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Do you have any better photos (particularly a top-down view) of that
particular module? I don't quite understand how his module managed to fling
the ball out instead of pushing or dropping it. I'd also like to see more
photos of the individual modules, if possible, particularly top-down views.
One thing I'd also like to see is requirements for typical modules, there
are obviously several different pickup and delivery methods in the modules
shown in the video, but there doesn't seem to be an easy way to guess or
estimate what one would need for a typical module parts-wise.
It'd be interesting to see what we could do in Australia, could make for an
interesting Australian meet-up event.
Cheers ...
Geoffrey Hyde
"Steve Hassenplug" <Steve@TeamHassenplug.org> wrote in message
news:23738.66.84.205.186.1105125621.squirrel@66.84.205.186...
> This blue "module" is a good example of a non-standard size:
> http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?i=1049771
>
> It's a simple module built by a 12 yr old.
>
> You'll notice the "in" box is very shallow. It will most likely not hold
> 30 balls.
> However, because of the flexibility of the contraption (any two modules
> can be
> switched) it can easily be placed after a module that has a constant
> output, and
> therefore doesn't have to deal with large "batch" outputs.
>
> As long as your module fits the in & out rules, it should work.
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In lugnet.robotics, Geoffrey Hyde wrote:
> I don't quite understand how his module
> managed to fling the ball out instead
> of pushing or dropping it.
As I recall (I was not present, but talked with Steve about it) that module
had problems with jamming - I think what you see in the video is a single ball
partially jamming the mechanism and being kicked out hard. That particular
module used rotating liftarms (the ones with three blades) to move the ball up
the ramp (similar, I'd imagine, to the tri-blade liftarm lift that SMART has
used).
> One thing I'd also like to see is
> requirements for typical modules, there
> are obviously several different pickup
> and delivery methods in the modules
> shown in the video, but there doesn't
> seem to be an easy way to guess or
> estimate what one would need for a
> typical module parts-wise.
Use your imagination! One of the reasons Steve included my (huge, poorly
spelled, not-yet-ready-for-primetime) list was to show the options that just a
few people could come up with... and there's several of the lift mechanisms in
the video that are not in my list*, so long as it is, it is hardly complete!
Many of us used chain links and tread links to form some sort of lift or
conveyor, but no two people came up with the same system. The downside of this
method is that LEGO chain links (& especially tread links) tend to be uncommon.
At the other extreme, I've built one module that lifts balls at around 2-3 bps,
but uses only system bricks and slopes with the exception of 1 technic beam, an
axle, a technic plate or two, & the gears used to drive the system.
For other ideas, check out SMART's Crate Contraption... or do a Brickshelf
search on the word "marble" (the Rolling Ball Clock is an example here)... or do
a Google search for "rolling ball machines" or sculptures. There is a HUGE
amount of inspiration out there for this type of thing.
*about that list. I really can spell better than that.
--
Brian Davis
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"Brian Davis" <brdavis@iusb.edu> wrote in message
news:IA02Dv.1DH7@lugnet.com...
> Use your imagination! One of the reasons Steve included my (huge, poorly
> spelled, not-yet-ready-for-primetime) list was to show the options that
> just a
> few people could come up with... and there's several of the lift
> mechanisms in
> the video that are not in my list*, so long as it is, it is hardly
> complete!
Hmm I must have missed that list post. I am kind of working on a
contraption, but it's main aim is to sort LEGO bricks, which are a lot less
likely to slide than soccer balls are. :) It may require some form of
Mindstorms help, along with a visual recognition system, but I am going to
see if I can get it to sort mechanically or with sensors first. It should
be fairly useful for sorting out basic brick sizes from one another, at any
rate, if I can get a workable prototype built.
> Many of us used chain links and tread links to form some sort of lift or
> conveyor, but no two people came up with the same system. The downside of
> this
> method is that LEGO chain links (& especially tread links) tend to be
> uncommon.
