[GBC] Akiyuki Train System: Type 2 mods and improvements

doug72 · June 24, 2018

1 hour ago, Frequenzberater said:

Nice! I am following this topic with great interest.

Thanks, more updates tomorrow. Dumper drive for rotation and train release system now transfered & tested OK

Edited June 24, 2018 by Doug72

ArsMan064 · June 25, 2018

I like Akiyki train system. Your mods are awesome

doug72 · June 25, 2018

On 6/25/2018 at 11:01 AM, ArsMan064 said:

I like Akiyki train system. Your mods are awesome

Thanks for your comment.

Update & short video of train release system

Rotating dumper part transferred into the new support framing and did not go as smoothly as I had thought it would.
This was due to conflicts between various parts as I had changed how the double static gear rings were attached to the support framing.

Original Mark 1 version use beams at 11L centres to connect to the yellow gear quadrants rings to the support framing,
but it hard to line up as all though they are parallel they are 17.5 L apart.

For the new frame support attached using 15L beams mounted at 13L centres on the gear ring. Two beams are exactly 17L apart, so much easier to add framing to.

Unit tested by hand rotation of 24T drive gear that the train unit 8T gear engages with.

However the 20T drive gears (inside the double gear rings) used 4L axles with stop but the they stop fouled on vertical beams supporting the gear rings.
At first added half bush as a spacer but this shifted whole dumper unit axially & caused problems at the other end with the rotating gear ring. Clearances are quite tight so discarded.

Unlike beams there are no recesses in gears to prevent the axle end stop from protruding slightly. Solution insert axle from other way round !!

Still dumper would not fully rotate 360 degs. as was hitting the end of the two 5.5 L axles used for the rollers supporting the other end of the dumper as they stuck out by 0.5L. Turned them end for end and problem solved.

Timing synchronisation of the rotation gearing with the train unit trip system had to had to re-set but was quite easy to achieve and now working correctly.
Red bush is removed - 8T gear slid out of gear and the 56T gear shifted 1 tooth at a time until everything is synchronised correctly.

As the dumper rotates, at approx. 300 degs the shock absorber spring starts to compress and this also slows the rotation down slightly until at 360 degs. the trip releases and the train unit leaves the dumper.

Rotation now tested using both of my train units and is working very smoothly with consistently reliable operation.

Elevator Module: Now raised by 4L to line up with Rotary Dumper.
Adjustments needed to set the holding latch correctly.

Next step is to build an improved ball collection hopper and chute to the loader module.

Short video showing train release system & raised Elevator module.

Edited July 4, 2018 by Doug72

Frequenzberater · June 25, 2018

Are you going to provide building- or modification instruction as soon everything works smooth?

doug72 · June 25, 2018

3 hours ago, Frequenzberater said:

Are you going to provide building- or modification instruction as soon everything works smooth?

Re instructions:_
I wish I could but I have no idea how to nor the software to be able to do that.

I can try and describe each section of the mod and use photos etc.

Maybe somebody could reverse engineer it and do instructions.

Not all of the previous posts on the Akiyuki Project threads have been transferred to this thread - check them out from page 58 onwards, which show close ups etc.

Edited June 25, 2018 by Doug72

Frequenzberater · June 25, 2018

Ok, thanks!

dunes · June 25, 2018

7 hours ago, Doug72 said:

Re instructions:_
I wish I could but I have no idea how to nor the software to be able to do that.

I can try and describe each section of the mod and use photos etc.

Maybe somebody could reverse engineer it and do instructions.

Not all of the previous posts on the Akiyuki Project threads have been transferred to this thread - check them out from page 58 onwards, which show close ups etc.

Doug72 Im going to do my best in LXF files with LDD.

Im not an expert xD

doug72 · June 25, 2018

10 minutes ago, dunes said:

Doug72 Im going to do my best in LXF files with LDD.

Im not an expert xD

WOW that looks great, many thanks, if you need any more photos let me know.

I am putting together a parts list for the various modifications starting with the static double 21L gear support and the rotating frame inside of it.

dunes · June 25, 2018

I wasnt able to put the moving part in the ring.

some light mods on the base for stability.

rotary%20dump%20mod2.lxf.png

doug72 · June 26, 2018

13 hours ago, dunes said:

I wasnt able to put the moving part in the ring.

some light mods on the base for stability.

Looks good, two blue 3L pins are missing on the lower 7L beam at each end on the rotating part.

Parts list:_

Edited June 26, 2018 by Doug72

doug72 · June 26, 2018

Rotary Dump MOD - Z 56 Timing Gear.

Coloured axles and parts used to for photo purpose only - can be any colour you desire.

In order to syncronise the rotation of the dumper with the train release trigger the modification despenses with Akiyuki Cam lock and the Z60 turntable.

The gearing to release train unit at correct point requires a 21:1 gear reduction to "fire" the trigger arm.
Therefore a 3;1 & 7:1 reductions are required to get 21:1 ratio. 24/3 & 56/8.

A Z56 turnatble is used to achieve this, and is synchronise by sliding the 8T gear out of engagment and rotating the Z56 gear one tooth at a time until corrrect.
This best done by hand rotation of the 24T gear that train 8T gear engages with before testing with the train unit.

