TechFest 35 Coverage

SlotTrak software for

your slot floor
SETEC Genesis
 Slot Tech Featured Software
A New Age of Operations Management processes.
Outdated
“As an industry, we are not focusing structures
enough time or resources on the people frustrate
and processes that drive our main employees,
revenue source”-Technology advance- waste time, and
ment for slot machines reduce satisfac-
tion and reten-
Today’s Slot Professional is working tion. The time
with the most sophisticated gaming lost to ponder-
equipment ever produced. With digital ous
slot machine technology, the one- recordkeeping
armed-bandit is now operated with a could be better
push of a button, and the spin of the spent improving
wheel is now controlled by the internal the function of
computer rather than the revolution of the organiza-
the reels. tion. The money
lost to time-
These changes have improved the intensive
experience for players. The three processes could
cornerstones of customer relationship be reinvested in organizational im-
management (CRM) —people, process provements.
and technology—are realized with
these advancements. So, what is an operation to do?

These changes have not only benefited Forward-thinking operators will be

the patrons, they have also improved
profitability for the casino as well. The
new digital systems have evolved from
single use tools to avenues of insight
into player preferences and data that
the casino can use to ensure a high-
level experience for patrons.
Operational Gap
When slot personnel exit the gaming
floor for the back office, all this techno-
logical advancement disappears. In its
place is the age-old standard of the
paper-based system. Most of the
technological advances in the gaming
industry are in the areas of player
tracking and experience. The opera-
tional functions of maintenance,
inventory management and compliance
remain in the dark ages.
Organizations often overlook the many
benefits of modernizing internal
looking to technology to optimize
operations to control costs, improve
revenue, improve employee satisfac-
tion, all while increasing player experi-
ence.
A three-step internal review will bring
inefficiencies into focus and identify
needed possible solutions.
1. Review current manual processes
2. Identify issues
3. Invest in technology solutions to
correct issues
The Promised Land
Imagine a day where you do not work
on a leased game that you did not
know was leased.
Imagine a day where you did not
search the warehouse only to find out
the part you are looking for is out of
stock.
Imagine a day where you could prepare
for an audit in hours, not days or
weeks.
Imagine a day when you could pull
configuration information with the
touch of a button.
Imagine a day where you could track
and pull every MEAL log entry across
the entire slot floor in seconds.
At Volante Software, we have spent the
last four and a half years working hand
in hand with properties of all sizes to
turn the scenario of “Imagine a day”
into an attainable reality.
The Approach
Our aim was to connect with operators
to create a solution that would facilitate
an ideal day on the slot floor.
To meet that end, our system was built
on four non-negotiable principals:
1. The system must be fast
2. The system must be intuitive
3. The system must be scalable
4. Our users will have a voice in system
design and review.
The Result
SlotTrak is a web and iOS-based
software solution that creates a central-
ized system for all your slot related
information. The system features six
modules in production. They are:
1. Slot File
2. Parts Inventory
3. MEAL Log
4. Work Orders
5. Contract Management
6. Depreciation
Slot File
PROBLEM: Compliance is a time-
intensive exercise that costs money and
has zero return on investment. The cost
of non-compliance, however, can be
devastating. Preparation for an audit
can consume multiple employees
anywhere from days to weeks. The bulk
of the time is spent pulling paper files,
checking to ensure all required infor-
mation is properly filed, and searching
for missing/misfiled paperwork.
PRODUCT: SlotTrak Slot File
The Slot File creates a digital record
that puts the entire timeline of a slot
machine at your fingertips along with
all the associated paperwork. The file is
cloud based and allows Auditor Access.
The system
also has
built-in
internal
integrity
reporting.
SOLUTION:
A digital slot
file eliminates
missing/lost/
misfiled
papers and
the time-
consuming
search.
Because the
system is
cloud-based
the file can
be accessed
in the office via computer, or on the
gaming floor via the mobile app.
Preparation for auditors is reduced to
mere days and integrity reporting
allows for proactive maintenance.
Parts Inventory
