40 replies to this topic

[~stεεlspectrum~]

Do you have ideas for an invention, but don't know how to make it, or simply havent tried yet? Post it here.


Well I thought of an automatically resetting rubber band launch but that didnt work out so well...haha...besides, an automatic drill launch works just as well.
I also tried to make a shuttle coaster, and RWT and I are *sorta* still working on it.

[Franko]

well i thought of a good invention idea, what if we made the motor on the lift swich on and off automatically so the batteries dont run out as fast. just a thought

[RightWayTrey]

I received this PM today:

hi,
I wanne bild a coaster with the lift of maximun rpm of hard roch park. and I need your help with the lift so..
I am going to make a post over 3 of 4 days beacase I need to clean my room...agiang.
hire is a pick of maxinums rpm lift:


thanks

A couple videos I found of Maximum RPM.
YouTube - Maximum RPM

POV
YouTube - Maximum RPM! Coaster Now Round

Any ideas on how to make it work? It doesn't have to be automatic, just whatever makes it work.

[DDRman732865]

There's my idea of the frames on the SS cone axles to make custom cars, like steel's suspended cars.

[~stεεlspectrum~]

RWT I think the easiest way to do that would be to use a Mindstorms. I'm sure you could figure out a way to make it completely automatic, but I find that quite unnecessary.

[RightWayTrey]

^I don't think he has lego mindstorms. The main thing to do is get the lift to stop at just the right place. Then someone would just have to turn it on and it would make a half revolution and stop.

[Maxlaam]

Could easily be done with the Arduino too. (Refer to my Project '09 thread)

Using a servo to push it off the lift and stepper motors to spin the wheel.

Could also easily be done in a physical way making a rod push the car out of the lift.

Hold on and let me make a 3D model real quick.

Edit:
This is what I came up with, can't type an explanation right now, I'll do that later.

[~stεεlspectrum~]

Nice idea...only problem is that the wheel would still be moving when it pushed the car off. Not good.

OK here it goes:
I was thinking that you could have a rod coming off the wheel that would turn off the motor when it got to a certain point, and trigger another motor to push the car off. Then it would run for, say, 5 seconds before turning itself off and triggering the motor that turns the wheel. Kinda complicated.

^ very nice start button, btw

[RightWayTrey]

^ Yes, that is a good idea. Although, to make it simpler, it could just completely shut off after a half revolution. Then, when the next train gets on the wheel, you simply hit the switch to start the wheel turning again.

Another thing, we have to figure out how the track rotates as it turns around the wheel. It doesn't hang like a ferris wheel.

[~stεεlspectrum~]

You could have it work kinda like ball bearings but there's fixed wheels instead of balls. Just have 2 circles of tubing around the track, and use the gray spacers as wheels so it can turn.

[big builder145]

I have an idea, mabe you could have a rod sticking out like he^^^^ said, but have tubing going in a circle so, that it was just abouve the hole for the cars but, have the tubing come out/in of the circle so that the flucuation was right abouve the car holes. So that as the weel spun it pushed the lever out thus pushing the car forward. It is sorta complex, Ill make a drawing if you want.

[RightWayTrey]

^ I don't follow. A drawing would be nice.

[~stεεlspectrum~]

Here's a quick sketch of how it works:



green and purple are the track, red are the wheels, and blue is the circular track that is connected to the main frame.

[~stεεlspectrum~]

I have no idea how to make a perfect circle out of knex. I've tried it with tubing, but that never works out. I can't think of any way to make it without using a circular track either :/

[RightWayTrey]

I got it! Just stick a rod through the middle of the x-ties, and have the track pivot on that. If you put tons of weight on the bottom of the track, it will stay upright.

[~stεεlspectrum~]

Nice idea! That could really work! The only problem is...connecting the axle to the wheel without it getting in the way.

[DDRman732865]

You just make the supports wide enough to be out of the way.

[RightWayTrey]

Hmmm... Yes, steel is right. The only place to connect the rod in the x-ties is on either side of of the track. But if you connect it there, it will get in the way of the stationary track at the top or bottom of the wheel.

Back to the drawing board...

[~stεεlspectrum~]

Wait no RWT, you had a good idea there. It only needs to be able to get on/off the track at 2 points, the top and bottom. So if you have 2 connections on either side, those shouldn't get in the way.

[RightWayTrey]

The upstop wheels would hit it though. But maybe we could snap the rod into the bottom of the x-ties instead...