42055 - Bucket Wheel Excavator - MODs and Improvements

[mattthewise]

I'm assuming the base takes more technic parts than are actually used in the BWE. Is there a way to easily figure out what extra parts are needed?

[Gabi_BC]

That's what i was going to ask

Is there any script or 3rd party program that can subtract 2 parts lists?

[dr_spock]

That's what i was going to ask

Is there any script or 3rd party program that can subtract 2 parts lists?

Maybe diff could work if the lists are text files.

[carver0510]

There is a simple way, when you have the LXF-Files from Lego Designer (LDD) or another 3D-Lego-programm-file. But you need an Rebrickable-Account.

First you have to create a new part list, for the parts you already have

1. Go to www.rebrickable.com
   
2. Go to your Profil (small body icon on the top right) -> "My Parts"
   
3. Click "Add A Part List"
   
4. Give it a "Description" like 42055 Bucket Wheel Excavator
   
5. Choose in the drop down menue "Include these parts in Build calculations"
   
6. And Click "Save Details"
   

When you have a standard Set - like the 42055 Bucket Wheel Excavator

1. Go to "Sets" -> "Search Sets"
   
2. Search for the Set, e.g.: "42055"
   
3. Open the Set from the result list
   
4. Then you have to find "Add to My Parts (Part out Set)" - you will find it on the bottem right over the Comments-Section
   
5. Now Choose your created Part List from the drop down menue
   
6. Click "Part Out Sets"
   

When you have your own MOC or MOD with LXF or other 3D-File

1. Go to your Profil (small body icon on the top right) -> "My Private MOCs"
   
2. Go to "Add New Private MOC"
   
3. Give it a Description like Bucket Wheel Excavator MOD
   
4. Click "Save Details"
   
5. Now you can add the parts by clicking "Import from MPD/LDR/LXF file" - you can also use the other Imports
   
6. Choose your LXF-File and Click "Import" and follow the instructions
   

When you have created the Part List:

1. You can still add some missing parts by using "Find Parts to Add" (There you have to add it to your private MOC - which you have choose from the drop down menue)
   
2. Now you can go to "My Private MOCs" and Choose your created MOC from the list
   
3. Click on "Build this Private MOC" and you will get the results of the missing parts
   

Now you can export the missing parts for example to an XML-File, which you can upload to Bricklink to order the parts.

When you have done it once or twice it is a very easy an fast way to calculate the missing parts :)

Edited August 9, 2016 by carver0510

[carver0510]

I have finished my Full-RC MOD and know it have also LED lights :)

Lego Bucket Wheel Excavator 42055 - Full RC and LED by Sebastian Sedlmeier, auf Flickr

You will also find some videos how it is working and a test with coffee beans ;)

Lego 42055 Bucket Wheel Excavator Full RC and LED lights by Sebastian Sedlmeier, auf Flickr

[Imanol BB]

That looks fantastic Carver, those LEDS really give a very realistic look, so far i am unable to see the video because my internet, well, is worst than the usual , but i will try to see later, because it seems interesting with the coffee beans.

[Dafgek81]

Maybe a stupid question, i haven't read all posts in this thread, because it it way to much to keep up with it all.

But what is the B-model precisely, some sort of sorting machine??

[technicbear]

Maybe a stupid question, i haven't read all posts in this thread, because it it way to much to keep up with it all.

But what is the B-model precisely, some sort of sorting machine??

Yes, it sorts the big rocks from smaller ones. Or if you meant what it is in real life then i guess it is a mobile gravel/sand screener.

[Ngoc Nguyen]

This looks like the B-model most.

[Bricktrain]

This looks like the B-model most.

I think that is actually a crusher not just a screen

[Dafgek81]

Okay, now I know what you mean.

But does anyone know if it works???

And what scale is it??

[Imanol BB]

The B model works well most of the time, if i remember, Desert Eagle made a review of it, i will post the picture of the separator part soon, and about the scale, i have calculated (if the B model is of the same scale of the A model and the truck) that it is about scale 1:100, so yes, it would be a pretty big thing in real life (both A and B models)

This is how it works:

The bricks are dropped on the upper conveyor belt, it moves slow to have a regulated flow of bricks, and this conveyor belt drops the bricks on this grille-like thing, which has the function of separate the 1 stud wide bricks (which once separated they move to the left side in this picture when dropped under the grille thing) from the +2 studs wide bricks (which once separated they move to the right side in this picture):

Now, other nice detail of all this system is that actually it has some "shaking" given by the movement of the front (the larger one with the LA´s) conveyor belt, this works when it is moving, the 5L liftarms move an small axle which causes that the movement of the i don´t know how to call it, the tunnel or the channel, the part where the small pieces are dropped once separated (under the separator thing, see the up left picture), and with this movement, the grille thing moves too with a very simple pivoting system:

It is very difficult to understand this because i can only use images, but here is the review of Desert Eagle which is actually very help full to understand the whole system:

Edited August 11, 2016 by ImanolBB

[2LegoOrNot2Lego...]

