Great Ball Contraptions

Paperballpark

Oh and for anyone wanting to know which adaptor you need to power the 9v train controller, you'll need one with a plug size of 5.5mm x 2.1mm. For the power output, it depends on the controller you have. Some are 9v - 10v, and some are 9v - 12v. It'll say which one it is next to the plug socket on it.

I have four of the 9v - 12v controllers, and two of the 9v - 10v.

greatballpit

Hey guys, I have 4 train controllers and 1 of them only accepts 9-10v, where the other 3 accept 9-12v.  Make sure you check the input on your controllers before you order your power adapters.

I bought my adapters at a local electronics store for around $15CDN each.

greatballpit

My latest video is a simple re-skin of the GBCRamps module.

https://youtu.be/t-12pxesTk8

Paperballpark

Nice. I might build a version of that - I've had some Minecraft figures for ages, but never found anything to do with them.

Paperballpark

'Might' turned to 'did'. I only need to order eight pieces to swap some colours in it, which is the kind of inexpensive GBC module I like!

Huw

^ It sounds as if you are hooked ;)

 I'm encouraged to make some videos of my recent designs and post here. I'll do so tomorrow...

Paperballpark

Huw said:

^ It sounds as if you are hooked ;)

Well I currently have five modules which work perfectly, one (the loop-the-loop one which you've seen) which generally seems to be about 80-90% reliable, and one which is pretty much finished, but just needs a PF switch and some extension cables.

So, seven modules in total. A week ago I had five. A month ago I had two...

I'd say hooked is probably about right! :)

CCC

Paperballpark said:

Paperballpark said:

Hmm I wonder if you can get USB adaptors for them? I doubt it though...

A quick look on Amazon confirms that you can get them. There's one on there (from China) for just over a pound, including postage. BUT, because it's USB it only outputs 5v, which is obviously no good.

There are cables on there which claim to take a 5v input and output 12v (how?), but they're over £5 each, and by the time you've bought a USB plug as well, you might as well just get a normal DC adaptor.

Oh and all of those cables are less than 1m long, which isn't exactly great.

Back to the drawing board...

You can use a DC-DC boost converter. You can get a variable one for about a quid on aliexpress. If you have a USB input that can provide 1 A (like many tablet chargers), the output at 9V is up to about 0.55 A, so just about OK for continuously running a PF XL motor under load. You can also reduce the voltage slightly (which will slow the motor) to increase the output current if necessary. If your USB input is only 500 mA (like some phone chargers), it won't work though especially for a PF XL motor.

Paperballpark

^ Thanks. think I might just stick to normal adaptors though! :P

I found one today in a cheap shop for £6.50, but the size was 5.5 x 2.5, rather than 2.1. I believe it would probably fit, but I'm not certain, and I'd prefer to have the exact size.

CCC

You can get adapters for changing the plug sizes, but I normally just cut the 'wrong' end off and wire up the right size.

Brickster7

greatballpit said:

There is a module that used 2 separators in the Brickworld Virginia 2017 GBC layout video on Beyond the Bricks channel, that's where I got the inspiration to build Tri-Sep.

The "2 separator" module from BrickFair VA last year was my son's.  Those who haven't seen it can view it here (about 13 minutes in): https://youtu.be/BRPyidgKYSQ?t=790

It worked pretty well, but the structure was a bit fragile and needs to be reworked.

We saw your Tri-Sep module recently and like it.  Your modules have nice style to them!  And I loved the Roadwork Remix mini module - like the PV Productions modules but on a smaller scale.

If you're at BrickFair VA again this year stop by and say hi at the GBC table.  We're planning to be there again.

CCC

Those planets at 21:50 onwards are brilliant.

32:00 has a technique for slowing down balls in the curly slides.

greatballpit

What kind of modules are you guys currently building?  I'm finishing off my "mine loader remix" using parts from set 42049, as well I'm going to work on another star wars GBC to go beside my BB-8.