PROBLEM: Keeping track of the
multitude of parts for hundreds to
thousands of slot machines across one
or many properties. The process
takes time and is expensive.
Tracking inventory parts is usually
a manual check-out/check-in
process performed by Slot
Technicians. Errors in manual
entry can result in parts being
miscounted, not ordered in a
timely fashion, or too many parts
on hand. Parts can be on the
shelf, and on the books, for
months waiting to be needed.
Redundancy multiplies this capital
cost. If a part is out of stock, the
game is now out of play which
means lost revenue.
PRODUCT: SlotTrak Inventory
Module
Inventory management happens
right on the floor via mobile
technology. QR code tracking is
used for scan-and-go checkout of
a part from inventory. The digital
inventory records an immediate
status update on the part. Scan-
and-go workflow at the slot
machine assigns the part to a
machine and adjusts the parts
inventory. Unused parts are
returned just as easily.
SOLUTION: Scan-and-go is fast
and reduces time the machine is
unavailable to players. Entry errors
are eliminated. Technicians focus
on keeping machines up and
running instead of on paperwork.
The inventory tracking is a smart
learning system that will send
alerts when it is time to order
parts. Just-in-time ordering takes
capital dollars off the shelf and into
profits.
MEAL Log
PROBLEM:
Every entry
into a slot
machine is
required to be
recorded.
Typically, the
record is a
paper log
inside the
machine
where the
technician
will record the
date, time,
reason for
entry, the
resolution and who accessed the
machine. The paper log entries are
often illegible and paper logs are
not searchable. The result is
collection of data that we cannot
use.
PRODUCT: SlotTrak MEAL Log
With SlotTrak the MEAL Log is
incorporated into the Slot File.
With the easy to use scan-and-go
mobile function, incident and
access recording happens right on
the floor. The technician scans the
machine QR code, selects the open
category and makes notes. Scan-
ning = no entry errors. Automati-
cally updates the Slot File with all
the pertinent information.
SOLUTION: The MEAL LOG pro-
vides data in a format that it can
be used. The system tracks main-
tenance records and connects
disconnected events by notification
of repeat instances. This allows
proactive maintenance and re-
duces downtime.
Always-up-to-date Slot File gives
accurate information and is audit
ready.
This mobile technology helps
technicians focus on keeping
machines up and running instead
of paperwork.
Work Orders
PROBLEM: No centralized system
for managing and delegating
tasks.
Typically, task management relies
on email, hand written notes, or
verbal directions from manage-
ment. The work load is not easily
tracked or documented. The
result is a series of tasks given
across multiple mediums with no
way to ensure that all work is
being completed in a timely
manner.
PRODUCT: SlotTrak Work Orders
With SlotTrak, work order track-
ing and assignment is placed in
the palm of your hand. The sys-
tem can be used to create work
orders manually or integration
with your slot accounting system
can import game errors straight
into the queue. The technician is
notified of an error, selects the
resolution, action taken, and
completes the request. Manage-
ment can be notified or pull the
department’s workload at any
time.
SOLUTION: The work order
module allows for centralized
management and tracking of
system and department generated
work requests. Slot personnel can
proactively identify and correct
root causes that prevent games
from achieving maximum cus-
tomer.
Results
The proof is in the numbers as
they say. SlotTrak has provided
early adopters significant returns
both from an operational effi-
ciency standpoint as well as from
a revenue generating standpoint.
Here are some of the key metrics
our customers have realized thus
far:
Zero slot file related audit findings
since implementation
900% decrease in audit prep time
99.99% system availability
96% increase in inventory avail-
ability
83% decrease in costs related to
document management
60% increase in employee effi-
ciency related to repairs
The Future
Ready to evolve your operations
and bring the “Imagine a Day”
scenario into reality? Reach out to
us for a free demo and see how we
can help you bring your internal
operations out of the dark ages
and enhance your bottom line.
Engage with Volante Software at:
https://www.volantesoftware.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/
3506284
https://twitter.com/
volantesoftware
https://www.facebook.com/
Volantesoftware/
Email –
Sales@volantesoftware.com
 Full House at TechFest 3
38 Slot Techs from 19 different properties attended t

