[MOC] Rope Braiding Machine

[Hugolin]

Hello.

New post in this new year to show you this:

So what connection between this rope and Lego, you say?

The machine that does it, of course !!!

I start with the video.

Edit : WIP vidéo :

Now, photos and explanation.

This braiding is based on the following system: to alternatively turn the trays.

Although it uses 12 strands, braiding is relatively simple:

The strands are braided in fact four by four.

The blue plaques turn to the right and red on the left, etc ..

Between each rotation, the trays are realigned by "jaws".

To power, a motor M is more than enough.

The lever to switch to manual.

Here, the manufacture of the central party of the rope:

This part can be replaced:

Here two little winding mécanisme for the bobbin:

A very important detail: the elastics that ensure proper tightening of the braid.

Finally, different braids made by the machine:

And also

Happy New Year !

Edited January 6, 2016 by Hugolin

[muffinbrick]

Wow, this is just amazing...

[BusterHaus]

C'est très impressionnant! How reliable is the whole mechanism? I'm guessing it's a little bit limited by the length of string available on the spool.

By the way, your WIP video explained the braiding mechanism very well. You may want to show it here.

[Chilly]

Wow.

[Kumbbl]

incredible cool :wub: :thumbup:

[Technic Jim]

It is amazing to see how many different ways this machine has been made and, to be honest, this solution is the most imaginative and innovative I have seen; Good work

[Cumulonimbus]

That is seriously impressive, I like the quality of the braid. How tightly has it been braided? I love these "stationary" creations and machines, especially when they are actually doing "usefull" work, like braiding. Very good job.

I would be interested in learning more about the working principles of your machine, what each section does, how you switch between braiding patterns, etc.

[technicbuilder]

Hello,

A great masterpice you have made.

Building with lego parts isn't limited.

Edited January 3, 2016 by technicbuilder

[Vorkosigan]

Incredible build! Thanks for making a video.

[Actor Builder]

This is awesome! I'm always amazed by functioning LEGO creations. My creations always just look nice. This is great.

Good job!

[oracid]

Congratulations for the originality of your creations !

[afol1969]

Outstanding construction

The best braiding machine I've ever seen. Does there exist any LDD/LDRAW file

Greetings

Alex

[lcvisser]

My mind hurts from being blown. This is awesome Thanks for sharing!

[MacKaiwer]

So nice and clever machine Bobbin mechanisms are also awesome, very effective for the task at hand and yet so simple and compact One of the best machines with real life purpose, very well done!

[Sylvian]

Everytime i see someone build something like this i feel like a complete noob again,.. what an awesome creation,.it looks as good as works!

And,. what Ludo said,.

Edited January 4, 2016 by Sylvian

[Mestari]

Simply amazing, I want to have something like that on my desk and just watch it work :)

[kieran]

Really good job on this, it makes amazing ropes

[nerdsforprez]

Holy incredible! But ** Gasp** new member and first (??) post? - this makes it even more amazing!

Not only did I love watching the whole thing work but the finished product is just amazing....

[2LegoOrNot2Lego...]

Great way to kick off 2016...!!! Excellent build...well done...!!! :thumbup:

[Splat]

Great work

I also made a much smaller braiding machine (link), and I still want to make a larger one like this too. I guess you beat me to it

I like the way that you keep the tension in the threads.

[Hugolin]

Thank you all for your comments

How reliable is the whole mechanism? I'm guessing it's a little bit limited by the length of string available on the spool.

You're right, the limit is the length of the wires.

The largest rope I can do is about 2 meters (± 2 yd).

By the way, your WIP video explained the braiding mechanism very well. You may want to show it here.

You're right again, I add it in the presentation.

and here :

I would be interested in learning more about the working principles of your machine, what each section does, how you switch between braiding patterns, etc.

I hope that the "WIP" video answers your question.

Does there exist any LDD/LDRAW file

Not yet, but probably coming soon.

Holy incredible! But ** Gasp** new member and first (??) post? - this makes it even more amazing!

New Member, yes.

But not the first post. Here is my first post : http://www.eurobrick...howtopic=118049

Splat =>

I saw your braider.

I hope see the next soon.

Edited January 6, 2016 by Hugolin

[Hugolin]

Hello.

Not much time for lego since this braiding ...

I walk up the post to show the change of the reel of the braider.

In fact it is no longer a reel but a winch.

A photo of the modified part:

The winch I did is like a capstan.

The rope makes a turn on the "capstan" (tires) and is held in tension at the outlet, so that the friction allow towing.

On the following picture the towed rope is that high, while the bottom one freely out of the mechanism.

This way, no need to wait for braiding to recover the rope:

We can take a piece during manufacture.

On this last picture shows a jaw made of 4 12t and kept tightening by elastic.

It is the latter which maintain the rope in tension, allowing the winch to tow the rope correctly.

The principle is simple: the 12 t pulling slightly faster than the winch and easily ripent on the rope, which ensures the tension of the latter.

Voila, I hope I was clear enough.

Otherwise feel free to ask questions.

A short video will surely complement the explanations.

[Splat]

@Hugolin - Nice update using the winch instead of the reel to take up the final braid. I had also been thinking about making the same modification to my braiding machine since, as the reel gets full, it tries to pull the braid through faster (due to the larger diameter), and that changes the density of the braid. Using the winch allows the speed of the braid to remain constant, and results in a more consistent braid. Also, as you mentioned, having the winch allows you to remove some of the braid during manufacture without having to take it off the reel. Keep up the good work.

[nicjasno]

This is just an incredible feat of lego engineering. Respect!

[legolijntje]

This looks like such a nice machine! :thumbup:

Any chance for some instructions or digital model?