Purple Geek
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Everything posted by Purple Geek
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I'd guess that it is somewhere in the neighbourhood of 15,000 pieces.
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My unfinished basement serves as my primary Lego building space, so it was down there all the way through construction. Right now it's sitting in the dining room from doing the video. My wife will tolerate it sitting there for a couple of weeks until the next show that I am taking it to. Then it will have to go back down stairs. Ben
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Back in 2013, I built and posted about my first NXT ball machine (you can view the original post at http://www.eurobrick...topic=87788&hl= if you are interested). While that machine worked, I learned a lot while building it, so I wanted to create an entirely new machine that incorporated what I learned. I also wanted to make it bigger. Now, in 2015, I have completed my second NXT ball machine. This one is almost 6 feet tall, and over 7 feet wide. The longest span is over 4 feet. It uses simpler lift mechanisms that are more reliable (though they do still jam occasionally -- I have an idea about how to fix that which I am planning to incorporate if I ever build a third one). This machine is also much less sensitive to how level the surface is that it is sitting on. As a result, this machine is a lot nicer to set up and display at a show. It is also much more open, giving people a better view of the balls as they move through the machine. Here's a YouTube video showing the machine in action: There are two possible paths through the machine. The path splits at the top of the left tower with some balls following the gray track that crosses the width of the machine several times. The other half of the balls follow the silver track that spirals down the left tower. Let me know what you think! Ben
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I had the opportunity to attend a pre-screening of The Lego Movie yesterday. My overall impression of the movie was positive and I'll definitely buy the DVD or Blue Ray when it is released. Here's a link to the full review: http://www.bensbricks.ca/movie.php. Ben
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The counter is actually pretty simple -- there is an ultrasonic sensor that detects when a ball rolls by. Each digit in the counter is connected to its own NXT motor. When the ball is detected, the correct angle is computed for each digit, and the motor is advanced the correct amount. The digit wheels are brick-built circles that have ten 4x7 stud plates wrapped around them that are connected together with clips. The number itself and some plates on the back hold together a 4x6 plate and a 1x4 plate to make the 4x7 plate. A mechanical counter would be really nice, but that's beyond my skill level at this point. Ben
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Thanks for the feedback about the frame rate. I didn't realize it was a problem until you commented on it. Unfortunately it looks like the webcam that I used was only recording 10 frames a second, which is why things are jumpy :(
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This LEGO ball machine was constructed using 10 motors and thousands of bricks. Its 14 balls move continually through the machine, taking approximately two minutes to complete a lap. Two Mindstorms NXT bricks control the green lift, blue lift and ball counter. A combination of Power Functions and traditional 9V motors drive the remaining lifts. The machine is built entirely from LEGO -- even the balls are LEGO parts. Width: 63.5 inches Depth: 24 inches Height: 30 inches A video showing the machine in action is available on YouTube: Let me know what you think! Ben
