[GBC] Solaire

[Great Ball Pit]

Hey everyone,

Here is a very simple, yet elegant GBC module using the old Skateboard Ramps, and the newer large ring gears.

It clears balls very quickly, and is rock solid reliable.

 

 

[BrickbyBrickTechnic]

Interesting and elegant design, also very ingenious idea 

[aeh5040]

Very nice.  Mesmerizing in its awesome simplicity!

[RohanBeckett]

Very nice.. good clean lines!

haven't had any balls get stuck as the sweeper bar comes around?

[Great Ball Pit]

2 hours ago, RohanBeckett said:

Very nice.. good clean lines!

haven't had any balls get stuck as the sweeper bar comes around?

It hasn't yet, and I have thrown all my GBC balls at it batch several times, 45+ balls, it didn't jam up.  However with that big of a batch it has a chance to leak some balls over the sides as the balls fall back into the module when being swept up.  30 batch seems totally fine.

[shadow_elenter]

Clean and minimalistic! I love it!

[1gor]

Smooth design 

[knotian]

What are the curved pieces that for the bottom?

 

[RohanBeckett]

Old Skateboard/Snowboard ramp curves

https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=43085#T=S&O={"ss":"AU","rpp":"100","iconly":0}

quite useful in GBC situations! and reasonably cheap

[ColletArrow]

This is a simple, effective and original (I think) idea. I can't stress how neat, clean and minimalist this is, and how good it looks in the lineup as a result. Good work, this is what I like to see.

[knotian]

RohanBeckett

Thank you!

[Berthil]

Here's my version, also got high res pics but Flickr is not working so later. @Great Ball Pit Thanks for the excellent idea with ramps and bucket wheel!

 

[kieran]

That's really nice, works perfectly 

[Berthil]

Flickr works again so also some photos:

[Great Ball Pit]

I like your changes, I think these modules are going to look great in a big layout!

[kieran]

Colours are great on this as well, looks really clean

[dunes]

@Berthil's version in black/red

digital model in 2 colors

Edited December 13, 2018 by dunes
typo

[Berthil]

@dunes Nice!

I however made some changes after 7 days of running at LEGO World Utrecht. Balls kept on jamming, especially on the output. It was actually the module that needed the most attention of all the modules I had with me.

I made the entry a sharp edge and exit more convex following the curves of the ring so balls don't jam.  I'll make some pictures.

Edited December 13, 2018 by Berthil

[dunes]

1 hour ago, Berthil said:

I made the entry a sharp edge and exit more convex following the curves of the ring so balls don't jam.  I'll make some pictures.

thanks

[Great Ball Pit]

I've found if the large ring starts to loosen up, it can cause ball jams on the output.  It happened once at BrickCan 2018 after 8 hours, and jammed once throughout all of BrickCon 2018.  I replaced one of the 24t gears with a clutch to try and prevent any damage from a jam.