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djm

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Everything posted by djm

  1. djm
    Would you care to post an image to assist in understanding your suggestion?
  2. djm
    My suggestion would be to definitely begin with a simpler module. For example, Catch and Release is among the lower part count and the mechanism is straight forward. I've built the bucket factory and it can be a challenge to get it running smoothly for long periods of time (e.g. such as at a public display). If you elect to build Cup to Cup, be aware that buried somewhere in this thread (here we go) is an amendment to the "loading" mechanism which improves the reliability of getting the balls onto the first cup. Regards, David
  3. djm
    Sometimes I find the blue one struggles to shoot far enough yet other times it is okay. I think sometimes that if the whole shooting assembly isn't quite squeezed together well enough it can impact the range. Though as Blakbird says, I think the strength (or otherwise) of the spring is the most likely factor. David
  4. djm
    That's interesting. The only video I know of the version 1 appears not to include a chain. Can you point me at any other resources for the module which show the chain as they might help improve the current build interpretation. Regards, David
  5. djm
    Nice. Thank you for this. This one was on my "To Do" list so now I can cross it off. Blakbird, it may be worthwhile removing the draft version 1 of this from the module list. To the best of my knowledge, version 1 never featured in any videos other than the one standalone video. Further, experience from running version 1 suggests (as expressed elsewhere in this thread) the version 1 isn't robust enough anyway. Regards, David
  6. djm
    If you are willing to wait 8 weeks or so, I'd be willing to turn the LDraw file into instructions. I've a few things on the go at the moment, hence the 8 week delay. If someone else puts up their hand in the meantime, all well and good. Otherwise, drop me a message when you have the LDraw file available. Regards, David
  7. djm
    It's definitely okay. At the moment the module as I reverse engineered it is flawed. If you've got a solution that works, I'd welcome the improvement. Regards, David
  8. djm
    Hi lh512200, you might be better off if you post your question on on the LDraw forums. You may find you get a quicker response there. Regards, David
  9. djm
    I had similar issues with trying to upgrade the firmware but on my Android device. I ended up doing the upgrade as a two step process (refer to https://social.sbrick.com/forums/topic/367/firmware-upgrade-from-version-4-0-to-4-12). Perhaps you might want to see if a friend has an Android device which you can borrow, try the two step process to upgrade the firmware for one of the SBricks and then see if the iOS device will talk to the upgraded SBrick. Note I haven't tried this with an iOS device, so I have no idea whether or not it will work. If you do try this, perhaps post a reply with the outcome. Regards, David
  10. djm
    As per my immediately previous post, I've been getting some GBC modules ready for my LUG's Brick Show. One of the modules I pulled out of storage was Akiyuki's Cup to Cup. One of the challenges I found when running this module is getting the ball to reliably load from the spiral lift into the first cup. The build instructions I wrote reflected the original design of Akiyuki's i.e. using a Technic #4 angled connector. Sometimes the balls load adequately into the first cup but at other times the load fails and the ball drops back to the bottom. I found the less level the table, the less reliable the loading mechanism was. I recalled from when I first wrote the build instructions, there were actually two different designs for the loading mechanism. I had chosen the one from the original design as it was much easier to see how it was built in the images which were available. The images available for the second loading mechanism were too unclear for me to be able to discern how it was built. Fast-forward to now. In readying the Cup to Cup for the show, I became a bit frustrated at the unreliability of the loading mechanism. So I resolved to revisit the images of the second loading mechanism and see if I could work out how it might be assembled. Suffice to say, I'm making this post to identify that I have managed to come up with something akin to said second mechanism. I have tested the assembly and I am now getting 100% successful loading of the balls into the first cup. The solution requires some fairly minor changes to the rear wall of the elevator, after which it will look something like this: I have produced an LDraw and a PDF file which contain just the rear elevator wall element of the module, should you wish to incorporate this loading mechanism into your build. The parts which are different in the second loading mechanism are coloured red in the LDraw and PDF files, to highlight the changes. Obviously the expectation is that they would be built in Dark Bluish Grey and Black, as appropriate. It should be noted that Blakbird improved the slopes used in v2 of the build (see page 14). The LDraw and PDF files are still using the original slope from v1. Regards, David
  11. djm
    My advice would be to at least begin with another GBC module. While the build process for the Ball Factory can be enjoyable, the module is big and the timing can be hard to set up. Yes there are videos on how to do the timing, which help a lot but nonetheless you may find that it ends up being in the "too hard basket". I built the Ball Factory for my LUG's brick show last year and in the end we had to leave it to one side as it (i.e. my build of it) wasn't reliable enough to include in the GBC loop. Examples of simpler modules which you might want to consider are "Catch and Release" or "Fork to Fork". Whichever module you end up choosing to build, good luck, enjoy doing it and welcome to the GBC drug club! Regards, David
  12. djm
    I'm in the process on building the Fork to Fork module for the GBC display at this year's Auckland Brick Show. I've encountered what appear to be two minor issues with the current build instructions, so thought to post about them here. On page 21, step 20. There is an extra 1x10 plate in the part list which is not used in the step. Perhaps it is due to the same plate being placed in the same spot twiice? On page 37, step 29. The rear 3L Technic pin needs to be a 2L Technic pin so that it does not protrude into the "internals" of the framework. As a 3L Technic pin, it ends up occupying the same physical space as the black gear from page 115, step 31. Regards, David
  13. djm
    FYI, Toyco are having a sale of all LEGO currently in stock. The amount off varies, starting at 15% but there are quite a few at 20% and 25% off too. The sale ends on September 20th i.e. tomorrow. Regards, David
  14. djm
    Stunning! That must have been a labour of love. Well done. If my eyes don't deceive me, I think there is a spurious "w" in the file, immediately below the definition for 76276.dat. Regards, David
  15. djm
    Take a look at LDPub3D, which is compatible with LDraw files. See the LDraw All-in-one installer as you will likely need to install the LDraw suite. I'd recommend LDCAD for the modelling tool (the version I've linked to is an alpha version of the latest release but it is pretty stable). Be aware that building quality building instructions takes quite a bit of time and effort. Good luck. Regards, David Edit: Thanks KamalMYafi. I blame that on too much time looking at half cows.
