Details: You can use this ball clock to tell time. The third row tells the hours, the second row gives 5 minutes increments and the remainder is shown by the first row of balls. Mechanical logic keeps the balls flowing into the right places. In a technique I'm surprised I haven't seen in a Great Ball Contraption module yet, a ball lift is made out of chain with a few pieces of tread in the middle. Half-width beams are then able to attach to the treads. Building instructions for this model are also included in the Brickshelf gallery.
Details: I would write more about this GBC, but I'm still spending time studying it. The video quality is a bit lacking, but the modules in this one are spectacular. Lots of brilliant stuff here - pneumatics, Mindstorms, trains (the train is controlled via RCX to stop and start in the right places to load/unload), an all-around great variety of both classic and very original sorts of mechanisms. There are even Spacewarp-style sections with loop-de-loops, a base 5 ball counter, and color-sensitive sorters to tell the basketballs and soccer balls apart. I'm not sure exactly where this layout was setup or how many people participated in constructing it, but I'm suitably impressed with all involved.
Found at: (not fully documented online, see videos below)
Details: One of the highlights of BrickFair and LEGOPalooza last year (and again this year - this will be on display at this year's BrickFair as well) is this large Great Ball Contraption. Instead of using the traditional soccer balls, this one uses the balls from DUPLO sets. A variety of other fantastic elements come into play - this one just has to be seen to be believed. Video from LEGOPalooza 2009:
Details: Here's a series of Great Ball Contraption modules. It looks like the only thing these all have in common is that they were posted early this morning in my timezone. Some of these have apparently been part of group GBC's at shows, and some of these aren't still assembled. As usual, there are quite a few interesting ideas to try out here, whether you're looking to try a group layout or just making your own machines. Usually with GBC modules, the colors are a bit random (function over fashion), but these have some nifty color choices too.
Details: This is what you do when you have 62 builders all get together after each building one module of a great ball contraption. I don't really have any commentary here, the video's long enough.
This 'bot is also loosely great ball contraption-themed. I'm not sure if the use of non-LEGO balls affects the performance of this machine, but that seems beyond the point with all of the interesting stuff going on in the model. There is a functioning conveyor belt made with tread links (which, as mentioned last week, is not easy to do), and then there's the large drum that tosses the balls about and every so often picks up a ball with a chrome light-holder thingie (or whatever that part is called). I have no idea how the parts for the drum were done, but the whole thing works well. The use of non-LEGO string for elevators isn't a bad idea either - it certainly keeps you from having to use gear racks in bulk.
Sorry to feature another GBC-style model after last week's GBC model, but this is exciting enough to justify bending the rules a little - and it does seem to be the best thing in LEGO robotics this past week.
Details: If you're like most Technic builders, you've noticed that none of the tread parts work particularly well as conveyer belts. They look great, actually - the problem is that it's just not practical when you want a machine to really work. This model gets around that problem by using dark grey pegs (which have half-brick length on one side, allowing them to snap into treads easily). The builder provided instructions for this GBC, too, so if you wanted directions to make your own, there you have it. Of course, I'm pretty sure the exact type of treads being used here are a fairly new part...
You can use this ball clock to tell time. The third row tells the hours, the second row gives 5 minutes increments and the remainder is shown by the first row of balls. Mechanical logic keeps the balls flowing into the right places. In a technique I'm surprised I haven't seen in a Great Ball Contraption module yet, a ball lift is made out of chain with a few pieces of tread in the middle. Half-width beams are then able to attach to the treads.
-style sections with loop-de-loops, a base 5 ball counter, and color-sensitive sorters to tell the basketballs and soccer balls apart. I'm not sure exactly where this layout was setup or how many people participated in constructing it, but I'm suitably impressed with all involved.