I need to order some more M-Motors from Lego but I'm waiting for the replacement parts section to re-open so I can get some more GBC balls with them.

Paperballpark

I need a polarity switch and extension cables to finish off my current module, which is a 'balldozer' on rails - moving back and forth, pushing balls up a ramp made from train track.

I'm curious to see what @Huw is currently making - videos were promised earlier this week ;)

Huw

I'm working on a 'slider lift' which is probably better videoed when done than try and attempt to explain how it works :)

I have a couple of modules finished that I consider original enough to warrant documenting so I'll try and get them videoed tomorrow!

greatballpit

The video for my "Bucket Boost" module is up on YouTube!  This was the second, and most complicated module I've created.  I was looking for something to use all the dark stone grey half-cylinder pieces I received at the Lego con I went to last year.  The original plan was for 8 buckets, but after building the prototype lift mechanism I thought it would be too large.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luIisSXwJdk

Have a great weekend!

Huw

Very nice!

Huw

OK, so you'll have to excuse my appalling video production skills (something I've never got round to mastering), but here's my latest module.

It was conceived while watching that terrible quiz show Tipping Point. It's a simple reciprocating mechanism but it works well is fun to watch and doesn't jam or lose balls :)

https://youtu.be/e2-ZP4Y0M18

My daughter (the Tipping Point fan) has just suggested making it more like a coin pusher, i.e. have the sliders horizontal and drop the balls from a height onto the top, then watch them get pushed down the cascade. Not a bad idea...

Paperballpark

Very nice! I don't think I've seen one like that before.

greatballpit

Very cool Huw!  I have seen a single angled pusher mechanism similar to this before, but never a triple built from all technic!!  I like it a lot, I also like the stepper module at the front, nice clean builds!

Brickster7

Huw, I really like your Tipping Point module!  Do the plates get scratched sliding back and forth?  Any chance of posting build instructions on Rebrickable?

Huw

Thanks!

^ Not that I've noticed yet, and, yes, maybe when I get a round tuit :)

^^ The stepper is based on Maico Arts' one, but with a bigger reservoir.

Paperballpark

Hmm, late night tonight, as I've been working on yet another module... It has a couple of issues, but I've thought of a way to solve them, which I'll do tomorrow.

Not counting the pins, it should only have about 100 pieces...

SirBen

Such a troublesome thread as I’ve been inspired to build a couple modules this week, powered by a single motor: 

Which makes me wonder, if they share a motor are they separate modules or a 2-stage module? 

Huw

@SirBen, I'm glad you've been encouraged to do so! They are addictive, aren't they!

I think we can count them as two :)

theLEGOman

Does anyone know if the footballs in the German Minifig series are the correct size for GBC's or are they too small?

Huw

Yes they are exactly the right size.

theLEGOman

Cheers, that will give me a few to get going with to practise next month.

SirBen

Huw said:

They are addictive, aren't they!

Indeed! I think this brings me up to 8 functioning modules. I should pull them all out and get a current video of them together. I have 2 more in the works. Once “Buy a part” ordering resumes on Feb 1 I can finally use one for my Christmas gift cards to order the parts I need. 

Paperballpark

The module I've finished today has 47 different elements with a total of 228 pieces (of which 97 are Technic pins), and can be connected together in a line so that one motor will drive multiple copies of the same module.

Huw

Can't wait to see it!

I have a new one to show you tomorrow, too :)

Paperballpark

Oh, looks-wise it's nothing special, being a simple bare skeleton of Technic elements, but the challenge was to build a reliable module with as few elements as I could, able to connect to each other, and yet still be as simple to construct as possible.

I'm moderately happy with the result, but I think a simpler module could probably be built.

I also taught myself how to do basic instructions today as well.

Looking forward to seeing your new one!

Huw

Perhaps that could be a challenge -- build a functioning module with as few pieces as possible. I have an idea...

