doug72

1:13 gearing Achieved but not very practical, and with all those gears there will be friction losses. There is a solution in Yoshinto Isogawa Machines & Mechanisms book on page 166. It uses a Z56 turntable and two Z28 turntables. It does not use a differential. Other gears used are 5 x 8T / 3 x 24T and 1 x 20 double bevel gear. The book also shows a 1:17 gear set up using a Z28 diff.

Now added the drop ball tray to my my Catch & Spind Robots module. It is mounted using two vacant pin holes in the structure and tray attached via a Tee Beam with 3/4 pins. Fills in the gaping gap well. Re Phasing of robots: Just checked mine and they are about 180 degs out of phase with each other so no balls collide in the discharge chute. Parts required:

When i built my Catch & Spin, the two robots were out of phase but decided not to adjust them to be in phase. Have had no problem with balls dropping. Only problem i have had was a 5L axle with stop slipping out of engagement https://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?/forums/topic/117305-gbc-the-akiyuki-project/&page=91&tab=comments#comment-3177193 I used a 8L axle with stop as easy to fit, should be enough space to fit a tray.

Agree, thats why I enjoy GBC with its complex gearing and trying to come up with workable solutions. My current build has gone through several solutions - workable but too slow so still under developement. Having said that can't se the point of super cars having 4 & 8 speed gear boxes if model is only for dis[play !

Looks like knob gears driving the L.A.

The last one is braced by the baseplate but easy to add 8L axle with bushes to hold all in place and keep correct spacings between the V blocks, It is able to carry high loading on my GBC Train module.

1:4 gear box using 12T double bevel gears and 24T spur gears mounted using LEGO V-engine Block Connector (28840 / 32333), which I used in a GBC Train module.

Try this. 4:1 or 1:4 gears using 2 x 8T & 2 x16T gears. Also possible using a planatry gear system but takes up a lot of space.

Compact 7 to 1 gear ratio Can be 1:7 or 7:1 depending on input. Using z28 turntable Using new z28 double bevel gear 11:1 difficult, the example in the Machines & Mechanisms book by Yoshihito Isogawa uses an old diff (24t & 16T) and a Z28 turntable but is not compact.

This topic should be moved to the “Community Forum” where other forums could also comment if they desire.

Swing Loader MOC. Build so far have checked over & gearing changed to ensure everything runs smoothly but there is still mot enough power from a train unit to run module at a decent speed when carrying balls. With a reverser for changing swing arm travel added even slower. Therefore I have decided on an Electro/Mechanical system using a Lego motor to provide power for the Swing Loader. The Train unit & reverser will control this. Supplementary Power source. Tested the Swing Loader with 30 balls in ball carrier using direct drive using M & L motors. Speed & cycle time now meets GBC regs for 30 balls per minute. The system requires two PF switches of the old type which have free movement unlike the new ones without the small back pole change switch. One switch is activated by an arriving Train Car to power up the system, and to switch off power when the Train car leaves the reverser module. The PF switch is mounted on the train reverser as shown in the photos below. Stops are required to limit switch travel and a counterweight arm to return the switch to the off position. Now tested this and works OK Second Switch is required to control the supplementary motor. The PF switch to control the supplementary motor will operated by a simple reverser unit, driven from the train reverser, A short dwell period is required at both ends of swing arm travel, which should be easy to achieve I hope. Hardest task will be to set the timing !!

I would recommend getting these books. Power functions ideas machines & mechanisms, which has a two sections on various gear ratios for step up *& step down. There is also another book by same author for Cars & Contraptions. Both books are very usefull. https://www.amazon.co.uk/LEGO-Power-Functions-Idea-Book/dp/1593276885 https://www.amazon.co.uk/LEGO-Power-Functions-Idea-Book/dp/1593276893

I suggest it would be best for you to create a single topic about your MOC, showing progress and for asking for advice / help rather than multiple new topics for each query. That way your build will be easier to follow and allow others to locate, read your posts and reply with comments & advise..

