doug72

GBC query:- I have come across a video of of a Mechanical chain module by Nxtstep101 and just what I am looking for for a mini GBC loop I am putting together. Would this work at an angle or even vertically ? Are there any instructions available ? How do you set the gears and levers?

As a keen cyclist and Volunteer Ranger on the UK cycle network I know the value of wearing a helmet.

Thanks, I find building on studded base plates provides riigidity and allows for easy adjustments & positioning of parts. The base plates are non Lego but compatible and low cost. They are just the right size for building stand alone GBC modules which can later be linked up into a larger GBC circuit. With the ball loading system I used there is virtually no back lash affecting timings, which you can get with complex gear trains. If you want any close up images let me know.

Well spotted, basically I forgot to put them on the pins ! When devising the ball carrier design I only used two arms to perfect them, once OK I added other two carriers. Took some time to get the balance correct for the ball carriers so they loaded & unload balls without hanging up. Now added the missing grey wheels and functions OK for ball loading on all 4 arms. Works OK with them on or off the 3L pins but with them in place the action is smoother as the roller on each arm hits the trip arm. Took a lot of trial & error to get the ball loading mechanism working consitently. Timing can be adjusted by shifting the link on the black 12L axle for the bottom lever.

Update: Following further prolonged testing a number of problems arose, culminating in a spectacular disintegration of the tower when a bucket claw jammed but the drive kept on running as I had neglected to put a white clutch gear in the reduction gearing. Result due to the angled drive chain it pulled the tower over !! Other problems were the bucket claws rubbing on the wheel arms causing balls to flip out and the tips catching on the discharge point causing jams. So Ferris Wheel Mk. 2 was evolved: Drive chain eliminated - new ball buckets devised which located & hold balls in the correct position for discharging. New stronger tower built which includes M motor driving via 72:1 reduction with a 24 white clutch gear as the final drive to the ferris wheel. If any jams occur now the wheel stops rotating. Ferris wheel arms modified so that ball buckets sides no longer rubs on the arms. Lego cyclist fitted with a safety helmet ! IMG_4351 by Doug Ridgway, on Flickr IMG_4350 by Doug Ridgway, on Flickr Close up showing ball sitting on the red bushes. IMG_4349 by Doug Ridgway, on Flickr New Video:

Thankfully I have no idea or desire to add music. Re Timing: the hardest is getting the balls to unload consitently, with some going around for a second time. Because of the shape of the claw with its pointed tip, it is very tight getting the tip not to catch a arm rotates and at same time release the ball onto the runway. Eventally added a rubber tire to the trip roller which improved the unloading, with only the odd ball not discharging . Now working on an alternative ball carrier that should overcome that. I had to "borrow" the claws from my Gyrotiller MOC where they will be re-fitted.

Following my failure to get the PV Productions GBC10 Ferris wheel to function I set out to build my own creation using the GBC10 idea as a starting point. I chose to drive the ferris wheel via chain drive with a 72:1 reduction from the M motor. Loading & unloading is done by trip arms not via a gear train and lever arrangement. Getting the correct locations for the trip pins / rollers was a lengthy trial & error process but eventually got them working OK. A ball return was installed to allow for continuous running. The GBC is mounted on a 28M x 56M baseplate and will eventually be linked to various other GBC modules I have built to form a longer GBC ball run. I used the new PV balls as they performed the best - I have some Lego balls from the Maze set and white balls from Itsy but they tended to hang up. The Lego balls have a marginally bigger diameter and sometimes would not pass through the loading gate. Occasionally balls stick due the small hole but next ball along sets it in motion again Video: General view: Oblique view showing M motor drive via 72;1 reduction then chain drive to ferris wheel. Side view showing chain drive: M motor via 72:1 reduction then large Lego chain to rotate the ferris wheel. Ball loading mechanism: Operated by a trip arm activated by rollers on the ferris wheel arms and with an adjustable linkage rod to set correct time for the ball gate to open. Ball guides added both sides at the loading point to ensure balls don't over shoot. Ball unloading trip: trip arm on bucket unloads the ball. This took a lot of time to get the ball discharge ramp in the correct position, used studded plates to get 1/2 L offsets.

