Search the Community
Showing results for tags 'gbc'.
Found 172 results
-
[GBC] Ball Cleaning Machine Project (inspired by Akiyuki)
HRU_Bricks posted a topic in LEGO Technic and Model Team
A new topic to attempt to centralize information, improvements and discussions about the most iconic Great Ball Contraption made by Kawaguchi Akiyuki,GBC Ball Cleaning Machine The thread is also a centralized location for all variations as well as newer design concepts of Ball cleaning machines. -
... whis is, of course, a personal remake of a famous design from Akiyuki ! (because I admired how he turned/staged industrial speed reducers into ball transportation mechanisms) Another motivation was that some famous GBC designers (Josh DaVid, Sawyer) re-create well-known designs in a smaller form factor. And of course, the "self-challenge". So here is my currently final work (despite not yet well-polished regarding input and output's aesthetics) : And a quick test in a (very short and low-resolution) video : http://www.mgtx.fr//GBC/ReducteurCycloidal/CompactCycloid_Test_LowRes.MOV (my usual camera failed recently ==> I used an old working one). As introduced before, I haven't changed the core mechanism, which relies on the two following main tricks : using 180-53° liftarms for building the heptagonal structure of the "rotor" (only approximately 2° of mechanical stress per side) central pivot achieved by a pseudo gear bearing (pivot = sun gear ; rotor = planet carrier ; no ring gear) because no 7-beam hub does exist in LEGO and less than 7 beams is impossible because 7 is a prime number (whereas Akiyuki's rotor has 9 sides ==> 3 --double-- beams on a 6-hole pulley) The only changes I made (since the above older pictures) were : on the stator, new support structures for the big "teeth" and a brick-based rear wall (for preventing the rotor from wobbling and jamming) the ball catch mechanism : instead of the previous 3-finger layout (with one moving finger), I switched to Akiyuki's 2-(hollow)finger solution, using old crank parts and the material's flexibility : it takes less room, making the ball catching easier the ball can be pushed in/out in perfectly opposite directions, making it possible to load it at the very bottom and to unload it at the very top Then I managed to build the output ramp and input mechanism (input bin with basic steering + 1-by-1 ball distribution) and to adjust them, after several trial-and-error steps too. (I initially attached all the elements on a baseplate in order to quickly adjust them with respect to each other, before linking them together in the form of a hollow but stiff chassis). The mechanical inputs are a crank (behind the stator) and a motor input (behind the input bin).
-
[GBC] Newcomer diving right in custom designs
Thierry-GearsManiac posted a topic in LEGO Technic and Model Team
Hi everybody. This is my first post (except the "members' introduction"). Not being sure if it is the correct way/place to start I at last go into posting about my GBC projects, which are all only at WIP stage now. I already watched and read a lot of GBC resources (events videos, standards, famous modules and builders, balls sourcing hints...), which gave me a few ideas of custom builds, which will be new ideas as well as "remakes". But my work is currently slowed down by a few difficulties when leaving the dark age (getting used to studless building techniques when designing custom only, missing parts despite a huge initial BrickLink investment), so the results would show up bit by bit only. So, for more concrete stuff, my most advanced work is on a compact cycloidal drive, of course inspired by Akiyuki's one, but being a fully custom from-scratch and trial-and-error build. At its current state, only the core mechanism is available and it runs smoothly. However the ball transport (currently built on only one cycloidal "tooth") seems to be the hardest thing to make reliable, and it is not yet the case. A stiffer chassis (with the input bin and agitator + secondary ball transport mechanism will be required too. I'll build it with bricks mainly (when I'll find an opportunity to pick up my childhood stock). The core mechanism features an outer ring of 8 teeth, based on an octagon made up of 6L axles and 135° connectors, and a 7-teeth cycloidal disc (and some associated tricks), resulting in approximately 2/3 the size of Akiyuki's original design. So is my prototype worth a picture right now ? (a few other modules are planned but I built only draft/mock-ups of the core mechanisms now due to the lack of parts.) -
