M&M Sorter don't work.

[Simpfan]

I have built the M&M sorter again and I have insert the downloaded program. But the machine don't work. It just something on the top. It are the three forward and one thing back, the thing back goes backward and the three things open and close. But the light sensor don't light. What are wrong with this. Are there made a video what show how this works? I have insert the cables right and I have build stright from the instructions from the book. When the Back thing boves it moves so hard so one piece get off. I hope there are some have maked a video.

[Laurens200]

Again not talking as the author, but if the sensor doesn't light up, did you connect it to the correct port?

Forum reader "McPhil" was able to get it work, so you should be able to do so too.

[Simpfan]

Yes the port is correct insertet. It works sometimes, but it not sort and see differences for colors. I hope there are some who have maked a video about this?

[Simpfan]

The machine work sometimes, but the open and close mecanism is not working correctly. The one thing back first going forward then backward, but it goes backward to much and there be an grr sound. Is there an special position these must be on to get this to work? I have two pictures about this.

[Laurens200]

Just contacted Matthias, the author. He should be able to reply soon.

[Simpfan]

Okay thanks. I hope he can help me.

[mpscholz]

The machine work sometimes, but the open and close mecanism is not working correctly. The one thing back first going forward then backward, but it goes backward to much and there be an grr sound. Is there an special position these must be on to get this to work? I have two pictures about this.

Hi Simpfan,

I take it from your description and the images that you are talking of the peanut store and the mechanism that releases one peanut at a time.
Looks to me as if the initial position of the released mechanism may not set correctly in the case you state. It's important to arrange the components of the sorter in the correct startup position before starting to sort; there is an according image in the chapter that shows the correct starting positions. Did you follow these instructions?

Please note that due to the large range of sizes of the M&Ms there's always a chance of the release mechanism jamming when a peanut is too large or too small - but according to my experience, it should not occur so often.

[Simpfan]

Yes I have follow these instructions correctly. But my machine don't work correctly. Do you have some pictures who show the positions?

[mpscholz]

Yes I have follow these instructions correctly. But my machine don't work correctly. Do you have some pictures who show the positions?

Please confer page 94 of the book - there the initial positions are explicitely shown.

[Simpfan]

I have seen the picture and I have the right positions, but it not work. I have given up this and have built another model.

[megamindstorm101]

if it is possible can you show a pictuer of the type and color of m&ms you use becasue there are many different types here (peanut butter, peanut, regular, ect) and they come in different colors. I dont want to buy any m&ms and then have to buy a different type becasue these dont work.

[naw]

I am working on this project too. I am a newbie to NXT, but I have done some programming...

I am having trouble with the drop from store mechanism. I would appreciate help from an author or someone who has gotten it to work. Please explain this drop mechanism a little....

It looks as if there is a 3 prong gate in the front that should open through the action of 4 little gears. There also seems to be a rear gate mechanism that moves forward from the back. Should this back piece be pushing the M&M forward as the 3 prong front gate opens?

The programming block for controlling the mechanism (both in the book and from the download source) looks as though it moves forward 70 degrees and the gait opens and the little pusher from the back swings forward.  Then the program pauses for 0.5 seconds and then moves it back 360 degrees and waits for completion. At least on my sorter, there is not room for either the front or back part to swing 360 degrees and the program holds up waiting for it to complete or the gears start grinding. I tried changing the swing back to 70 degrees, but the mechanism still seems to block easily.

The back pusher is directly on the motor shaft, which has a large gear. When the motor turns forward 70 degrees this piece moves through that same 70 degree arc. The front part of the gate is powered through 4 small gears. The small gears have 8 gear teeth compared to the 24 teeth on the big gear... so a 70 degree turn of the big gear should be 210 degrees on the small gear (ie (70 degrees / 360 gegree) * (24 teeth / 8 teeth) * (360 degrees) = 210 degrees).  I can't seem to set these front gates in a position where 210 degree arc seems to work well. Amy I missing something?

This whole mechanism turns very roughly. Is this normal?



Unfortunately, I don't have peanut M&Ms, but even running empty it locks up.

Thanks...

[mpscholz]

It looks as if there is a 3 prong gate in the front that should open through the action of 4 little gears. There also seems to be a rear gate mechanism that moves forward from the back. Should this back piece be pushing the M&M forward as the 3 prong front gate opens?

Exactly so.

[Ikoth]

It looks as if there is a 3 prong gate in the front that should open through the action of 4 little gears. There also seems to be a rear gate mechanism that moves forward from the back. 

The programming block for controlling the mechanism (both in the book and from the download source) looks as though it moves forward 70 degrees and the gait opens and the little pusher from the back swings forward.  Then the program pauses for 0.5 seconds and then moves it back 360 degrees and waits for completion. At least on my sorter, there is not room for either the front or back part to swing 360 degrees and the program holds up waiting for it to complete or the gears start grinding. I tried changing the swing back to 70 degrees, but the mechanism still seems to block easily.

The back pusher is directly on the motor shaft, which has a large gear. When the motor turns forward 70 degrees this piece moves through that same 70 degree arc. The front part of the gate is powered through 4 small gears. The small gears have 8 gear teeth compared to the 24 teeth on the big gear... so a 70 degree turn of the big gear should be 210 degrees on the small gear (ie (70 degrees / 360 gegree) * (24 teeth / 8 teeth) * (360 degrees) = 210 degrees).  I can't seem to set these front gates in a position where 210 degree arc seems to work well. Amy I missing something?

This whole mechanism turns very roughly. Is this normal?



Unfortunately, I don't have peanut M&Ms, but even running empty it locks up.

Thanks...

Hi, I'm also having exactly the same problems you describe - rough movement, the sensor jamming,  gears slipping to the point where 2 axle bushes have split with the strain!

Does anyone know if there are any videos of "M" working properly on the 'net somewhere? I'd like to see where I'm going wrong.

Cheers,

Ikoth.

[mpscholz]

Ikoth,

Does anyone know if there are any videos of "M" working properly on the 'net somewhere? I'd like to see where I'm going wrong.

I've assembled some older movie parts I had on my disposal still to a movie that I have uploaded to Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brznGBJdq3Q

Best,
 MP