LEGO Technic Braiding Machine

This model is my LEGO Technic Braiding Machine which debuted at the 2015 Brickworld LEGO Expo in Chicago (June 17 - 21, 2015).

There are three bobbins of thread that travel in a figure eight (8) pattern, causing the threads to intertwine and create a braid. A spool then collects and slowly winds up the braid.

At Brickworld, once the collection spool was full, I cut the braids into lengths about 20cm (8 inches) long and handed them out to kids as friendship bracelets.

This model was well received, and was nominated in the 'Best Mechanical' division.

The toughest part of building this model was getting the timing of each mechanism just right. To keep everything in sync, only a single M-Motor is used.

The other challenge that I faced was keeping it running for extended periods of time. All of the moving parts of the model would slowly work themselves apart, and the worm gears wanted to force the model apart any time one of the bobbins jammed.

I do not have instructions, nor do I know how many pieces it took to make. Please don't ask.