Free Lego GBC workshop for children (October 15, Eindhoven, NL)
Hanso posted a topic in LEGO Technic and Model Team
On Tuesday October 15, a free GBC workshop is organized for children in the age of 7 to 14 years old. The workshop is organized by Sioux Technologies to promote science and technique for the next generation. Location is Esp 101, Eindhoven (The Netherlands). Two of the models of Philip Verbeek (PV productions) will be used in the workshop. Philip himself will be there as well as trainer. More information can be found here: https://www.sioux.eu/ (please note that the workshop will be available in Dutch only, so is the information at the Sioux website). -
This question is for folks that set-up GBC modules at events. Do you have an emergency/breakdown/set-up kit that you take to events? If so what do you have in your kit? I did my first event this past weekend and would like to make sure that I am better equipped for the next event which will be in October. Thanks, Daniel
-
This lego great ball contraption module uses a set of "forks" attached to technic lift arms to lit the GBC balls to the next module. The lift arms have to lift when they can't turn any farther. The mechanism is very reliable, but it can't be running to slow. The mechanism that loads the forks looks weird, but it does work well. I had a hard time getting the design right but it works well now. If you want the LDD or Stud.io file you can get them here.
-
This Lego great ball contraption module uses mechanism with the transparent food covering type pieces (I have no idea what they are actually called) It is a reliable module, even though it looks like it is flexing a lot in the video. The tightness of the mechanism that holds the balls is able to be adjusted very easily to make sure that they pick up the balls each time. I have (as you can see) finally got some proper GBC balls to run my modules with. This module can hold one layer of them in the input bin before they get stuck, I would guess that that is about 30 - 35 balls. Like most of my recent modules it is compatible with my power sharing standard. The LDD file is on bricksafe here.
-
Hello, here is my latest module which will allow me to split the flow of balls into two separate outputs. I've wanted to do a path splitter for a while. So after seeing a module in a recent European GBC layout that used the Sports ramps in this manner, it inspired me to get started. This module has a recirculation function, massive input bin, and the ability to move balls out quite quickly. The biggest challenge when building this module was getting the sweeper motion to work as intended. If anyone here has a better solution for the sweeper linkage please leave a reply as it is something I'd like to improve.
-
This lego GBC module uses three cardan gear mechanisms to rotate the platforms that the balls sit on. It is a reliable module when you have the timing between the loading and unloading mechanisms aligned right. The long technic axle you can see running through the front of the module is how it shares power between it and other modules. I am trying to make all my new modules able to share power in this way, as this way I only need one motor for every 4 to 5 modules. If you wan to build this module I have instructions on Rebrickable. More photos on Flickr. The mechanism to load the balls is quite simple, although it is not the most smooth. I would like to change the mechanism to something easier on the parts, maybe by making the main stepper tall enough to let the balls roll straight on. The unloading mechanism is inspired by Akiyuki's mechanism, although it is not exactly the same. This version uses the 2L rubber technic beams instead of rubber bands, and holds two balls instead on one.
-
I came up with the mechanism for this module by accident when I went to put a axle through the middle of the gear, and thought "I wonder why I have never used the other axle holes for anything" and that is how this module started. The mechanism quite reliable, as long as you have the timing between the two parts of the module is right. The timing is easy to set up by holding back the last gear while the mdoule is running. Instructions are on Rebrickable here. I know that I am still using non-lego balls. Yesterday I went to buy them from lego bricks and pieces, I added them to my bag and then went to add the lego hogwarts express set to my bag as well. In the time that it took me to do that they went out of stock, hopefully they will be back in stock in the next few days. More photos.