I use these tools for seperating parts when dis-assembling a model. Needle nose pliers for grip and pull. Craft knife for easing beams apart. Modified screwdriver with a needle point for pushing out axles etc. - also useful for lining up parts and connector pins. IMG_4308 by Doug Ridgway, on Flickr

Now built this GBC Ball Pump and modified it as I don't require the standard GBC inlet box. The output tower was also modified to suit. I will be using this in a GBC Loop circuit that I have just started working on. Drive is by M motor with 3:1 reduction and gives a good speed. After some hassle with balls jamming in the output tower where the anti-jam function worked perfectly, the module runs vey smoothly and is slightly hypnotic. To test it I set up a return ball run and let it run for some time without any problems. See video. A simple robust design - thanks Lasse D for designing and sharing it. Video:

If axles holes are undersized and oval, a "broach" is required to ream out the axle holes to the correct fit. I use a Lego threaded axle as a broach to remove polishing dust and ease the fit.f

Thanks for the reply and explanations about the LDD glitches ! I,ve stripped it back down and inserted the red frame parts & started to rebuild. Now I understand how it functions I am adapting your design slightly for use on a second planned GBC loop on a 56L x 56L baseplate, as I don,t require the standard GBC inlet box. T/Y

HELP:- I have been building this following the LXF instructions. At step 8/120 you complete the red to & fro frame BUT this is not inserted until step 120/120. Without dismantling the build how do you insert it ? At what step should you install it.

I just use a sheet of white faced foam board or hardboard.

Fantastic - easy to build and strong, thanks for the instructions, already getting the parts together to start soon for my next GBC Loop machine. How high do you think it can pump the balls ?

After carefully following Ver. 4 of the PDF instructions I have to admit getting the ferris wheel module to function has finally defeated me, even after two complete re-builds of this module. I did manage to get the timing right to load balls correctly but not the unloading due to jams and jerks as ferris wheel rotates. Has anyone else managed to successfully get this to function and how many failed ? Parts will now be consigned to spares boxes for other projects.

Lasse, Thanks for the info. Doug

Hope to make this MOD. Cannot identify the two blue parts each side of the diving ring ? Do you have a part number or can you subsitute two 21mm dia wedge pulleys each side ?

I,ve come across the same problem on the Train Tech forum, but definitely happens more often on Technic forum pages.

This problem comes and goes. If you get a faint page of text hit your refresh icon and it should change to the page you want and text returns to normal.

Your design for the output ball run has help me resolve an issue I had with a GBC I built where the balls kept slipping off the runway of a tipping arm section. Now works consitently. Thanks.

Looks great - got one for Xmas and now on display but will be much better animated as a GBC module. Looking forward to seeing close ups of the mechanism to find out how it works.

Sorry duplicate post, hit the wrong button.

Philip, Yes no problem you sharing my version on line, if you any queries about my two modules please contact me. I have an account with you and have just order 50 pce. orange balls and awaiting their arrival. Its amazing where balls end up when testing GBC and something goes wrong - still hunting for some ! Many thanks for your comments on my version and developing the GBC10 instructions. After 3 failed attempts and getting frustrated wanted to get something running before my grandson's next visit and with a large base plate lying idle decided to use it. I will study the new Ver. 4 instructions and will probably re-build again from spares to hand. I like the way parts to be added are highlighted at each step. One thing that would usefull in the instructions would be to indicate axle and beam lengths in the parts box at each step. Often I had to zoom in to count the beam holes to get correct beam part and estimate axle lengths. I have recently had cateracts removed and can see things much more clearly now. I have a few other observations and will e-mail about these. Doug on the Tyne.

Thanks for the comment, here's the video:

Having failed to build the PV Productions GBC 10 successfully I decided to build my own version using the modules that worked OK plus two of my own designs - all mounted on a 48L x 48L Lego Base Plate. PV modules used for Turntable transfer, conveyor and tipping sections but re-built to fit into the space available on base plate. Ferris Wheel replaced by a vertical lift from a previous GBC build. Auto change module uses my own design. Auto C/O: Built using 5x7 frames for a robust structure. New driving ring with a 3L ribbed sleeve used but later to be changed to a plain 3L axle extension sleeve which will give even smoother change over. There are 3 outputs: 1/. Drive to the turntable protected by a linear clutch. 2/. Drive to vertical lift protected by a 24T white clutch gear. 3/. Direct drive to conveyor from the c/o 24T gear axle. Turntable transfer module. As per PV design but with shorter arms and re-configured guide beams and original loading system. Conveyor module: As per PV design but shortened by 8L and ball lift pins placed at 6L intervals. Tipping module: As per PV design but re-built to release balls after only two have loaded. Runway from conveyor made smoother to allow balls to freely roll. Vertical Lift: Modified from my original design to give a shorter lift to synchronise with the turntable - ball loading re-designed to use studdless beam etc. Ball runways: Sides added to prevent balls jumping off and to guide balls at loading points, these made using 1/2L thick beams. After some tinkering and adjustments all modules running quite consistently without balls escaping. A video will be available in due course. General views of GBC. Overhead View: