Week TechVideo, 2011 #44 - Beauty Dance of Magic

Akiyuky published a new video from his Ball Factory module, after doing some improvements to comply with the standard GBC 1.0 balls/s requirement. Now the module performs at 1.3 balls/s.

All the mechanical movements in the new module, are synchronized and driven by one single PF XL motor. 

It is particularly interesting to see how the module was made synchronous, looking at it working without the balls and with the center barrel wheel out of place (2'35'' onwards).

Also notice the ball feeding mechanism was changed, and the football/basket balls do net get in separate (one of each per barrel) anymore.

GBC World Record hits 112

Mission accomplished!


As we have announced earlier, there was a record to break and it was due on LEGO WORLD Zwolle this year!

The previous WORLD RECORD with 94 modules was broken once more! On Friday, the 21st of October, the longest LEGO Technic chain reaction (Clikits included... ) hit 112 modules and this makes the biggest GBC so far.

And if there was some doubt about it, many have witnessed it as seen from the media below.
Would you like to count the modules on this almost 10' length video? 

Just half an hour before the big moment, Maico Arts the starter of this initiative gave an interview about his last attempt, which by the way was not the first one.
You may read it, at this dedicated LEGO WORLD RECORD website. 

Who's next?  

LEGO WORLD Record Attempt

October 19, 2011, the biggest LEGO event for kids begins: LEGO WORLD

This year there will be something special!
An international team of builders will try to set a new LEGO record. They are going to try to make a Great Ball Contraption of more than 94 modules.
You can read all about the LEGO WORLD RECORD attempt on October 21 in Zwolle (the Netherlands) on www.legoworldrecord.com.


In the meantime I'll let you with a video from the GBC display that was exhibited at the last LW event, in Copenhagen, running with 93 modules.

But as usual, Im sure LW will bring us much more great news and models for our delight.
Stay tunned!

Week TechVideo, 2011 #36 - GBC

This week, Japanese builder Akiyuki published videos for two new outstanding GBC modules.

Both particularly innovative (afaik) and reliable, which is the most impressive!
Looking forward to see them integrated into a large contraption.


Meanwhile I leave you also with the video (not new) that reveals what his previous module featured here at TBs , was for.

Amazing, isn't it!?
The robotized arm, looks so real...

Week TechVideo, 2011 #27 - Ball factory GBC module

Today one video from a Japanese builder (Akiyuky) who made this out of LEGO Technic elements, to become a great GBC module.

In fact it looks half way between a proper GBC module and the mechanical wonders, from the amazing superbird28.
But that shouldn't be a surprise, as the author itself wrote to have been inspired by these.


On his YouTube channel, you will find some other videos from additional great GBC modules and diverse Technic constructions. But on is website, you'll find what seems to be the ultimate GBC factory...

Eagerly waiting to see this working, anytime soon...

Week TechVideo, 2010 #24 - Marble Counter for GBC

Nico71 built a 5 digit marble counter, to integrate in the traditional GBC display at Fana'Briques 2010, that will happen in one week.

I've seen such a GBC counter before, done with one NXT, but never a pure mechanical one.

The image below shows how the series of 1:10 reductions were achieved in the gear train.

To read more about this Nico's model, please refer to his website, or visit Fana'Briques 2010 to see it in action.

Week TechVideo, 2009 #40 - Closed loop pneumatic excavator

Still on the pneumatics mood, I've decided to bring this week, another fully automated pneumatic model.

It is a fantastic module for any GBC display. An automatic closed loop pneumatic excavator, built by Jetro (linmix), a veteran Hispalug member.

It is something I had the chance to see working live, during last December, at the 2nd Hispabrick in Barcelona, and which really amazed me!

Jetro has also some extra photos from his model, at this Brickshelf folder.

Week TechVideo, 2009 #29 - GBC still rolling

I've heard about some fans fearing that GBC movement may slow down, as some are leaving this area and number of modules displayed in events may decrease. One reason may be the high level of babysitting these modules require to keep them working in the events and the wear they induce on some parts that are heavily stressed in the modules moving parts.

So and because I'm an unconditional fan of GBC displays, I've decided to include here today, two videos from Alban, featuring the last and large GBC display at last Fana'briques event (27-28 June 2009).

GBC is clearly a big public attraction and inspirational to kids and adults. But it only works as a collaborative effort.
Likely just a local US phenomenon and not yet an European concern. Anyway just my two cents, to keep the interest alive.

Next round at BrickFair near Washington DC, end of August.

Week TechVideo, 2008 #51 - GBC Trio

This week a very original video from a GBC trio, by Andrew (Kitsu).

See!

and Listen...

Under the contemporary classical sound of Balanescu Quartet and track Robots (Kraftwerk cover) from album Possessed, you may experience a different way of feeling a GBC display.
Fantastic image, composition and sound combination.


Thanks Andrew, for mailing this.

Week TechVideo, 2008 #43 - MGBC @ LEGOWORLD 2008

As promised in the original post, I've added today the MGBC video that I made at LEGOWORLD 2008, for the MGBC setup.

In order to avoid it to become totally unnoticed, also made it as one of the TBs Week TechVideos.

Once more, this was a large setup prepared by: Eric, Gerrit, Martyn (robotica) and friends. MGBC stands for 'Much Greater Baller Contraption', 'Much large GBC' or 'MINDSTORMS GBC'. Instead of the usual GBC setups with the small football balls, the goal is to move large MINDSTORMS balls (52mm) around and instead of an average of 1 ball/sec cadence, it features about 2 balls/min.

