Category: GBC Modules

  • Lego GBC Cardan Lift V2

    Lego GBC Cardan Lift V2

    Lego GBC Cardan Lift V2  is my variation of Torbjorn Soderstedt’s Cardan Lift V2.

    It uses Girolamo Cardano’s Cardan Mechanism from the 16th century to convert rotation to linear motion.

    Night Lighting

    This module is setup for night running and uses one of my custom Lego UV/Led lights, with the UV shining on the balls and the lego light passing through a trans-blue brick to color the module gearing.

    Videos

    Videos of this module in operation

    Boxes

    Lego GBC Cardan Lift V2 packs into a single 24x18x10″/60x46x25cm  bespoke cardboard box.

    In order to fit, it breaks into several key pieces.

    You can read about other boxes here Boxes for Lego GBC Modules.

    Modules

    Builds and revisions to this module

    Original

    Pieces Cost Time
    800+ $$ N/A

    Lego GBC Cardan Lift V2 was designed by Torbjorn Soderstedt.

    I found the instructions over at Planet GBC under “Cardan Lift” http://www.planet-gbc.com/?p=1404

    My Variation

    Pieces Cost Time
    800+ $$ 1 Week

    Minor modifications to suit my needs

    • Added a swinging output
    • Broke the module into 3 sections for packing

  • Lego GBC Scrolling Display

    Lego GBC Scrolling Display

    Lego GBC Scrolling Display was my first module built, it had its origin in watching a bunch of GBC YouTube videos and wanting to come up with a mechanism that was both original and provide a technical challenge.

    It took 4 months of experimenting to come up with a working design that I considered show ready.

    Early prototype

    It took 4 months of experimenting to come up with a working design that I considered show ready.

    This video is about 2 months into the build where the design forced balls onto the the pin belt.

    Printhead

    The print-head forms the core mechanism of the printer.

    It uses 4 EV3 motors to operate 5 dot pins and the dropping mechanism.

    • Motor 1 is for dots 1 and 2.
    • Motor 2 is for dot 3.
    • Motor 3 is for dots 4 and 5.
    • Motor 4 is for the drop and load.

    Each letter of the Alphabet is encoded in a dictionary that represents them as dots, for instance, A = (11110,00101,11110) or L = (11111,10000,10000) in this way the program knows how to drive the motors to print a letter.

    Night Lighting

    Lego GBC Scrolling Display looks great at night and the words can be easier to read.

    It uses some of my custom Lego UV/Led lights to light up the start reservoir and balls path.

    The EV3 is also lit up so the program running is visible.

    Boxes

    Lego GBC Scrolling Display packs into a single 24x18x10″/60x46x25cm  bespoke cardboard box.

    In order to fit, it breaks into several key pieces.

    • Print-head.
    • Conveyer belt, this actually splits in the middle and is compressed together.
    • EV3 Brick.
    • Print-head feed conveyor.
    • Input Lift module.
    • Various ramps and cables are packed in a top box.

    You can read about other boxes here Boxes for Lego GBC Modules.

    Videos

    Videos of this module in operation

    Awards

    My Scrolling Display module won a “Staff Favourite Award” at BrickFair NJ 2017.

    Modules

    Builds and revisions to this module.

    Version 1

    Pieces Cost Time
    3000+ $$$$ 4 Months

    Version 2

    Pieces Cost Time
    3000+ $$$$ 2 Months

    Entirely Re-engineered with the exception of the print head.

    • Longer belt to show full LEGO GBC.
    • More reliable input and recirculation sections.
    • Taller to allow easier clearing of lost balls.
    • Made ev3 visible so people could watch program.

    Version 2.1

    Pieces Cost Time
    3000+ $$$$ 2 Weeks
    • Added an NXT to automatically cache balls.
    • Changed the belt liftarms to black.