doug72

The elevator & dumper are the most complex modules in the Akiyuki train system. It is best to start with the simpler modules first, (reverser) as I did, in order to understand how they function and build a simple layout. For dumper & elevator instructions by Akiyuki - see the 2nd post in this thread posted by Jonas. The Rotary Dumper by Akiyuki is very hard to get working correctly, consistently and often gets out of step. I gave up trying and developed my own modification which cannot get out of syncronisation and is consistently reliable. @dunes is working on LDD instructions for this. The Elevator module by Akiyuki works OK and height adusted to match my rotary dumper.

I,ll use my Lego control centre, same as I used for the crane contest, has two programs plus 3 outputs which should be enough for what I plan.

Does that include bumper cars ?

I can see a lot of 1/4 circle gear racks being used. Good.job I have loads of them !!

Yes you have already provided an excellent guide book, I have your 2nd edition. If I get stuck during a MOC build I always consult your guide to see if there is a solution and for ideas. Doug72

Thank,. Now shortened the slide bar section fom 11L to 9L for a more compact unit. Modifications can be seen better in this image.

Reverser Unit using rubber bands: Based on the Yattaran Rotary car Dumper video. Now modified a reverser unit using Lego Blue silcon bands. Took a while to get the trip bar sturdy enough which replaces the 5.5 Axle with stop on the original design. Works quite well and very cost effective. 2 x LEGO Rubber Band 26 mm (44609 / 85560 / 700051) @ £0.20 each 1 x LEGO Large Shock Absorber with Normal Spring (18404 / 74741) @ £1.20 to £8.00 each. Video: Rubber band version at LH end & rotary dumper Z56 version at RH end of demonstration track.

Thanks I have embedded the video onto the Akiyuki Train System thread.

@Frequenzberater found this video will shows more details of the Rotary car Dumper. Appears to use train magnetic coupling between hopper and train and a trip system to cycle the dumper rotation. There's a good close up of the train reverse trip using rubber bands instead of a shock absorber.

Does anyone have more information on the Rotary car Dumper by Takanori Hashimoto (yattaran) as shown in the Brickfest 2018 video at 4 mins 50 secs to 5 mins 30secs. Trying to get more details of the train car release system using rubber bands instead of a shock absorber.

Horizontal alignment between rotary dumper and bridge track. I have now found a way to get the tracks to line up with each other as the train unit is released. There is enough tolerance on the train wheels to deal with any minor mis-alignments. Its takes two steps to achieve this: Step1:- Adjust the position of Z56 gear with the 8T gear until tracks are close to being in alignment. Step2:- Adjust the upper 16T gear 1 tooth in relation to the lower 16T gear. This will adjust the `Z56T gear by the equivalent of half a tooth or approx 3.2 degs of rotation. If this makes mis-alignment worse try adjusting the upper 16T gear in the opposite direction.

Thanks for help with this much appreciated. These are the latest photos of the Rotary Dumper taken tonight. I set up an album but can't get it to share so here they are. Any queries please quote the IMG image number. IMG_5866 IMG_5867 IMG_5868 IMG_5869 5870 IMG_5870 IMG_5871 IMG_5872 IMG_5873 IMG_5874 IMG_5875 IMG_5876 IMG_5877 iIMG_5878 IMG_5879

Re Veretical alignment MOD (failed) Lowering rotating end of dumper to line up tracks has caused problems with top edge of the ball hopper jamming on underside of rotating discharge chute preventing the train entering the dumper. Now reverting back to original design.

Track alignment: Vertical alignment:- The track in the dumper was found to be about 1mm higher than the bridge track causing train to jolt as it passed from one to the other. Also sometimes this caused the 8T gear to lose engagement with the gear rack - hence the additional section of gear rack. Support rollers for gear ring too large. Fitted smaller support wheels & tracks now level with each other. Parts required:- LEGO Wheel Hub Ø11.2 x 8 with Centre Groove (42610) LEGO Tire, Low Profile, Narrow Ø14.58 X 6.24 (50951)4 pce sets required. 1 x 16T gear. Horizontal alignment:- The track does not line up exactly with the next section to the elevator after full 360 deg. rotation but train units are able to pass without any problem. The train wheels help align them as they cross. The trigger arm is tripping the train bar slightly too early. If try adjust by one tooth either way on the timing gear makes it worse. 1 tooth equates to approx 6.4 degs of rotation. i.e. 360/56 = 6.4 approx. Possible solutions. 1/ shorten the 5.5 axle with stop slightly !! (illegal) 2/. remove the thin “L” shaped spacers from trip mechanism.(difficult) 3/. adjust the 7L lime green section of track by swiveling it slightly to line with the dumper track.. (Easy) Tried option 3 and is an easy fix. Another frustrating problem. I have two train car units and both work OK when the PF connector is on opposite side from the trip bar that reverses the train, but when the other way round one train car is OK but sometimes on the other unit the swinging L shaped lever on end of trip arm snags the underside of PF connector block and causes train to stick in the dumper. At the moment can't figure why.

