Tag: Gantry Crane

Ready for Takeoff

The LEGO gantry crane is no more; all its constituent parts are now carefully stowed, awaiting the takeoff of a yet-to-be-determined new project.

LEGO Crane Hams It Up

Another subzero day. Rode the exercise bike to nowhere while watching my soapie, and shot video of my LEGO gantry crane prior to dismantling it. With the camera running, the crane sometimes took this as an opportunity to act up.

Through the Eye of a Gantry Crane

Having refined the LEGO gantry crane’s mechanics sufficiently, I’ve turned my focus to machine vision. This introduces software challenges that I’m tackling in small doses.

Symmetry vs. Function

Today I had to accept symmetry in my LEGO gantry crane isn’t always achievable. Here’s the hoist and grabber subassemblies, operated by pneumatic pistons. Scissor mechanisms are inherently not symmetric in operation, so I had to consider choosing symmetry in either the extended or closed positions, not both.

Not Quite Ready for Its Closeup

The latest, but not the final, iteration of my LEGO gantry crane. I periodically work and rework mechanisms, frame structure (thank you Pythagoras), or Python program, but it often sits waiting for a fresh idea.

Software Incompatibilities

Worked on my LEGO gantry crane. Spent way too much time trying to get different versions of different software to play nice with each other across three computers.

Gantry Crane: Progress Update

Prototyped the x and y axes of my minimal gantry crane. Next up: z axis (hoist) and a pneumatic grabber. I’ve written a Python program to pull it all together and to interface with a PlayStation controller to help me test as I build. The final product may look nothing like this.

Prototyping a Gantry Crane

Finished a working prototype of the y axis of a gantry crane (the part that carries the hoist). I aimed for smooth motion, minimum parts, and maximum symmetry. Next I’ll prototype the x axis. Eventually I plan to give the completed crane enough smarts to operate autonomously.

Inspiration

Cycled through a former heavy engineering space… because it’s there, and because I could. Made a mental note to add “gantry crane” to my LEGO Mindstorms to-build list. I did that as a kid, I do that now.