T
Ne
tec
of s
tick
mo
com
JCM’s Dan Petersen presented on JCM bill
acceptors and FutureLogic printers. Two
Pep
spo
Alex Leubkeman (Ceronix) sup
led the group in a hands-on Slo
monitor repair lab that
presented real “issues” and The
real fixes. Everyone also had Ma
the opportunity to tear-down TBA
and repair an LCD panel. at s
35
the three-day event

T
echFest 35 was held April 2-
4 at Peppermill Resort Hotel
in Beautiful Reno,
vada.The event featured
chnical presentations on a range
subjects including bill acceptors, l. Paul Hatin (3M Touch Systems) r. Juan
ket printers, touchscreens, LCD Romero presented SlotTrak software.
onitor repair, soldering and
mponent testing.

o delicious luncheons were provided by the

ppermill Casino (our host for the event) and
onsored by G.E.T.T. (Las Vegas-based parts
pplier) and Volante Software, makers of
otTrak software.

e sold-out event will be held again next year.

rk your calendar for Spring, 2020. Final date
A. More information is available on the website
slot-techs.com

Transact Technologies’ Russ Wigé

presented their Epic series of printers.
Slot Technical Article UNI-750-1
SETEC Genesis

G
enerally speaking,
troubleshooting (especially
“power-on” troubleshooting)
often begins at the output and
works its way back toward the
input. After all, you start by
testing the output because
that’s why you’re sitting on the
bench; you’re there to fix the
bad stuff, not the good stuff.
But once you’ve determined
you have bad output(s), where
do you go from there?
Naturally, you start by testing
(with a digital multimeter) and
replacing the obviously bad
power semiconductors (the big
stuff, mounted on the heat The PVCC Circuit
sinks, such as MOSFETS,
transistors, output rectifiers, bad, such as capacitors with
etc.) and using your ESR meter only slightly high ESR) but the
to look for bad electrolytic unit is still not operating. It’s
capacitors. So you’ve done that not blowing up (thankfully) but
and replaced a few (maybe a there’s still no output.
small handful) of obviously
bad parts (and maybe some Since there’s no output,
that weren’t obviously really perhaps it’s time to jump back
to the beginning and take a
look at how things get started.
The sequence of events for the
successful start-up and
operation of a power supply
like the UNI-750-1 is long and
complex but it all has to start
somewhere.
PVCC
PVCC? What is that? Well, we
know that VCC (pronounced
“Vee, sub see see”) indicates
the power input to a circuit.
PVCC is a “perpetual” power
supply (around +13 VDC) that
should always be active, as
soon as the AC power input is
applied. This type of power
supply is common in lots of
things. It may be referred to as
a “standby” power supply or
something similar. Virtually
nothing beyond the initial AC
input rectification and primary
filtering happens until PVCC
kicks in and provides VCC to
U205 on the Control PCB.
U205 is a UCC28513
integrated circuit that is the
combination PFC/PWM IC that
SETEC loves so much. You
should keep these in stock. It’s
a common failure. More about
that later.
This circuit is known as a
“High-Side Buck Regulator
with Direct Feedback.” The
input is applied to the Drain of
the device (there’s a MOSFET
inside, obviously). It happens
to be at pin 5 of this device.
Please note that although the
input is labeled +400 Vdc,
until the PFC (Power Factor
Correction) circuit has started
and is operating, this voltage
will be “only” +170 here in the
USA. Regardless, the LNK304
accepts just about anything
above 85 volts as its input so
whether the input is +170 Vdc
or +400Vdc, the device will
operate properly.
Like all “buck” regulators, the
LNK304 works by “chopping”
the input into pulses that are
of a shortened duty cycle. In
this case, the device operates
at around 66 kHz and the
values of the resistors in the
resistor divider formed by R28
(2.7K ohms) and R29 (18k) are
selected to maintain 1.65 V at
the FEEDBACK pin. For a
short period of time, the
MOSFET in the device is
turned on and the full input
voltage (+170 Vdc or +400 Vdc)
is passed through from the
drain to the source. This is
followed by a much longer
period when the MOSFET is
off. Of course, you can’t slam a
25 volt capacitor (C31) with a
400 volt pulse, so inductor L9-
value unknown. It’s just a wee
thing with a ferrite core-acts as
an energy storage device,
charging up a magnetic field
and letting it out slowly as the
collapsing field generates
current that then flows into
C31, charging it to just 13
volts.
If you’re using a DMM and not
an oscilloscope to look at this,
be aware that pin 1 of the coil
(the source of the LNK304)
looks very different from pin 2,
the output side of the coil. I
confused myself for a minute
as I used a meter to measure
the input at the drain at +170
Vdc but the output at the
source (66kHz pulses at +170
volts amplitude) freaked out
the cheap meter I was using
and it maxed out the DC
measurement at what the
meter thought was over 600
volts. The output voltage read
higher than the input! Of
course, that’s impossible for a
buck regulator.
It’s interesting to note that the
device doesn’t control the
output voltage by PWM (Pulse-
Width Modulation) as you
might expect. Instead, as the
output rises to the desired
level, the device simply skips
cycles periodically, preventing
over voltage. If it rises just a
tiny fraction of a volt above
ideal, it skips cycles until the
output drops to where it’s
supposed to be so if you’re
looking at the output with an
oscilloscope, you’ll notice some
jumping around. The system
also incorporates something
known as “jitter” which is the
slight shifting of the operating
frequency around a central
frequency. Normally (at least in
the world of radio
transmission) jitter is a bad
thing. Here, it is used
intentionally to reduce EMI by
distributing it across a range
instead of just a single
operating frequency.
Chain of Failure
And now for something
completely different.
Sometimes, this power supply
tells you what’s wrong through
visual inspection. Power
MOSFETs will crater with a
guarantee that the shorted
power MOSFET will have fed
high voltage back into the
device that drives it. For the
+12/+15 volt circuit, an
exploded Q5 indicates that
U206 will be bad as well. For
the +24 volt circuit, failure of
Q6 will take out U205. See D3
connected to the drive output
of U205 at pin 10? That gets
wiped-out by the high voltage
short of the MOSFET Q6.
There is an easy, power-off test
for U205. Measure the
resistance (or use the “diode
test” function of your digital
multimeter) between the
device’s ground at pin 11 and
the power input (Vcc input) at
pin 9. It will be low (shorted or
just dozens of ohms) compared
to the normal reading of
hundreds or thousands of
ohms. This test actually works
fairly well on many types of
integrated circuits. Connect a
meter to ground and with
power off, start probing any/
all of the pins. Compare to a
working unit. It’s a good
“power off” triage. You’re not so
much checking to see if the
device is working as you are to
determine it’s bad. These are
two different things. - STM
When Q6 shorts, it take out U205 and D3