See MGBC live from LEGOWORLD

This year, Eric, Gerrit, Martyn and friends prepared an MGBC setup for LEGOWORLD.
And, what is MGBC, you asks. MGBC is an expansion (in the fully sense of the term...) from GBC concept and stands for "Much Greater Ball Contraption" or "MINDSTORMS Greater Ball Contraption".

It uses MINDSTORMS balls at a much slower transport rate than standard GBC. About 2 balls per minute.
See below one photo from the actual setup running at LEGOWORLD.

Do you want to see more!?
Ok, take a look to this post, today from 13:00 PM to 15:PM (GMT) to see LegoWorld MGBC in action, at TechnicBRICKs live video channel. Then it will be repeated Monday and Tuesday at the same hours (occasionally you may find it streaming at different periods, but most likely I won't be here following the chat.).

Live video on top and live chat room at bottom. Tell us what do you think.

As alternative, you may follow it directly on this URL.
Enjoy!

LEGOWORLD 2008

Yesterday afternoon arrived at LEGOWORLD 2008 in Zwolle (The Netherlands). It is a first time visit and it was amazing to see so many many LEGO and fans in the same place.
It was also fantastic to meet some with whom I've established contact through TBs in person for the first time.

First I took a general overview of the exhibition, to see what was shown for each building theme and to meet some persons. Later I made a 2nd round to see more in detail those TECHNIC points of interest, which caught my eye at first.

Eric, Gerrit, Martyn (robotica) and friends prepared a surprise, which was an MGBC setup (stands for 'Much Greater Baller Contraption', 'Much large GBC' or 'MINDSTORMS GBC'). Instead of the usual GBC setups with the small football balls, the goal is to move large MINDSTORMS balls (52mm) around and instead of an average of 1 ball/sec cadence, it features about 2 balls/min.
See in the photo and video below.

Edit:
The MGBC video, was added to this post.


Last Update: 2008.Oct.24 05:22 GMT

Week TechVideo, 2008 #27 - Fana'briques 2008, GBC

Here you have the video from the GBC display at Fana'briques, last weekend.

According to Philo, they managed to gather 66 modules, but some were not reliable enough to be in the continuous working loop. So the display ended with 62 modules, which is an impressive mark anyway!
There were present modules coming from Germany, Swiss, Belgium, Holland and of course France.

Many really cool modules, there. ;)

Week TechVideo, 2008 #23 - LEGO DigiComp II

In the sequence of the post "GBC at Fana'briques LEGO event", Brian Davis commented about how he got so taken by the GBC idea, that he ended building a computer inspired on that.

According to his words, now he just need to make it compliant with the standards , to fit into a GBC scenario.

See below the video from this great exercise for a TECHNIC building,

This is a LEGO version of an old "marble logic" computer called DigiComp II (DC II). You can find more info (photos, plans,...) at Brian's Brickshelf folder.

The finished model weighs about 4,5Kgs (10 pounds) and uses 14 simple switches, 21 flip-flops, 8 half flip-flops, and a ball release mechanism. Later Brian built a slightly improved copy at the request of a museum, for public display of DCII.

You may find a more detailed and complementary info directly from DCII video description at YouTube.

GBC at Fana'briques LEGO event

Yesterday I got a mail from Philo, challenging me. He wrote,

At the end of June, "Fana'briques" LEGO event will take place in Rosheim, east of France. During this event we will set up a Great Ball Contraption. There are already about 50 modules foreseen in the loop, but more would be great of course ;o) - so you or any of your readers is welcome to bring his modules (or just to watch!)

More details on Fana'briques: http://www.freelug.org/article.php3?id_article=706

And of course I immediately decided on passing you the challenge, to participate or try to be present too! ;)

As you see from the images above, it is an event organized by the French LUG (FreeLUG) and as you can find written at the event webpage, they aim to put together more than 100 GBC modules. Lets help them! ;)



So Philo gave me the right excuse to finally write here at TBs a few words about something, I was planning to do for a long time, but which I never done... Yes, GBC (Great Ball Contraption)!

I must confess some time ago, I had to go to the dictionary to find what the hell "contraption" means... "strange-looking machine or piece of equipment" as I found. It couldn't fit more perfectly! ;)
GBC is another idea developed by Steve Hassenplug and Brian Davis (I think to be correct, this statement) and to put it simple, the goal is to pass LEGO soccer balls from one module to the next. Each module can be as simple, or as complex as a builder wants. It follows the same principles illustrated by Rube Goldberg, an American cartoonist, sculptor, author, engineer and inventor best known for his series of popular cartoons depicting Rube Goldberg machines, complex devices that perform simple tasks in indirect, convoluted ways.

Much like other AFOLs made with Moonbase and Classic Castle standards, GBC allows different people to build modules/sections that interact into a common display.

A few definitions to interface between modules and many other info, can be found here.
Also here, a few examples how the modules could interface, based on the defined rules.

Below a few video examples from GBC setups, to show what can be achieved with it.

First GBC setup from teamhassenplug on the left, and FreeLUG GBC setup during Legoworld 2005 on the right




BeLUG GBC setup at Lego World 2005




GBC setup at Brickworld 2007

If got interested and willing to try something like this, take also a look into Philo's GBC webpage, where you can see his creations. Below also somo photo examples.

Philo's individual GBC modules




The same GBC modules assembled together

Have fun!