Huw

Right, here's another module. It's not the one I'm working on ATM, I'm still putting the finishing touches on that one but should complete it later.

https://youtu.be/dGJvKwHUYfc

It took ages of fiddling about to get it just right, but I'm quite pleased with the end result.

Paperballpark

Wow, that jumps up quite a bit! Works well though :)

Huw

Here's another of my shocking videos: my smallest module with fewest pieces: 9 holes long and c.130 pieces.

https://youtu.be/mUkXJ3-quFQ

You could connect multiple ones together easily enough.

Paperballpark

Very nice! Although it's actually shorter than the required input tray size ;)

I suppose you could argue that any module passing balls to it right at the far end would simply pass them to the next module instead... :)

Huw

Yes for this kind of module where balls are passed onwards as quickly as they are received I don't think a big input tray is needed.

Be interesting to see how it performs when dumped with a large batch of balls from my lifter...

Huw

I've reworked it to adhere to all standards, and built it somewhat unconventionally. It's still around 130-140 parts. 

Brickfan50

I shall not read this thread.
I shall not read this thread.
I shall not read this thread.
I shall...

FollowsClosely

No BGC thread is complete without the mention of akiyuky. This guy is a creative genius. I have built his ball factory and zig zag. I would say that of the 10 ten GBC creations out in the wild, he would have built 9 of them!

Huw

Yes he certainly is. And Nico71.

Calv

^^
Wow! The ball factory is superb.

greatballpit

Nice photography Huw, I'm going to build a copy of your module and see how it goes.  I'm primarily a system brick GBC builder so working on technic modules like this helps me grow my building skill.

Huw

Thanks, and good luck. I'm the opposite, I try and use as little System as I can :)

Paperballpark

I tend to use a mix. I find Technic and System bricks useful for constructing the structure, and then tie it all together with Technic beams to make it sturdy.

Paperballpark

I'll try to remember to take some photos tomorrow of a few modules I've done over the past few weeks - one almost entirely System, one entirely Technic, and the others are a mix.

Paperballpark

Right, here's some bad photos of more of my modules. My excuse is that I left it too late and the light was fading - I don't have a fancy lightbox like Huw! ;)

The first uses garage door pieces to make it look (a bit) like a river flowing uphill.



The next one is my version of the Minecraft module (based on the Brickworld 2017 module) which was shown in a video further up this thread. I'm waiting on a few parts to swap out a couple of colours on this one.





Next is a simple platform lifter, made from Technic pieces, using about 230 pieces. This is made to connect with other modules of the same design, so that one motor can power multiple modules. It also needs a few pieces swapping out for different colours.



The next one is also made to connect one motor to multiple modules, but in addition, this one has a detachable input. This is a small 'sweeper' module, although I'm not sure how reliable it is, as occasionally the balls can get caught under the arm as it sweeps down, jamming it for a few seconds.





The last one is my longest module, at over 1 metre in length. It uses a train motor on track to push balls up the incline to the next module. The 'car' isn't finished yet, as I need to add a polarity switch so that it will automatically switch direction when it gets to each end of the ramp. At the bottom of the ramp, a lever on the car is used to open the gate and let balls onto the track. The red thing in the last photo is a weighted 'anchor' used to return the gate to the closed position.







Larger versions of the photos are on my Flickr account.

Huw

Awesome!

I have a 'sweeper' module that uses 2 skate ramps, you may recall from Swindon, and yes, they can jam should balls arrive just as the sweeper is descending. Not much can be done...

The train module looks great and should make a good spectacle which is what's it's all about...

greatballpit

Wow Paperball, nice modules!  They all look great and I like the smaller ones that can be chained together on one motor.  As for the long one with the train, I'm inspired to try something similar with a bunch of the Lego "racers" track I have coming in the mail.

Any chance for a video of some of these in action?  I'd love to link them on my blog!