doug72

No it was his father,

Agree this topic has become boring and clogging up the front page.

Correction to last posting:- Image 8368 removed as connections with black axle were shown 1L too high. Correct image shown below. IMG_8370

Improved Train GBC Vertical Lift Mk 2. Improved structure and tested using a standard GBC Train reverser with a 24T gear & 2L worm for the trip rotor and proved able to carry up to 30 balls if required. A Z60 turntable is used to raise & lower the lift. Transfer ball tray modified to load 30 balls OK but its a tight fit Best limit to 25 balls max. Images show a standard train reverser with direct drive to the lift tower via two right angle drives. release timing is set by sliding the 8T gear out of engagement with the 24 T gear Images:- IMG_8359 IMG_8360 Enlarge ball carrier:- IMG_8362 IMG_8363 IMG_8364 IMG_8365 IMG_8366 IMG_8367 Video:- showing ball transfer into a temporary container for filming. Note, Train trip lever not fitted for the test but you can hear the trip. Loading and discharge ramps to be arranged to suit.

Havn't move away, That was built some time ago in 2020. Just comparing them in the post. The 90 deg is the recent one and I am going to try and enlarged the ball tray and maybe try for 1 trip.

Update:- Ball Capacity. Train GBC Lift Just done some trials with the number of balls that can be loaded by adding an extra 3 balls per test until it reach 30 balls. Works OK with an L motor train car and OK but slower with an M motor train car with no signs of skipping gears. An enlarged carrying tray for 30 balls would be needed.

@HRU_Bricks increasing ball load for one lift cycle. The most I could get per cycle is 18 balls. Have a look at my earlier High Capacity Loader which can load and carry upto 30 balls per trip. Video show lift with improvements & in action. Shacky video due bad wrist !!

For initial build tried using a normal reverser & doubling up the speed to the lift to get 2 cycles but found too much strain to lift 15 balls in one go once the trip rotor starts to tension the rubber bands.. Train car starts to chattter and skip. - hence building a 2 cycle trip reverser to load two batches. See my topic on the modified reversers, type 1 with 20t Gear & type 2 using a 40T rotor gear. If an opposite hand worm gear was avalable it would have been simpler to arrange drive to the trip rotor. So far useing offset 20T DB bevel gears for trip rotor has been no problem. Type 2 version stronger Type 1 with 20T DBG / 20T SBG used in the video. Type2 using two offset 20TDBG.

@HRU_Bricks Lift Images as requested. Thanks for your comments, Lift has been extensively run without any failures. The Z60 turntable at top has to be well braced to stop support structure from spreading under load. Any queries please quote image number. IMG_8346 IMG_8348 IMG_8347 IMG_8350 IMG_8351 IMG_8352 IMG_8353 IMG_8354 IMG_8355 IMG_8356

Thanks for that , Video now embeded & working I hope

Train GBC New Corner Module. (MOC) (VIDEO) I set out to design and build a new GBC module for use on display layout at a 90 deg. corner and to be able to transfer up to 36 balls all powered by the GBC Train car. The module consists of 4 sub assemblies on a 32 x 32 stud base plate. IMG_8334 IMG_8340 r 1:- Input box to GBC guide rules for entry height 10L, width 8L Length is 16L with the ramp split into two sections. Upper half is static, lower half when tripped rotates to allow the first batch of balls to roll under a static ball retaining axle onto the lift tray.. Other balls in the in-box are prevented from moving until the rotating ramp returns to closed position when remaining balls roll down for the next lift cycle. 2/ Lift Tower with ball carrying platform for 18 balls. The drive for this does not require a reverser, instead a Z60 turntable is used which turns a crank arm and a connecting beam to the raise & lower the lift ball tray. This is an enlarged version of the Sun GBC lift tray. This took a long time to get the position of the turntable & length of the cranks & connecting beam correct. (a lot of trial & error solved it) The worm gear driving the Z60 turntable tended to skip so a very strong support for the worm axle & the turntable were needed (see photo) As the lift reaches full height the lift tray sides hit a stop to open the gate to drop balls onto the discharge chute. IMG_8338 IMG_8337 3/ Discharge chute:- This is 16L long and with side guides to ensure all balls roll into the GBC Train hopper. This is mounted above the inbox. IMG_8335 4/. Train Reverser the most complicated part of this build. A standard reverser was modified to allow module to run for two trip cycles and load up-to 36 balls into the train hopper. See how this was achieved in the proceeding post using a 40T spur gear & worm ( 40 x 3 = 120 giving 2 rotations of the Z60 turntable Trip Cycle:- Balls arrive into the inbox, train car arrives and module is activated. Lift descends hits a trip bar causing the lower rotating inbox ramp to load 18 balls onto the lift tray Lift rises to discharge balls onto the loading chute. Lift descends to repeat the cycle and load the second batch of 18 balls. Once two loads are completed, the reverser then releases the loaded train. Video

