doug72

We all ready have an Axle thread, similar threads for Gearboxes & for Suspension topics would be useful.

When I joined Eurobricks 10 years ago my skills at building Lego Technic MOCs was very low and several MOC projects eventually failed. But I prodded on until now have learnt from past mistakes & errors in building and with help from other members. WIP was the norm and very helpful with constructive comments and suggestions etc. If you are stuck ask for help & keep on tying until you are successful. WIP seems only to be a requirement when competitions are held. Most posts ralated to MODs of Lego Sets. Most of my Lego builds now are MOCs and I have only built Lego Technic sets when received them as presents at Xmas & birthdays and later broken down for spares.

Agree, Your in luck I will be posting a WIP soon once same parts on order are received.

Part of the problem of no comments to posted new topics for low interest builds MOCs etc. is that any new posting quickly drops off the bottom of page 1 tnto page 2 & beyond, where it is out of immediate sight. This is a particular issue when ever there is a Technic competition. Too many individual topics about the same thing that should be brought together into one main topic heading. i.e. Car s/ Construction vehicles / Gearboxes etc This was done for GBC Modules and GBC Train System Modules as it had become increasing difficult to find related postings.

I feel there is too much emphasis on the Technic forum lately for super cars with complicated gearboxes and bodywork with lots of gaps/holes. Very few are MOCS - most are mods on existing designs. Technic for me is about engineering solutions to building MOCS which at the moment is mainly for GBC Train System modules, at least these do MOCs don't get pirated. Previosly mainly built cranes and construction equipment MOCs. The train forum always has a lot of MOCs.

Mice ?

Improved rise,tilt & roll module for Train GBC Loading. See earlier post on page 35 of the Train BGC forum. Previous transfer capacity was only 9 balls per trip cycle. Capacity now increased to 15 balls per lift cycle, with a new design for the input box. To do this the collection area on the lifting ramp was enlarged to hold 15 balls. New design of input box made. This transfers 15 balls to the lift and tilt chute and at the same time it prevents any further balls from moving until next cycle. The input box is 10L high at input and the box ramp is spilt into two sections and can hold 30 balls. A fixed bar prevents any balls from moving until the lower half of the ramp is tillted as the chute decends to the loading postion. 15 balls roll out under the stop bar and down a short ramp onto the lifting chute. Excess balls are prevented from rolling down until the chute rises when the tilting section in box to rotates back to release next batch of balls down the stop bar. To allow for the increased ball capacity & weight the gearing was changed from 16/16 (1:1) to 12 / 20 (1:1.6). With an L motor train car trip cycle time is OK. The train reverser could be removed and an L motor used instead to drive the module as a stand alone or as part of a GBC loop. For purpose of the video the train car trip was disabled. When train car departs the lift stops moving so no syncronision is required. The video shows how this works.

Yes that’s the best way to make the crank arm. You need pin with ball end at the end of the crank arm to allow the cord to turn freely. The hook will need a bit of weight on it to keep the cord tensioned.

See this diagram uses a micro swith to stop the crane but if you want it to constanly run just use PF to control the speed. This gives a dwell at top & bottom of rotation. Originaly designed for use on a model railway. Crane Hoist

No need for gears. Use a crank arm that is rotated by the motor. The length of crank arm to be 1/2 of required hook travel. Attach one end of the cord to the hook & the other end to the end of the crank arm, use small a pulley to guide the cord.

You are correct, my mistake, brain fog due to CV-19 Full Lockdown again.

Timed the throughput shown on the video and its 3 batches of 13 balls = 39 balls in just over 1 min. so meets GBC regs.

Thanks for the explanation, thought was what it was for, safer than the Lego ones. I,ve been looking at your video at 1/4 speed to figure out how each part functions. I have built several new gbc train modules during lockdown, they are posted on the GBC train forum. Finally got the swing loader working with EV3, Its also posted on the Great Ball Pit site. See week 24. Developing a simple standard “in box” for train GBC that releases a batch of 15 balls & holds back any excess balls until next cycle. Busy improving some older modules and have a new one currently is under construction, using the new large sprocket wheel.

Very ingenious, watched it several times now to understand the mechanics. What is the purpose of the coupling (4 wedge wheels and 3x8T gears) mid way that drives and causes the lift to rotate on the banana gear racks ? Like the 13 ball measuring device. I tried to find a way but couldn’t, I could get 15 balls OK but not 13. A definite winner of the GBP contest. Given me some ideas for a train GBC module i am working on.

Standard GBC In Box modified to suit Train GBC The standard 10L x 10L x 10L inbox is not always suitable for GBC Train modules in order to achieve a throughput of 1 ball per second or 30 balls per minute. Each train car can easily carry 30 ball batches but standard inbox too small to allow this. I have adopted my own standard version based on using a 8 x 16 tile sloping down from 10L to 7L to ensure balls roll freely. The overall dimensions are 10L wide x 16L long x 10L high at input and 7L at the lower end. Ball release is by a lifting gate activated by the module, which can be arranged to release 30 balls or 15 balls at a time. Ver 1:- success, works OK with its train module as seen in previous posting. 30 balls per cycle with a simple lever & gear system to raise the gate. Works as intended but excess balls in input bin can swamp the module. Ver 2 :- Failed To release only 15 balls was a bit harder to achieve. As well as a lifting gate to release balls to the module a second gate is required to lower to prevent more than 15 balls entering. Multiple linkages and gears required to achieve this but failed as the 2nd gate jams on top of the balls preventing movement, tried several other methods to push excess balls apart and lower the gate without success. Ver 3 :- Success Balls limited to 15 per cycle and at same time hold back any further excess balls from releasing and only requires a trip bar without any need for gears. This method also provides a buffer for further incoming balls. The 8 x 16 tile plate was replaced with a two part slope with a static cross bar stopping balls from moving until trip bar is pushed down. The ramp upper half ( Red 8 x 8 ) is fixed and the lower half of the ramp ( Black 8 x 8) is arranged to rock slightly, allowing 15 balls to pass under the fixed beam to the module and at same blocking any more balls from moving. As the batch of 15 balls are released and the module raises them to discharge point the next batch of more balls roll down ready for the next loading cycle.

Data collection is easy on my build as it hasn’t,t moved since I built due don,t like control + When using PF , just switch on the battery and away you go,. Control +, download software,/ firmware, do start and calibration etc before you can control. PF takes up less space & a lot less costly. Too much for my old brain.

Final Update. As I was running short of Z56 turntables and have plenty of Z60 T/T I have decided to use them instead - along with 1L worm gear in a vertical configeration. ( see image) This also allows for a much simpler train reverser with 60:1 ratio. ( 8/24 ) & ( worm/20 ) . 3 x 20 =60. Ball input box improved. Tested and improved running.

Improved High Lift Stepper unit for loading Type 2 GBC Train cars. (Completed) (New Video) Rack lift system abandoned. So thinking cap on and I have come up with a simpler method to raise & lower the ball carrier without the any need for a reversing unit for the lift Module.. i.e the drive from the train unit always rotates the lift mechanism in one direction. Improved Mark 3 Version Success at last in getting a reliable up & down movement of the ball carrier. A complete rebuild was made by replacing the gear rack with two Z56 turntables, with crank arms & connecting rods to raise & lower the ball carrier without needing a reverser unit. This also allowed synchronisation of the train reverser. See earlier post on how the train reverser was modified. Drive from the train unit is via a series of 1:1 right angle gears with 2L worm gears to rotate each turntable. Drive to the worm gears is by long axles with uni-couplings each end. Now proved OK for discharging balls into the train hopper. Ball carrier enlarged to accommodate 30 balls per lift cycle which takes approx 30 seconds per lift Input hopper fitted with a lifting gate to control ball loading at the lower level. New Video View showing drive to the turntables and the ball loading gate mechanism. Input ball loader hopper Top works - with two Z56 turntables showing worm gear drive. Train Reverser with 56:1 ratio with a single trip lobe.

Compact 56:1 gearing for GBC Train Reverser. (How to align a 2L worm gear with a 28T gear) For a new GBC Train module I am currently building, I required a 56:1 ratio to operate the module with a train reverser in Sync. To do this required a 56:1 gear ratio for the train reverser. A Z56 turntable too large to install so a 28T gear used with 1:2 gears to achieve the 56:1 required. i.e 28:1 x 1:2 = 28 x 2 = 56:1 This meant making a bespoke train reverser as seen in the images. Gear train: 16T / 16T / 12T / 24T / 2L worm / 28T gear - the trip rotor has a single lobe. Alignment achieved between 28T gear and the 2L worm gear by means of a 3/4 pin as shown in the last image. Tested and functions as desired. Overhead view: Timing adjustment: Close up of 28t gear & worm gear: Parts required to get correct alignment beteen 28T gear and 2L worm gear.

Heres a video showing trencher in action.

Reminder, there is a separate forum for train GBC. Including type1 train system.

Looks good, I have loads of these parts, finally a non car use for them !

Yes very useful when building GBC nodules. Just done a search on Bricklink & they Have 5 for sale from GDP 55 to GDP 77a ridiculous prices, think I paid £1.50

I use this tool available from Brick Link (bb0342) got mine at Legoland Windsor. Measures Beams, axle & bricks. bb0342