Yes the trip system has possibilities but the seperate train car makes it incompatable with the Akiyuki system I am busy over the next few days so will after weekend before can get the parts list together for the rotating trip mechanism. A couple of minor problems to sort out with track alignment.

Check out this video which shows an alterantive rotary dumper module using Akiyuki train units but with a seperate hopper car. It can be seen between 4m 50s to 5m 30s. Train trips appear to use elastic bands instead of shock absorbers. Might have a go at building this as well if can find more information.

Sorry, yes you are correct there are 4 in total. Must go to SpecSavers !

Thank, Its just the 2L axle I missed, the yellow axle (X2) is the 5L Collection chute now installed and tested OK. I have found another small problem with track alignment which is now fixed, will describe the fix more tomorrow.

I,v got grey ones as well !!

Rotary Dump MOD - Z 56 Timing Gear. Coloured axles and parts used to for photo purpose only - can be any colour you desire. In order to syncronise the rotation of the dumper with the train release trigger the modification despenses with Akiyuki Cam lock and the Z60 turntable. The gearing to release train unit at correct point requires a 21:1 gear reduction to "fire" the trigger arm. Therefore a 3;1 & 7:1 reductions are required to get 21:1 ratio. 24/3 & 56/8. A Z56 turnatble is used to achieve this, and is synchronise by sliding the 8T gear out of engagment and rotating the Z56 gear one tooth at a time until corrrect. This best done by hand rotation of the 24T gear that train 8T gear engages with before testing with the train unit. N.B - the second 16T gear engages with 16T gear shown.

Looks good, two blue 3L pins are missing on the lower 7L beam at each end on the rotating part. Parts list:_

WOW that looks great, many thanks, if you need any more photos let me know. I am putting together a parts list for the various modifications starting with the static double 21L gear support and the rotating frame inside of it.

Re instructions:_ I wish I could but I have no idea how to nor the software to be able to do that. I can try and describe each section of the mod and use photos etc. Maybe somebody could reverse engineer it and do instructions. Not all of the previous posts on the Akiyuki Project threads have been transferred to this thread - check them out from page 58 onwards, which show close ups etc.

Thanks for your comment. Update & short video of train release system Rotating dumper part transferred into the new support framing and did not go as smoothly as I had thought it would. This was due to conflicts between various parts as I had changed how the double static gear rings were attached to the support framing. Original Mark 1 version use beams at 11L centres to connect to the yellow gear quadrants rings to the support framing, but it hard to line up as all though they are parallel they are 17.5 L apart. For the new frame support attached using 15L beams mounted at 13L centres on the gear ring. Two beams are exactly 17L apart, so much easier to add framing to. Unit tested by hand rotation of 24T drive gear that the train unit 8T gear engages with. However the 20T drive gears (inside the double gear rings) used 4L axles with stop but the they stop fouled on vertical beams supporting the gear rings. At first added half bush as a spacer but this shifted whole dumper unit axially & caused problems at the other end with the rotating gear ring. Clearances are quite tight so discarded. Unlike beams there are no recesses in gears to prevent the axle end stop from protruding slightly. Solution insert axle from other way round !! Still dumper would not fully rotate 360 degs. as was hitting the end of the two 5.5 L axles used for the rollers supporting the other end of the dumper as they stuck out by 0.5L. Turned them end for end and problem solved. Timing synchronisation of the rotation gearing with the train unit trip system had to had to re-set but was quite easy to achieve and now working correctly. Red bush is removed - 8T gear slid out of gear and the 56T gear shifted 1 tooth at a time until everything is synchronised correctly. As the dumper rotates, at approx. 300 degs the shock absorber spring starts to compress and this also slows the rotation down slightly until at 360 degs. the trip releases and the train unit leaves the dumper. Rotation now tested using both of my train units and is working very smoothly with consistently reliable operation. Elevator Module: Now raised by 4L to line up with Rotary Dumper. Adjustments needed to set the holding latch correctly. Next step is to build an improved ball collection hopper and chute to the loader module. Short video showing train release system & raised Elevator module.

Thanks, more updates tomorrow. Dumper drive for rotation and train release system now transfered & tested OK