-
I've designed and build this LEGO Great Ball Contraption for Lego World 2017 in Utrecht in The Netherlands. Last year almost over 100.000 Lego fans visited Lego World. This GBC will be part of a circle of over 150 machines. The kids control the Ball Catcher Mouse with LEGO power functions and are thus responsible to keep all balls circulating as part of the 150+ machines. I hope that is exciting enough for them :) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1ZZsKZlan4
-
This is my take on Tom Atkinsons‘s „Perpetual Prototype“ module in classic GBC style. Often seen in Beyond the Brick GBC videos,
-
I've designed the below GBC called Rainbow Wave. It has 38 Lego colors and about 1150 moving parts. It is powered by a single motor, with each of the colored pistons sitting on an 8-tooth gear. Each piston’s gear is exactly 1 tooth offset from its neighbors making one wave 8 colors. The GBC is level so the balls are moved by the waving surface. Free building instruction for version 2 and parts list is available on Rebrickable with a thank you @Courbet for the improvements and creating the digital model! https://rebrickable.com/mocs/MOC-7456/Berthil/rainbow-wave-gbc-v2/
-
I forgot to post this last week, here's my latest module Upslide. It uses a helical pusher to push balls up a friends slide, and it's powered by a PF M Motor. I tried to run it at BrickCan this weekend, but it only performed for a few hours before having a bunch of issues I'll need to fix. I need to reinforce the input bin walls, tweak the output at the top of the slide, and fix a small gearing issue for the helical drive. Stay tuned for a version 2.
-
Here is a GBC module built using a conveyor, and the older "Racer" track. The theme is based on the song of the same name. The conveyor is powered by a PF-M Motor, and the Sweeper is using a PF-XL motor.
-
[GBC] Planet GBC is on YouTube and launch the very first online magazine on GBC
turbopolofr posted a topic in LEGO Technic and Model Team
I’m really excited and happy to share with you the first video from Planet GBC, taking the form of an online magazine. In the video, you will: → Discover GBC → Have an overview of the best GBC modules released over the past weeks → Learn how to build a GBC module from A to Z (get the instructions, buy and order parts you need) and reproduce Sawyer Scissor Lift module → Find and buy GBC balls for your module I hope you will enjoy this video. Don't hesitate to leave comments on this video via this forum thread -
After buying two bucket wheel excavators for parts I had to do something with the Rings and Buckets.So I designed and build this GBC. It rests on 4 wheels and all 4 wheels are powered. This GBC has very tight tolerances almost everywhere.
-
When I saw the Scrooge McDuck mini-fig in the Disney CMF2 I knew what I had to build as my next GBC module! I present to you Scrooge McDucks Money Bin, which is loosely based on the vault seen in the Ducktales cartoon. It's built primarily with white and bright green brick, I used flame orange for the $ on the front of the building. The build was a little bit different then most GBC builds. Usually in GBC you build the lift mechanism first, but this time I built the structure first. I then built the conveyor and fitted in in the back. The last part of the build was getting the recirculation feature working inside the "chute" the balls fall through. I hope you enjoy the build !
-
Lego GBC Bucket Conveyor Module This Lego GBC module uses a conveyor mechanism with the buckets from the bucket wheel excavator set attached to it. It is a slow but reliable module, and it can (surprisingly) hold the GBC standard of 30 balls. The yellow rail you can see in the back is part of the mechanism that keeps the buckets at the correct angle. It works well but I would like to change it to use small technic wheels to reduce friction on the mechanism and make the parts last longer. The ldd file and instructions are of rebrickable here. The two gray 6L half beams help to stop the buckets from catching on the bottom of the module. I am not using clutch gears in the video but I have tested it with them. It would probably be a good idea to use them, the module ripped itself apart several times throughout the build and testing process. More photos on Flickr.
