parts Dept. JERRY AIELLO: Service Manager. MARVIN E.
WOLKA II: Has a 2-year degree from a trade school in electronics.
He also has a 2-year Associates Degree in Electronic Service
Technology. "Bud", as he likes to be called, started at World-Wide
in October 1980, after doing field service for a year. Bud performs
all the same tasks as Gene equally well. "Both these men are
excellent workers and are attentive to both customers' and company's
needs. I would not hesitate to put their overall performance against
any distributor or operator tech in this country. " J. Aiello.
attachment (really speeds up repairs and conversions) and we
each have a very complete set of hand tools.
ST J: Is there any type of test or repair equipment that you
would like to see designed?
JA: We have and use the Fluke 9010A Micr<>-System Trouble-
shooter. It's good, but it takes an enormous amount of time to
write programs for it We need Fluke and the game manufacturers
to get together and sell us packaged software for each game. This
would speed service tremendously.
ST J: In your opinion, what would make a specific repair easier
or less time-consuming?
JA: If manufacturers would include memory maps in their
manuals, it would save a lot of time when fixing board problems,
when using units like the Fluke 9010A and the Atari C.A.T.
Box. One thing that would speed up servicing greatly for the less-
experienced techs would be to put an H, L, or P next to each pin
number on each IC on the schematics to indicate the normal
mode of that pin during attract mode. Also, putting running
voltages on the TV schematics would help a lot
ST J: How can maintenance of the games you service be
improved?
JA: Have a good tech, or a man with a good work ethic and train
him. Then pay him what he's worth. A poor tech will cost you
more in repeat calls and down time than you save in salary and
benefits. You don't get a Rolls-Royce for the price of a barely-
running Volkswagen.
ST J: How can the manufacturers improve their products?
JA: Some enlightened factories are showing progress. For
example, Atari replaces a lot of screws on their PCB cages with
plastic push fasteners, greatly reducing service time. Williams'
and Taito's Boards-on-the-Back-Door is very helpful. Now,
they should use the same type of fasteners Atari uses to hold the
boards on, instead of screws.
ST J: Do you have any suggestions for the operators?
JA: Yes. Clean the equipment regularly and keep all the
features and lights working. An ashtray is cheaper than a new
control panel! No one wants to play a game that looks like it will
give you a fatal disease if you touch it Players only put 1 quarter
in a game that doesn't work properly.
ST J: Do you have any specific supply/parts problems?
JA: Ever try to buy a certain ROM or other non-standard part
for a hot game that's in production? Trying to get parts for
Japanese monitors or switching power supplies is fun, too.
Buying pins or connectors is nearly impossible.