> At the other extreme, I've built one module that lifts balls at around 2-3
> bps,
> but uses only system bricks and slopes with the exception of 1 technic
> beam, an
> axle, a technic plate or two, & the gears used to drive the system.
Yes, Rebelscum has a very interesting set shown: 7258 Wookiee Attack. It's
an Episode III set, so there is no telling what will happen if the sets
contain what the pic shows of these sets. Technic Link Tread*, if I am
reading that preview pic right. I imagine it would be popular if that's
really the case - I know I am going to try and get a lot of them myself if
it really does have the Technic Link Tread. ;)
> For other ideas, check out SMART's Crate Contraption... or do a
> Brickshelf
> search on the word "marble" (the Rolling Ball Clock is an example here)...
> or do
> a Google search for "rolling ball machines" or sculptures. There is a HUGE
> amount of inspiration out there for this type of thing.
Wonderful, if I can find some spare time in between my current project and
playing a favourite old game of mine, I might just do that. ;-)
> *about that list. I really can spell better than that.
*About the Technic Link Tread, that's the Bricklink catalog reference for
it.
Cheers ...
Geoffrey Hyde
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In lugnet.robotics, Geoffrey Hyde wrote:
> > and there's several of the lift mechanisms
> > in the video that are not in my list...
>
> Hmm I must have missed that list post.
The list is on Steve's GBC page, below the Type I standard - just scroll
down.
--
Brian Davis
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In lugnet.robotics, Brian Davis wrote:
(snip)
>
> Use your imagination! One of the reasons Steve included my (huge, poorly
> spelled, not-yet-ready-for-primetime) list was to show the options that just
> a few people could come up with... and there's several of the lift
> mechanisms inthe video that are not in my list*, so long as it is, it is
> hardly complete! • (snip)
> For other ideas, check out SMART's Crate Contraption... or do a
> Brickshelf search on the word "marble" (the Rolling Ball Clock is an example
> here)... or do a Google search for "rolling ball machines" or sculptures.
> There is a HUGE amount of inspiration out there for this type of thing.
>
> *about that list. I really can spell better than that.
Another awesome source which you may want to link the main page to is:
<http://www.kugelbahn.info/deutsch/haupt/einl.html>
While not in English, it does contain animations of nearly every idea on the
list. Wow!
You can get a rough auto-translation at:
<http://www.worldlingo.com/en/websites/url_translator.html>
Paste in the site's address, select German to English, and wait a few moments.
This is a great idea, Steve (et al)! I am already thinking of how to modify my
LEGO ball pump to fit the standard.
Rick C.
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In lugnet.robotics, Rick Clark wrote:
> > do a Google search for "rolling ball machines"
>
> Another awesome source which you may want to link
> the main page to is:
> <http://www.kugelbahn.info/deutsch/haupt/einl.html>
Thank you! I found this page ages ago when trying to find an easy way to
build a step feeder (I've wanted to build one ever since a certain Playful
Penguin thread in rtlToronto), and it inspired me to start a list, but I
couldn't relocate it!
> While not in English, it does contain animations
> of nearly every idea on the list. Wow!
Additionally, he gives lots of examples, including (for at least some of
them) ones he built out of LEGO! For the folks that have asked about Steve's
step feeder, I think he may have based this of a design I built, but I lifted
the idea for a LEGO version from these pages. It's a great resource!
I really need to update and refine my list, put in this (& other) URLs, and
include a "tips & tricks" section. But I'm having too much fun building!
> I am already thinking of how to modify my
> LEGO ball pump to fit the standard.
The biggest problem I've had with ball pumps (I've got two sitting above my
fireplace right now) is room below the input hopper "floor". The designs I've
build require a cycling piston below the floor of the input hopper, and that
takes up a good bit of vertical room (when the top of the input bin can only be
9-10 brick heights off the baseplate). I can do it... but the resulting input
bin ends up rather shallow, so I have to make it long to hold a "pulse" of 20-30
balls.
--
Brian Davis
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