Carsten Svendsen Posted June 5, 2015 Posted June 5, 2015 I like to build with my Technic, I really do, but frankly, I don't know what to build which is why I'm asking for ideas. Only requirements are that the thing shouldn't be driveable, well not a car or a truck anyway. I like to build different kind of things. Like for instance, I've build a rubiks cube and a motion sim to mention some of the bigger stuff. I've also build a stand-alone machine for another machine when I went to school, and other small stuff to help with mundane tasks And well, the thing shouldn't be too big since I probably won't complete it then. I don't have any GBC balls at all, and it's impossible to find a good batch on bricklink, so I can't make GBC modules either. - Well I guess I can, but they probably won't work as intended. Being able to use Mindstorms is a plus. I only got one NXT though as monitor on the other one doesn't work. Hopefully I can build something cool :) Quote
Lipko Posted June 5, 2015 Posted June 5, 2015 Assembly line/cell? Something not too big but capable to actually assemble something. Quote
GoldVillage Posted June 5, 2015 Posted June 5, 2015 (edited) delete Edited June 5, 2015 by GoldVillage Quote
dr_spock Posted June 5, 2015 Posted June 5, 2015 You could make a Mindstorm controlled GBC machine using the Technic balls that came with the NXT set. Those balls are 16.5mm versus 14mm for the usual soccer balls. The only problem is you may not be able to be part of a bigger GBC collaborative display if you don't build to the standards. How about a NXT CNC milling machine? 3D chocolate printer? Quote
Osuharding1 Posted June 5, 2015 Posted June 5, 2015 I highly recommend you check out the builder Nico71 on Rebrickable.com. He has a lot of Technic creations that are not trucks or cars. Quote
allanp Posted June 5, 2015 Posted June 5, 2015 What about a fairground ride, an animal, or something more random like a really tall, old style elevator with working floor indicator dial inside the lift car, or a clock, or a space shuttle, or....well I think that should keep you busy . Quote
Captainowie Posted June 6, 2015 Posted June 6, 2015 How about a Rube Goldberg machine? Find some simple task to do (like maybe pressing a button on your Mindstorms controller that plays a tune or something), and come up with the most convoluted way you can to achieve that. Bonus points if you start the chain by pressing a button on your other Mindstorms controller! Quote
BusterHaus Posted June 6, 2015 Posted June 6, 2015 Try building a robotic arm or a walker. Mindstorms are very well suited for both. Quote
Jeroen Ottens Posted June 6, 2015 Posted June 6, 2015 Second the robotic arm. Something like the ones used in the Legoland attraction where you are strapped in a sest attached to an industrial robot arm... Got pretty sick in that one :) Quote
Carsten Svendsen Posted June 6, 2015 Author Posted June 6, 2015 I see that there are a few ideas I like - I like the idea of a rube goldberg machine. I was always kinda facinated by them. I just don't think my imagination is good enough. I guess I could try building a small one though. - Building an animal also sounds really cool. Some time ago I was thinking about building a dolphin and build a prototype tail but it never got further than that as a dolphin is too complex. Maybe I should just try to build something more simple like an elephant. - A Harbour crane looks cool too. Really simple in construction, but needs strength and fancy wirework. I guess I could make it work. - And I already build a fairground ride, namely my 3D Motion Simulator, but I never got to program it, simply because I'm a douche when it comes to electronics. If someone knows anything that could help me, look at this board and send me a PM here on EB or something. For some reason people don't like to help people when the answer seems obvious to themselfes. - And some that I don't like - An assembly line sounds kinda neat I guess, if I had like 4 additional NXT's. - The balls that come with mindstorms/bionicle won't fit in a 2 stud width for a GBC module(s) - 3D printer/milling is out of the question, my programming skills are far to bad to even attempt at something like that - I don't wanna build a clock 'cause of math - A space shuttle would be a cool aesthetic looking model but what are the functions? Are there any? Besides it reminds me too much of my own plane - I guess I could build technic ships but I won't even bother 'cause they/it would be an abomination compared to VFRacingTeam's models. Besides, I didn't plan on purchasing tons of bricks to make it. I'm wondering though if I should try to finish my other projects first. I just don't have any good ideas for how to complete them. - A copy of a rollercoaster located here in Denmark. Problems being how to build the cars so they stay on the track and roll freely at all angles - My motion sim as already mentioned, where I need the expertise of an electronics guru - My plane, obviously, still work in progress. The thread has been bumped multiple times the past few days Quote
arik Posted June 6, 2015 Posted June 6, 2015 If I may, I could add a couple of non-wheeled ideas I've been contemplating building, but haven't had the time to try (and possibly never will): - a Technic ship that floats, using either floating elements or some kind of (non-Lego) film for keeping water out of the hull -- this should be an interesting engineering challenge, as the hull shape is not restricted to existing one-piece hull elements - a 4-legged walker with a realistic stable gait (an elephant would be perfect for this); basically three legs move on ground and one is up returning -- the mechanics of this are rather challenging and I'm not sure if this would be best done with pneumatics or with linkages, or even linear actuators - a sci-fi spacecraft Quote
allanp Posted June 7, 2015 Posted June 7, 2015 (edited) For a fairground ride what about a top spin or swinging ship? They would have some simple programmable functions. Or instead of an animal what about an insect, like a quite large, killer looking all black 8 legged scorpion with working arms, claws and stinger. Interesting thing about the top spin is that I don't think it uses a motor to spin the carriage round, only the arms are motorised though the carriage rotation does have a brake. At least that's how it looks to me. You can hear a hiss of air every time the carriage brakes are released. Could also have working safety bar thingys. Edited June 7, 2015 by allanp Quote
Captainowie Posted June 7, 2015 Posted June 7, 2015 - The balls that come with mindstorms/bionicle won't fit in a 2 stud width for a GBC module(s) Well then just don't build any channels that are only 2 studs wide! There are plenty of GBC modules that would work with both types of balls. You do have to be careful though of the little divot that's on one side of the bionicle balls - it means you need a steeper slope than normal to keep them rolling. Owen. Quote
Josephiah Posted June 7, 2015 Posted June 7, 2015 On GBC-ish theme, I've been thinking of trying to make one of those classic ball bearing obstacle courses like screwball scramble or the rock'n'roll maze. You'd want aa mixture of automated obstacles and manual controls, plus a reliable way of returning balls which have fallen off; bonus points if you can incorporate a timer mechanism... Quote
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