That set with the full lights is awesome!

[Saberwing40k]

I found some gaps in the conveyor belt channel, where parts can get caught.

42055superstructuremod by Saberwing007, on Flickr

I found these by digging into a bin of 2L black pins, which most Technic builders have trillions of. The pins can catch in the gaps circled, and jam the belt. I think most small parts can slip into those areas as well, which means that fixing them is high priority, but luckily this is simple. The two gaps at the back, by the pivot point, are easily filled with a 1L liftarm on a pin, which can be done with spare parts. The gap under the ramp that the pieces fall on to, that's a bit more involved. I managed to fix that, but it will not fit in LDD, show I can't show it right now.

[Sariel]

Sorry for asking in this topic, but it's more or less relevant: can someone please measure how much vertical space is there between the 42055's A-model exit conveyor belt and the floor? In other words, what's the tallest thing you can put under the lower belt to catch the stuff that comes out? I'm an idiot and forgot to measure it before I took A-model apart, now I have the B-model ready and no idea if it fits under (it's 21.5 cm tall).

[technicbear]

I think you need to modify the model A little bit to fit it. See last page post: http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=138069&st=25#entry2629576

[Bricktrain]

Sorry for asking in this topic, but it's more or less relevant: can someone please measure how much vertical space is there between the 42055's A-model exit conveyor belt and the floor? In other words, what's the tallest thing you can put under the lower belt to catch the stuff that comes out? I'm an idiot and forgot to measure it before I took A-model apart, now I have the B-model ready and no idea if it fits under (it's 21.5 cm tall).

Does the 42030 loader tip into the hopper on the B model?

[Saberwing40k]

I just measured the conveyor, and it is 16 cm tall, with some overlap over what you're trying to dump into.

[Sariel]

Thanks! That means you definitely need to put model A on top of something to work with model B. Which wouldn't be a problem, except remember that model A's boom can't be lowered below grade.

[mattthewise]

Couldn't you just increase the height of A's discharge, use a longer beam as the support beam? And then move the hopper up slightly? I'm not done building mine, so I don't know if that would work or not.

Edited August 12, 2016 by mattthewise

[AkiyamaWataru]

I believe sariel asks for review purposes so changing a set won't work. One could only add an additional input conveyor belt. But that's out for sariel to decide.

[Imanol BB]

I think these pics will help a lot:

This is how it looks when both models are at the same height in the floor, the A model would need to be placed about 5 studs higher than the B for a successful download of material,.

But there is other issue, the B model cant be directly under the A model conveyor belt, because of its width it wont let the A enough space to turn, so the A model will download the material on a side of the hopper and almost out of it:

For this reason the i had made some modifications to the A model, so both models would work properly together with no problem and without needing a different on their height to work: http://www.eurobrick...9 (second modification) and http://www.eurobrick...9

By the way, i think these are very important modifications: http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=138069&st=50#entry2632629

Edited August 12, 2016 by ImanolBB

[Imanol BB]

Here are some more mods:

For the A model:

First, i have improved the lower conveyor belt lifting system, so now it is stronger and doesn't collide with the sides of the BWE while it is turning:

Second, i have lifted the box-like thing which works to drop the material from the upper conveyor belt to the lower one, so the lower conveyor belt wont collide with it, even when fully lifted (or at least that is the idea):

Third, i have added new rails on the upper superstructure, so the "engineers" can walk to the front of it, and to the side of the bucket wheel:

For the B model i have made some modifications to the rear conveyor belt, i have extended it and also i have added 2 small LA´s, so now it is able to drop the materials directly on the truck:

Here are the files of both A and B models (they will be updated with every big modification):

A: http://bricksafe.com/files/imanol/bwe/mods/42055%20mod.lxf

B: http://bricksafe.com/files/imanol/bwe/b-model/mods/42055%20B%20mod.lxf

[Ngoc Nguyen]

Splendid! Thanks for the mod.

[Ngoc Nguyen]

@ImanolBB: What are the ways to speed up the shaking rate?