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LEGO Ball-Moving Machine With 17 Methods Of Transport

September 18, 2012 / balls, fun for all ages, good job, hobbies, i like that, i love stuff like this, i love watching stuff like this, i used to have a kit where you could build stuff like this but i think my mom sold it at a yard sale after i ate all the marbles, i'm a sucker for a marble maze i can't help it, lego, modules? i love modules?, moving things, sure why not

lego-ball-machine.jpg

This is a video featuring the latest version of Youtube user akiyuky's Great Ball Contraption (GBC). It can move LEGO balls a total of 31-meters at the rate of one ball per second using 17 different methods of transport. Sadly, none of them were teleporting. Or getting batted around by a kitten. The specifics:

size : 1.5m×6.5m

path length : 31m
construction time : 600 hours

1. ball factory (inspired by superbird28) 2. zigzag stair 3. zigzag lift 4. pneumatic (sometimes spilling balls) 5. cup 6. screw T1 7. basket shooter 8. mechanical train (lack of reliability) 9. screw T2 10. screw T3 11. spiral lift T2 12. elevator & coaster (coaster inspired by Hidaka's ball rolling) 13. fork 14. spiral lift T1 & step 15. catch & release 16. belt conveyor & pinball 17. 5-axis robot S750

Impressive, akiyuky, but have you seen the installation I set up in my bedroom? "A bunch of dirty clothes on the floor?" YEP. It literally took months to get it like this. "I think I just saw a mouse." *jumping on bed* EEEEeeeeeeeee -- get it, GET IT!

Hit the jump for a video highlighting all the different modules.

Thanks to Ford and SAC, who have to move their balls with forklifts and sometimes even those break.

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There are Comments
  • ZomBBombeR

    Ok I'll start by sayin' I couldn't possible concieve something so intricate, however I wouldn't want to considering, why would I want to waste 600 hours of my time not to mention all the wasted hydro keeping it going when it's just an extreamly convoluted way to move little plastic sphears back to where they start? it's perpetual uselessness-ess wow, plus who has that much lego, money and free time and a desire to build a machine that does nothing for 600 hours of work, thats 25 days wasted people! a month to build a useless deivice I'm absolutely flabberghasted I'm done.

  • Shane Anderson

    I want to have a machine like this as the centerpiece to my hotel or casino. people would come from all over simply to awe at it. Naturally, instead of little plastic balls, maybe we do something more dangerous? like bowling balls or something.... perpetual danger machine.

  • I literally saw this like 3 months ago. Where have you been?!

  • BillGatesIsYourDaddy

    but what does it do? does it turn on a light switch? make pancakes? change the channel?

  • nickanderson1991

    They wasted 600 hours building a machine that takes balls from one place to another. I find it utterly useless. I mean, I could just get your mom to move my balls around and that only takes 2 Pabst's and an invitation to a good time (approx. 13 minutes).

  • It makes sure that you comment on everything.

  • BillGatesIsYourDaddy

    well that's a relief to know. now what's your excuse?

  • Don't need one.

  • BillGatesIsYourDaddy

    you must be the 1% that we keep hearing so much about

  • Must be the guy who has to have the last word, or every word at that.

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