Subject:
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Re: GBC group??? (and a sad story)
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.org.us.laflrc
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Date:
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Wed, 30 Nov 2005 01:34:29 GMT
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Viewed:
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1207 times
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In lugnet.org.us.laflrc, C. L. GunningCook wrote:
> Hey Steve et all...
>
> I think it's about time you lobby for a GBC group on Lugnet.
>
> I have been searching old posts, and checking out web sites... because after a
> few failed attempts at GBC I thought I would get some divine inspiration from
> the experts.
>
> I know that this sort of thing is old hat to you all.
>
> Infact, I can recall a bunch of "seasoned" bot builders laughing at me worrying
> about touching their bots, or when I saw my first "plastic dust". Don't get me
> wrong, moving MOCs are beyond cool, but up until this moment, my bricks have
> been fairly safe from damage.(1)
>
> Last night, I had a GBC BREAK THRU... the gravity stuff is a piece of cake, but
> as you know, getting the balls up is quiet a trick, at least for some of us.
> Anyhow, I thought I would share my "modding" moment with you...
>
> I was working away on a ball pump... I thought all was well... until I heard
> this terrible grinding noise, and a huge crack, snap, POP! (Again, I know, for
> you all, this is nothing new... but for me, the sound of bricks being
> "killed" was heartbreaking. The whole pump exploded, and aside from literally
> spraying balls around the dining room (found one in the kitchen as well) I ended
> up in a few very sad "bricks". One twisted axle, one broken 24 tooth gear...
> and the worst part... one dead vintage motor.
>
> I guess this is the price of playing with the big boys.
>
> Oh well, off to Bricklink, then back to the drawing board for me.
>
> Janey "Red Brick"
>
> 1. Aside from that terrible 2 by 4 red brick incident.
Since its you posting, I feel I ought to make some comment about ball pumps etc
;)
But I shall refrain.
Yes, the design of these wonderful constructions, GBC modules, do have to be
approached with a certain amount of care. Despite the inherent roundness of
balls, they have a truely astonishing ability to jam. The odd brokem brick, axle
or gear is one thing, but I am surprised to hear you managed to damage a motor.
Most Lego motors can sustain an almost permanent stall without ill effect. Does
it just not operate anymore, or did you snap the shaft off?
I have been inclined to use the white torque limiting gear to avoid serious
damage myself. I would recommend that to anyone who is experimenting with any
kind of ball handling device (pump, screw, or conveyor).
I also sometimes use "sacrificial" UJs in the drive from the motor too. They
used to be quite cheap from Pitsco, don't know if they still are. You can also
use a pulley and rubber-band drive as an option. It has the advantage of
introducing some elasticity into the drive train. That can be good if the
mechanism comes to an abrupt stop. (I have had a suspicion for a while that
although the actual torque from the technic gear motor is limited, the motor has
a modestly heavy flywheel and thus if the motor is suddenly stopped while at
full speed, the intertial load on its internal gear train may well cause it to
sustain damage.)
Enjoy playing with your balls!
JB
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Message has 1 Reply:
 | | Re: GBC group??? (and a sad story)
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| (...) Awww. (...) Well it's sort of strange, it still runs, but its very slow, like its being powered by almost dead batteries (and no, the batteries are fine, the other motors work the same as always) (...) Yes, this is an option I should have (...) (18 years ago, 30-Nov-05, to lugnet.org.us.laflrc)
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Message is in Reply To:
| | GBC group??? (and a sad story)
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| Hey Steve et all... I think it's about time you lobby for a GBC group on Lugnet. I have been searching old posts, and checking out web sites... because after a few failed attempts at GBC I thought I would get some divine inspiration from the (...) (18 years ago, 30-Nov-05, to lugnet.org.us.laflrc)
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