Thanks for the info, I could only find the 2x2 with 6 teeth on Brick Owl.

What are the gears used and are they still available ?

This might be useful for anyone wanting to replace batteries in PU hubs etc. A USB 9V power - box unit to replace the batteries. See this link to PV Productions. https://pv-productions.com/product/usb-power-box/ They also have various extension and adaptor cables for PU hobs etc.

Looks like a GBC contest is as dead as a Dodo.

Previous reverser mod was 3:1 x 2:1 x 20:1 = 120 and had a weak drive using a thin z20 gear. Now modified a second train reverser to achieve the same requirement of rotating a Z60 turntable two full turns (2 X 60 =120) but this time using a 40T spur gear for the reverser trip rotor with a single trip arm. Gear ratio required using a 40T gear is 3:1 x 40:1 = 120 Gear arrangement now more compact and stronger & less likely for gears to skip. Timing is adjusted by removing the white 24T gear and rotating the position of the Z60 Turntable. What this is used for will be revealed at a later date maybe ?

I also wonder if this contest will ever happen.

Improve axle connection to the centre of a Z60 Turntable I have found it hard to get a strong connection for an axle to the rotating part of a Z60 Turntable. This uses a Weapon Barrel p/n 6186131) which fits inside the Z60 T/T hole. See images showing parts required and how it is achieved.

GBC Train Reverser (MOD) (WIP) I required a train reverser to drive a Z60 turntable for 2 revolutions before the train reverser releases the train car. There are two ways to do this :- 1/. Speed up the drive to the Z60 turntable by x 2. 2/. Modify the drive to the reverser so it syncs with the turntable after 2 revs. Problem, Option 1 :- not enough power to turn the T/T and the train reverser which makes train car skip & chatter. Option 2 :- direct drive to t/t and alter reverser gearing to trip the train once the t/t has completed two revolutions. After very many attempts & days to achieve this I have finally come up with a solution. to get the correct gear ratios required. Gear train is 3:1 (24/3) x 2;1 (12/24) x (1:1) See photos: The final 1:1 was the hardest to obtain due to the two axles were offset by 2L vertically & 3L horizontally. Solution:- Use a black 20T double bevel gear engaging with a tan single bevel gear offset by 1/2 Bush so gears engaged on their edges. Unconventional but smoothly rotates the trip rotor. Tested and Z60 turntable & train reverser are synchronised OK. IMG_8307 IMG_8308 IMG_8309 Comments welcomed.

My gripe is the lack of a right hand worm gear for 1L & 2L worm gears. Both current worm gears are left handed. Currently building a “something” that would make the build much easier to achieve in the restricted space available, this would avoid the need for extra gears to to get correct rotaion of a turntable or trip rotor..

GBC Train Reverser (Mod) A simple mod to prevent gear chatter when under heavy load. Two extra 2 x 4 beams added to prevent the train car rocking to keep the train car 8T gears in contact better with the both 24T gears. IMG_8303

GBC

Ground clearance looks to be very low, and a large body will sag and drag.

Take a look at this website for all sorts of GBC modules including ball pumps. Most have free instructions. https://www.planet-gbc.com

You will also need the roller parts that ride on the gear ring. Here is image of the turntable unit mounted onto a subtractor track base.