A trio of bad MOSFETs

Left: A quick, power-off test of

U205 between pins 9 and 11. Short
or low resistance is bad.

When Q5 shorts, it takes out U206

 Slot Tech Training
No previous electronics experience required

Join us for a regional slot tech training

class at any of these properties
√ Milwaukee, WI at Potawatomi Casino
√ Tulsa Oklahoma at Hard Rock Casino
√ Los Angeles, CA at Morongo Casino
√ Reno, NV at The Peppermill Casino
√ Williamsburg, MI at Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel
√ Training at YOUR property?
“It’s not difficult to fix power supplies and LCD monitors”

D o you have a shop stacked with monitors and power supplies that need
to be fixed? Are you sending your items out for repair?

A re you looking for a quick and painless way to bring your slot techs up to
speed on monitor and power supply repair, down to the component
level?

You don’t have to be a genius to fix power supplies and LCD monitors. The
class assumes no previous knowledge of electronics. Class begins at 9:00
am and typically ends at around 4:00 pm daily with an hour break for lunch
at noon.

The three-day class is $795.00 per person This includes all textbooks and
classroom materials. Each student receives their own digital multimeter and
soldering tools and supplies as well as samples of electronic components.
Students will also build a component tester that will be a valuable tool for
diagnosing failures in the shop. With a minimum of eight students, training
can be held at your own property. Otherwise, you are invited to send your
staff to any one of our Regional Slot Tech Training classes that we hold from
time to time at various locations across the country. Please consult the
website at slot-techs.com for the current schedule.

To book your training or for further information, contact:

Randy Fromm-Publisher
Slot Tech Magazine
401 W. Lexington Ave. #777
El Cajon, CA 92020
tel.619.838.7111
To enroll, visit the website
fax.619.351.0410 at slot-techs.com
randyfromm@gmail.com
 Day One
Course Outline
Beginning Electronics for Slot Techs

This segment assumes that you have no previous electronics

training and takes you through a simple, NO MATH look at electronic
components, electronic circuits, schematic diagrams and more!
Understanding electronics is easy when you learn the basics of how
circuits and components operate.

Using a Digital Multimeter

The DMM is the single most important piece of test equipment you
can use. This class shows you how to use the meter to make the
tests and measurements necessary for troubleshooting.

Electronic Components
All of the individual components commonly used in slot machines
are introduced. Parts are covered individually. Students learn how
the components function and how to test them for proper operation
using the digital multimeter or other test equipment. Students will
have ample opportunities to practice their testing skills during the
hands-on component testing labs.

Day Two
Soldering Lab

Good soldering technique takes practice but there are some tricks
that can really help speed things along and minimize the chance of
damage. Each student will be provided with their own soldering iron,
solder and desoldering supplies. This equipment will be theirs to
keep. We will be assembling a fun kit that includes all of the
electronic components we have just studied. Following this practice,
we will also be constructing a component tester which will be a
valuable tool for the slot shop.

Day Three
Power Supplies

Power supply failure is common (as you know). This segment covers
the theory of operation of power supplies, including the power
supplies used in LCD monitors. The emphasis is on common failures
and repairs.

LCD Monitor Repair

For a casino, LCD Monitor repair is generally pretty easy thanks to

their modular design. This segment covers the theory of operation of
LCD monitors. There will be a presentation on repair techniques
including CCFL replacement with LEDs. Repair of inverter PCBs and
A/D boards will be covered.

page 15
Slot Tech Magazine 401 W. Lexington Ave. #777 El Cajon, CA 92022 619.838.7111
 Slot Tech Magazine
1944 Falmouth Dr.
El Cajon, CA 92020 Postage

“Let me show you how fun and easy it is to fix power

supplies and LCD monitors.”-Randy Fromm