It's not every day you see something that makes your jaw drop, but today, while watching the video of the largest, most intricate Lego machine I've ever seen, mine did.
The machine, known as the Great Ball Contraption (GBC), was built by a Japanese mechanical engineer in his house over the course of two years -- a total of a whopping 600 hours in construction time.
The monstrous 5 ft x 21 ft (1.5m x 6.5m) machine boasts 17 modules that can process 500 balls for a length of 101.7 ft (31m) at a rate of one ball per second. I know, it's hard to wrap your head around it without checking out the video, below, first.
It's not just the machine's enormous size that impresses fans, but the individual modules themselves, which are described as follows:
Ball factory
Zigzag stair
Zigzag lift
Pneumatic
Cup
Screw T1
Basket shooter
Mechanical train
Screw T2
Screw T3
Spiral lift T2
Elevator and coaster
Fork
Spiral lift T1 & step
Catch and release
Belt conveyor & pinball
5-axis robot S750
The video of the device in action is a whopping seven minutes long, but if you're in any way interested in Lego and mechanical engineering, you really must check it out.
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We have a game at home that is a bit like this, but nothing so elaborate. I have been to Legoalnd in Bilund a couple of times, but this even outdoes what they have there. I am sure the Lego people love this. Think of how many blocks they sold.
When I watch this video, I immediately think of a game called Mousetrap that I had as a kid. Of course, this blows that away by miles, but we had some good times playing that game.
Naperlou, I'd love to hear Lego's reaction to this project, too.
I agree, Jenn. The Mousetrap game was my first thought, too. It also reminds me of the contraption that used to be in the concourse at Logan Airport in Boston, except this is much more complex.
That must've been some labor of love for someone to put the time, effort and painstaking detail into such an ambitious project. Who knew you could do something like this with Legos! I'm impressed.
Wow. This is a magnificent machine. Who on earth has the time to build something like this? I hope it's on display somewhere. I've seen a machine like this -- but not as elaborate -- in a science museum.
Elizabeth M, I agree. It's quite ironic that a video on LEGO engineering was aired on Design News when in my Control Systems class I showed a couple of videos illustrating mechatronics applications using the LEGO NXT-Mindstorms kit. Such a cool video and I will definitely be showing this magnificent machine to my class next week. Awesome engineering!!!
,,,and not ONE loose ball, rolling on the wood floor! Then, at the point where the robot arm was taking shots at the hoop (and hitting about 90%) I burst out laughing!! ,,, So much fun, just to watch! Maybe the designer needs some suggestions on how to turn a profit on this ,,,,
1. Break up the modules individually and document as lessons in Automation.
2. Sell it to Disney. (heard they're in a "buying" mood; just paid LucasFilms $4B for STARWARS,,,)
Any idea as to basic Lego part count in this video? Not the motors, sensors, and controllers necessary from the MindStorm kits. I'm talking about the basic static Lego parts. They average about $.10 a piece (so a 500 part kit in the store should run about $50 in the USA). I'm curious about what we just watched cost the builder.
I was fortunate to visit BrickCon in Seattle last month. I saw a large-scale Hogwarts model in such intricate detail. I think I was looking at close to a quarter-million dollars in bricks alone.
TJ McDermott, I watched approximately 3mins of the video and I was blown away by the shear complexity of the machine. There's a lot of cool manufacturing processes and automation techniques that can be learned by watching this magnificent machine in operation. What a cool video!!!
Someone has way too much money and time on their hands. I wonder who financed this project and how often they need to replace parts to keep it operational.
That's a great site, Ann. Interestingly, this gadget with the same video is the top item on the news section of the Rube Goldberg site. Apparently, this video has gone viral. It certainly deserves that.
I noticed that, Rob. I agree, it deserves attention. Maybe this guy can now get married--or back together with his wife, depending on which of our commenters got it right.
In some ways, building this contraption is no different than preparing to climb Mt. Everest. Both activities require time, money, and dedication. Both deliver very little besides personal satisfaction. Perhaps the gadget offers the greater good since it can be shared, as with this video.
I agree, Rob, on the amount of effort and its worthiness. Some of the comments, though, were pretty funny. I've been on both ends of the spousal disagreement about spending "too much" time at work or on a project, so I can relate.
Yes, Ann, I too have bumped into the spousal disagreement over projects. It's a fine line between serving your muse and serving your family.
John Lennon claimed his marriage broke up over the time he was spending making Sgt. Pepper. He said looking back that Sgt. Pepper wasn't worth losing a marriage over. That marriage was doomed anyway, but still it's an interesting comment.
Lennon's first wife was not a co-creator and fellow artist, like his second wife Yoko was. I think that can make a big difference: if spouses have similar, or at least parallel, interests they can understand each other better. OTOH, if my husband built that LEGO contraption or went off to climb Everest I'd have a lot to say about it.
Yes, the difference between Yoko and Lennon's first wife is that Yoko went to work with him. That solves a lot. So, if the person who built the Lego contraption had a spouse, perhaps they worked together on it.
Good point, Rob. I hadn't envisioned the engineer and his spouse working on it together, so much as her having a better understanding of his passion if she were a like-minded engineering or creative type. But I still don't want one in my living room.
Rob, it has gone viral because my four year old grandson has watched it now about 2 million times!! Seriously, he's fascinated with it and after about the 30th viewing I thought I'd had enough — but I still find myself stopping as I walk by and watching with amazement at the contraption. Such creativity. But we have renamed some sections of it "Archimedes Screw 1, 2, etc." :)
TJ--I agree but then I was absolutely fascinated by the complexity. I would love to know the thought processes that went in to the planning phase of the project. LEGO must really love this one. It has to be a hit just about anywhere viewed. I don't do the U-Tube or Face Book thing but has the video been shown on these two social outlets? Any one know?
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