Multiplex: a GBC Module

[sqiddster]

Hello everyone!

This is my first real Great Ball Contraption module. It uses 2 NXT's, lots of PF motors, and is programmed with RobotC. It's main features are a unique color sorter, and a ball array (watch the video ). This model was interesting as it was equally a hardware and software challenge - the building was bigger than I have ever attempted, and negating ball clogs is a nightmare. It clocks in at just over 6 feet long.

I built this because I had the chance to attend a Lego convention for the first time - Brickfair in the US. It should be great fun being part of a collaborative display.

Multiplex by sqiddster, on Flickr

Edited July 31, 2012 by sqiddster

[Zerobricks]

Use [media] tags for embedding video.

It sure is complex and amazing! The way it wrote LEGO is simply brilliant! I wonder if it can write anything else too?

[sqiddster]

Use [media] tags for embedding video.

It sure is complex and amazing! The way it wrote LEGO is simply brilliant! I wonder if it can write anything else too?

Thanks! It can write anything I like, fitting in a 7x18 grid. However, I can't think of anything else to say, other than LEGO ;)

In regards to the [media] tag, that does not want to work either! Any tips?

Edited July 31, 2012 by sqiddster

[Zerobricks]

blablabla

Like this, but with youtube link instead of blablabla.

[bb15080]

I like the way it is writing lego really well done

just copy the url and past them in the mediatag

Edited July 31, 2012 by bb15080

[sqiddster]

Thanks, fixed it ;)

[parda]

This is more than a GBC module I'm affraid of your future modules!!

My Blog entry

[sqiddster]

This is more than a GBC module I'm affraid of your future modules!!

My Blog entry

Thanks for the Mention, Parda! Your blog is my main GBC fix ;)

[parda]

Thanks for the Mention, Parda! Your blog is my main GBC fix ;)

Wow thanks! It wont't be the best-english written blog but might be the biggest GBC "database"

[Jetro]

I was faithfully informed by Flickr and couldn't believe my luck when I looked closer: a complex, multi-stage GBC module with a cool "mosaic". Love the clean look of it too.

[Paul Boratko]

Oh wow.. This will make an AMAZING Grand Finale to the GBC at the show...

I am no expert in this field at all, so I have a few questions...

1.) How long does it normally take to fill up the final part with the Lego letters..?

2.) If you flip it around the other side, can you reverse the balls to spell the Lego logo or will it only read the right way on one side..?

3.) Can this be used in a continuous Loop GBC or one that just runs from one end to the other..?

I don't know how those guys are setting it up this year, but last year they had twice as much space as they needed and just had it running one end to the other end...

[Paul Boratko]

The reason why I ask about the continuous loop is because of the time that the final part takes to fill up with balls and spell out "LEGO" and was wondering if there would be a long delay of balls being fed to the next module...

Obviously if they just run it end to end again this year, it won't matter...

[sqiddster]

Oh wow.. This will make an AMAZING Grand Finale to the GBC at the show...

I am no expert in this field at all, so I have a few questions...

1.) How long does it normally take to fill up the final part with the Lego letters..?

2.) If you flip it around the other side, can you reverse the balls to spell the Lego logo or will it only read the right way on one side..?

3.) Can this be used in a continuous Loop GBC or one that just runs from one end to the other..?

I don't know how those guys are setting it up this year, but last year they had twice as much space as they needed and just had it running one end to the other end...

Thanks for the comments!

1. I would estimate about 20 minutes to fill it up in normal circumstances. However, considering a possible lack of orange balls and a lower throughput rate, I'd estimate over half an hour.

2. GBC modules are designed to be viewed from one side, so this shouldn't be a problem.

3. It could be used in either, I suppose. I am fairly sure we are setting it up in a loop this year, apparently we are going to be breaking the US record for most modules!

In regards to taking all the balls:

-It has overflow valves - i.e. only the needed balls are diverted to the array. This means that around 75% of the balls just flow through anyway.

-I will fine tune the speed of the ball return so that the balls are returned at a constant rate.

Are you coming? It would be amazing to see some of your cars!

[KEvron]

can it meet the gbc module feed-rate spec? i don't know the exact rate specified, but i know there is one.

KEvron

[sqiddster]

can it meet the gbc module feed-rate spec? i don't know the exact rate specified, but i know there is one.

KEvron

The standard spec is 1 ball per second. It can reach about 0.8, and this is fine as in practice the GBC loop will average little more than 0.5.

[Paul Boratko]

Thanks for the comments!

In regards to taking all the balls:

-It has overflow valves - i.e. only the needed balls are diverted to the array. This means that around 75% of the balls just flow through anyway.

-I will fine tune the speed of the ball return so that the balls are returned at a constant rate.

Are you coming? It would be amazing to see some of your cars!

Oh, ok so balls will actually be bypassing the "LEGO" Mosaic part along with filling it up.. I thought that maybe this would back up the GBC if it were in a loop, but obviously that is not the case at all since there will be an overflow... Brickfair is going to be awesome this year, and YES I will be there...

[Bob Kojima]

This is more than your normal GBC module! good job! what are you using for balls? those dont look like soccer or basket balls.

glad i will get to see it in person at Brickfair. any other Tech heads from here going to be at brickfair?

bob

[Paul202]

That's amazing. BTW, hwere did you get all your GBC balls? Are they some type of offcial Lego balls, or did you just find a pack of them at a store?

[sqiddster]

Thanks for the comments, guys.

In regards to the balls: I could not afford to buy soccer and basketballs off bricklink, as the price has skyrocketed recently to over $1 per ball. Therefore, I started a topic here to try to find an alternative:

http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=69642

In the end, Blastem and DLuders showed me a great alternative - plastic beads that you can get on ebay - $5 for a bag of 100. They work really well except for the fact that they are a tiny bit smaller, and have bead holes which in very rare circumstances can prevent them from rolling from a stop.

I was also kindly lent ten or so of the regulation balls to test with, just to make sure that it worked with them (it does).

I'd definitely recommend those beads!

[Lasse D]

It is awesome to see a new take on a complex GBC module / and a great finale.

You could also code it to show the number of balls that have passed through ;) Then it would count as a counting GBC module, which are always nice to have around.

The troughput is perfectly fine for a European display. In the US they are a bit more strict about 1 ball/sec, hence why I prefer displaying in Europe.

It can be a problem that it holds up the balls for up to 30 minutes if you want to make a loop. How about making balls bypass if they are not in the correct color to be added to the display? This way on average every second ball will get through and feed the rest of the loop.

[sqiddster]

It is awesome to see a new take on a complex GBC module / and a great finale.

You could also code it to show the number of balls that have passed through ;) Then it would count as a counting GBC module, which are always nice to have around.

The troughput is perfectly fine for a European display. In the US they are a bit more strict about 1 ball/sec, hence why I prefer displaying in Europe.

It can be a problem that it holds up the balls for up to 30 minutes if you want to make a loop. How about making balls bypass if they are not in the correct color to be added to the display? This way on average every second ball will get through and feed the rest of the loop.

Thanks Lasse!

The balls do indeed bypass if they are not the correct color. I'd estimate at least 50% of the balls bypass this way. In combination with careful control of the output, this means I get a nice consistent flow to the next module.

[Lasse D]

For some reason I missed the bypass in the video. Good work on thinking of all these details. I look forward to see it in action somewhere.

[kieran]

Wow, amazing. I have some of the balls you recomend and they work well as yoy say. Thanks for the tip