N.B - the second 16T gear engages with 16T gear shown.

Edited October 9, 2018 by Doug72
Image tidy up

RohanBeckett · June 26, 2018

gee... now you're going to drive up the price of those teal bush pins!!! :D

doug72 · June 26, 2018

15 minutes ago, RohanBeckett said:

gee... now you're going to drive up the price of those teal bush pins!!! :D

I,v got grey ones as well !!

dunes · June 26, 2018

10 hours ago, Doug72 said:

Looks good, two blue 3L pins are missing on the lower 7L beam at each end on the rotating part.

fixed.

rotary%20dump%20mod.lxf.png

7 hours ago, Doug72 said:

Rotary Dump MOD - Z 56 Timing Gear.

Coloured axles and parts used to for photo purpose only - can be any colour you desire.

I made the LXF file.

According to my digital built U missed 2x 5L axles and 1x 2L axle on the part list.

doug72 · June 26, 2018

26 minutes ago, dunes said:

According to my digital built U missed 2x 5L axles and 1x 2L axle on the part list.

Thank, Its just the 2L axle I missed, the yellow axle (X2) is the 5L

Collection chute now installed and tested OK.

I have found another small problem with track alignment which is now fixed, will describe the fix more tomorrow.

Edited June 26, 2018 by Doug72

dunes · June 26, 2018

11 minutes ago, Doug72 said:

the yellow axle (X2) is the 5L

I count 4x 5L.

2 on the bottom from the turntable and the other 2 on the top right side.

Edited June 26, 2018 by dunes
typo

doug72 · June 26, 2018

21 minutes ago, dunes said:

I count 4x 5L.

2 on the bottom from the turntable and the other 2 on the top right side.

Sorry, yes you are correct there are 4 in total. Must go to SpecSavers !

Edited June 26, 2018 by Doug72

doug72 · June 26, 2018

Check out this video which shows an alterantive rotary dumper module using Akiyuki train units but with a seperate hopper car.
It can be seen between 4m 50s to 5m 30s.
Train trips appear to use elastic bands instead of shock absorbers.

Might have a go at building this as well if can find more information.

Edited June 27, 2018 by Doug72

dunes · June 26, 2018

9 minutes ago, Doug72 said:

Train trips appear to use elastic bands instead of shock absorbers.

Might have a go at building this as well if can find more information.

nice idea with the bands. and cheaper too xD

Berthil · June 26, 2018

@dunes and @Doug72, thanks for you efforts and very much looking forward to the finished LXF file!

doug72 · June 27, 2018

8 hours ago, dunes said:

nice idea with the bands. and cheaper too xD

Yes the trip system has possibilities but the seperate train car makes it incompatable with the Akiyuki system

7 hours ago, Berthil said:

@dunes and @Doug72, thanks for you efforts and very much looking forward to the finished LXF file!

I am busy over the next few days so will after weekend before can get the parts list together for the rotating trip mechanism.

A couple of minor problems to sort out with track alignment.

doug72 · June 27, 2018

Track alignment:

Vertical alignment:-
The track in the dumper was found to be about 1mm higher than the bridge track causing train to jolt as it passed from one to the other.
Also sometimes this caused the 8T gear to lose engagement with the gear rack - hence the additional section of gear rack.
Support rollers for gear ring too large.

Fitted smaller support wheels & tracks now level with each other.

Parts required:-
LEGO Wheel Hub Ø11.2 x 8 with Centre Groove (42610)
LEGO Tire, Low Profile, Narrow Ø14.58 X 6.24 (50951)4 pce sets required.

1 x 16T gear.

Horizontal alignment:-
The track does not line up exactly with the next section to the elevator after full 360 deg. rotation but train units are able to pass without any problem.
The train wheels help align them as they cross.

The trigger arm is tripping the train bar slightly too early. If try adjust by one tooth either way on the timing gear makes it worse.
1 tooth equates to approx 6.4 degs of rotation. i.e. 360/56 = 6.4 approx.

Possible solutions.
1/ shorten the 5.5 axle with stop slightly !! (illegal)

2/. remove the thin “L” shaped spacers from trip mechanism.(difficult)

3/. adjust the 7L lime green section of track by swiveling it slightly to line with the dumper track.. (Easy)

Tried option 3 and is an easy fix.

Another frustrating problem.
I have two train car units and both work OK when the PF connector is on opposite side from the trip bar that reverses the train, but when the other way round one train car is OK but sometimes on the other unit the swinging L shaped lever on end of trip arm snags the underside of PF connector block and causes train to stick in the dumper. At the moment can't figure why.

Edited June 27, 2018 by Doug72

doug72 · June 27, 2018

Re Veretical alignment MOD (failed)
Lowering rotating end of dumper to line up tracks has caused problems with top edge of the ball hopper jamming on underside of rotating discharge chute preventing the train entering the dumper.
Now reverting back to original design.

dunes · June 27, 2018

1 minute ago, Doug72 said:

Re Veretical alignment MOD (failed)
Lowering rotating end of dumper to line up tracks has caused problems with top edge of the ball hopper jamming on underside of rotating discharge chute preventing the train entering the dumper.
Now reverting back to original design.

Doug, can U send me pictures from your current status?

so I can built it myself and help figuring out the problems.