-
GBC - how to use/export bsx parts lists from eurobricks
Jamescole699 posted a topic in General LEGO Discussion
Hi. I’m a long term Lego fan but only just getting into GBC and need some help. I want to build one of Akiyuki’s modules (strain wave gearing) and not that there are instructions and a link to a bsx parts list. I have successfully managed to take xml format parts lists and copy/paste into BrickLink to manage parts buying under my wanted lists but I don’t know how to use BSX? I have researched that I need brickstore/brickstock or possibly Rebrickable but when I click on “parts list” link in eurobricks it opens a new web page with the bsx text and seemingly no way to save down or export this other than copy and paste the text. My question therefore is this: how do I export or utilise the eurobricks parts list (which states bsx forms) into either brickstock/brickstore or Rebrickable in order to be able to create and import an actual .bsx file into BrickLink? Sorry if this question seems stupid but I’m really struggling to find any guidance for this seemingly simple task and would greatly appreciate the help. Otherwise I’m stuck manually looking at the pictures parts list page at back of instructions and manually finding the parts one by one in BrickLink which is easy and doable but naturally takes A LONG time. Thanks in advance for any help on this. James -
Update from 2019 I have made a new and stable version of the GBC module for which there are building instructions: The new module has a latch and lifting counterweight mechanism to make the tipper function reliable. The building instructions can be found here: https://brickhub.org/i/425 The tipper fills up: The counter weight lifts until the latch comes undone and the tipper tips: And empties: Closeup of the latch mechanism, which doubles as a stop mechanism for balls, so they do not fall onto the tipping tipper: The module can be placed in self-feeding mode, just like the old module from 2008: And circuit mode: In the back side there are skirts to catch potential escapees: Rendering of the model from the building instructions: See the brickshelf folder for "action shots" where series of pictures are taken in succession to show the functions: http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=315097 The initial content below this line ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It has been a long time since I have presented a new MOC in here. I have been busy preparing for Klodsfest 2008 in Taastrup. Here is my contribution to the GBC-layout. (Those space ships are made by Sir Bugge from Classic Space forum - the red Z-fighter is new and contains some superb building- and SNOT techniques. The white tower is also a GBC module and the builder brought enough extra modules to complete a circuit) The big ring lifts the balls up and it's random whether they fall through the first or last hole. The first leads directly to the glass tower while the last guides the balls into the deer scarer (Shishi odoshi in Japanese). I don't have a video camera, but I was able to make this little movie using my regular camera: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQ00fXpgQOs The module has a self-feeding mechanism so it can work alone and is remarkably reliable. Anyone who has seen my previous modules would be surprised. If the wheel gets blocked, the big PF motor will try to budge it free. It drops a ball now and then - that is my trademark
-
After my experiences at the full week of Lego World Utrecht I decided to do a complete redesign and rebuild of my stand alone GBC version of the Akiyuki based marble run. Only the method of clamping the tubes as tracks is the same as in the previous version. The ball shooter had proven it's reliability during Lego World and because of the improved design only one shooter is used. Very pleased with the now reliable result. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olx4JmtnVq4
-
Hi All! Long time lurker first time poster! Happy to have joined the community! Im an avid lego fan (albeit a bit of a lego hoarder) and I have been collecting lego since the 90s. I really enjoy working with the technic theme theme, creating random machines and creating GBCs, however working with classic bricks also works for me. I have approximately 100k pieces available at disposal (mostly sourced from bricklink), which is probably not as much as what you guys have :) I’ve also recently started a youtube channel to share some of my creations, please have a look and subscribe! Technic Master’s Youtube Channel Looking forward to sharing more of my custom creations. Louie
-
I took sawyer's Spiral Lift to a higher level xD Sawyer's thread 7 levels and Akiyuki style and input.
-
This Lego GBC Module uses a Scissor Lift mechanism to lift the balls up. The mechanism is quite reliable and sturdy, I never had problems with the balls falling out. The gear train is long but it does not have much friction because the stepper does not use much power. I would like to make one with more lift mechanisms similar to Akiyuki's six heads module but I don't enough of the cup pieces. The LDD file is here. More photos here.