  16. djm
    I'm glad you spotted it because my head was hurting too. Amusingly, using the second definition (i.e. without the c01 suffix), I could take half a cow defined in LDraw and it would be imported into LDD as a whole cow! David
  17. djm
    Yes, sorry LDR not MPD. I had nested the sub-file but it still had an LDR file extension. In the LDR file I have: 0 FILE main.ldr 1 4 -35 133 242 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 99550c01.dat 1 15 -35 133 242 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 99617c01.dat 1 16 -91 0 252 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 subModel-1.ldr 0 FILE subModel-1.ldr 1 0 0 0 0 -1 0 0 0 0.574 0.819 0 0.819 -0.574 3829b.dat 1 14 0.001 26.99 0.806 -1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 -1 3829a.dat FYI, while fiddling some more with the assembly tag, I found the EV3 beacon is not in ldraw.xml. I have added the details to the appropriate thread. Regards, David
  18. djm
    Another transformation for inclusion in the next release. <!-- Electric Mindstorms EV3 IR-Beacon / Remote Handset --> <Transformation ldraw="72156.dat" tx="2.0" ty="0.08" tz="1.6" ax="0" ay="1" az="0" angle="1.570796"/> Regards, David
  19. djm
    Following your post, I had a bit of a fiddle to see if I could work out anything about the meaning of the Assembly tag. I successfully imported an mpd file built using LDCAD, so I don't think there is a constraint of the original model having to have been generated by LDD. Having said that, my test file builds were very simple. My findings to date; I suspect that there must be some kind of mapping reference data internal to LDD in which it knows which LDraw parts form the corresponding LDD assembly. The parts in the LDraw file were not on consecutive lines but it seemed to be able to correctly pick the parts which formed the assembly. If you have fewer parts in the LDraw file than that identified by the Assembly tag, LDD would display an error message and not import the assembly. I think you can't add additional parts to an assembly definition in the ldraw.xml. I tried adding an extra plate in the definition for the EV3 motor but on import into LDD I'd get an error message and the assembly would not import I don't think this especially adds to your knowledge but if I do gleen anything else which I think might be significant, I'll let you know. Regards, David
  20. djm
    Perhaps try http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=79010 for some shock absorbers? David
  21. djm
    ZigZag Stairs reliability question. Alan and Theo (and anyone else who might have built it). I'd be interested in finding out how you have found the reliability of the ZigZag Stairs module. While I think the reverse engineering resulted in a module which is sufficiently close to the original, I find that I can only get a couple of minutes of "good" running with it. After perhaps 5 minutes (or less), I find the centre axle ends up working loose and then the whole thing jams. Have either of you run the module for any extended period of time? If so, did you make any further tweaks to the design to improve its reliability? I currently have the ZigZag Stairs down as a GBC module in an our LUG's impending annual show but I'm close to scratching it unless I can improve its robustness. Regards, David
  22. djm
    It is a bit too hard to see from the video what the the differences between this and version 1 are. For example; does it not use a baseplate have the pivoting control panel, including the shock absorber have the modified entry feeder Those are features of Akiyuki's Basket Shooter version 2 so it would be nice if you had incorporated them (and any others you may have identified from videos/images). Regards, David
  23. djm
    A find potentially of interest for anyone stunned by the price that these are now going for on BrickLink. A ball will fit/sit nicely into one of these (http://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=6168#T=P). While they may not have quite the same nice shape as the reflector dish, they are certainly a lot gentler on your wallet! David
  24. djm
    The "tx" value for 3711 is currently defined as 0.4. I believe it should be 0 (as below). <!-- Technic Chain Link 3711 13 --> <Transformation ldraw="3711.dat" tx="0" ty="0" tz="-.66" ax="0" ay="1" az="0" angle="4.712389"/> David
  25. djm
    By this do you mean have a part being able to "snap" into the right place on another part? If so, part snapping was introduced in a recent version but it is disabled by default (see http://www.melkert.n...DCad/faq#faq_ps). If I have misunderstood what you meant by the quick align feature, please ignore this post. Regards, David
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