Now tested with modified train reverser and train car much more stable when under load. With ball carrier and 30 balls cycle time is 1m 45 secs which a bit slow, currently have 20/12 step gears in drive chain, will try with 24/8 step up gears. Now tested with 24/8 gears and cycle time is 1min with 30 balls in ball carrier. Also need to identify some slight stiction in the drive train to the swinging arms.

Thanks for your comments, I will try a simple MOD to the Train reverser before pressing on with the build with a supplementry power source. Noted that when under heavy load the train car jumps around and the 8t axle gear can skip & loose contact with the 24t gear. If I hold down the train by hand it functions better transfering the power to the module being driven. I have added some extra parts to keep train car located correctly on the train reverser to keep it straight on the track.

It is impossible for a "Dumb Car" pushed or pulled by a standard Lego engine train, to work with the Akiyuki train system. The Train "car" is the power source that drives everything when it docks with each module.

GBC Train System Query. Currently working on an improved swing loader GBC train module but have hit problems due insufficient power to run it even with an L motor train unit, unless it is geared right down. It is designed to keep the ball carrier horizontal throughout the loading cycle. Works well when powered by a train with an L motor, but not when driven via areversing unit and sometimes reverser locks up. I have tried using reversers using new 20t clutch gears and the older style 16T clutch gears and the older version seems better. It can carry up to 30 balls in the ball carrier per trip but VERY SLOW cycle speed, with less balls it is faster in operation. Two full battery boxes acts as counterweights to balance the load. ————————————————————————————————— I am thinking of a supplementary drive L motor with it own battery pack directing powering the module and controlled by a PF reversing switch which have its own reversing unit synchronised with the train reverser unit. I have tested this to see if is workable but needs more work to syncronise it with the train reverser. Is this permissible and acceptable for GBC Train system ?

Thanks for those comments. I followed @t0mster photo and modyfied one of my train units - slightly noisy but run OK on my Through Rotary Dumper module. Originally I didn't think a Z20 double bevel gear would fit and that it would foul the thin Z20T gear on the wheel axle. Now fitted a Z20T double bevel gear and now runs much smoother & quieter.

Index page updated with train unit MOD by @t0mster and Two Bucket Wheel Loaders by @Doug72

A lattice structure for a crane can be be made using standard Lego Technic Beams, without need for 1/2 stud parts. See image.

Got this as a Xmas present - built main model but I found it awkward & tedious to operate. Might build the B model & then break it down and consign the parts to my spares boxes for other use.

Agree - I only use Brickowl,

A useful modification reducing speed by a factor of 0.6 Now modified the train unit (grey) for my through Rotary Dumper to the slower speed and module now runs a lot smoother. Just had to remove a couple of flat tiles from the track as the 20T gears were catching on them.

This is the very reason I decided not to buy the Leibherr 42100 set. I have an unsused Minestorms set which I never figured how to programe it, so no chance with Contol + App. I am glad I have a large stock of PF componants which are tried & tested. I recently even managed to track down and buy - probably the last in the UK a brand new PF switch with pole reverser suitable for GBC trains.

Two version now available - Which version is best ? With visors and 32 balls per trip or with Shovels and 24 balls per trip. As the LEGO Visor 2007 (57702) are now quite scarce I decided to use the new gearing arrangement on the version using LEGO Shovel 5 x 7 x 4 1/2 with Hole/cross (18943 / 42196) See photos showing gearing for ball loader and the train reverser which releases train after one revolution of the bucket wheel. This give 24 balls per trip. New input hopper built as a plug in unit and has an height of 10L at the inlet point to meet GBC regs. New ball rotor with four lobes is used with along with guides to stop balls falling down. Input ramp to ball rotor no longer requires an agitator as after extensive testing had no balls jams - the two yellow side guides help prevent this. No instructions are available but photos should show how to build it.