Main Page

A GBC Collaboration

What is a Great Ball Contraption?

A great ball contraption (GBC) is a machine which receives soccer balls or basketballs from one module and passes them to another module, rather like a bucket brigade. Modules built according to the GBC standard can be assembled into a collaborative display without pre-planning or modification. The GBC standard is minimal, permitting the builder great flexibility in designing the mechanism by which balls are moved from the input to the output. The otherwise pointless handling of balls, and the myriad ways this is accomplished, gives great ball contraptions the impression of a Rube Goldberg machine.

a stair stepper module

• Frequently asked questions
• About this wiki
• Getting started

Upcoming GBC Events

North America

• Brickworld Chicago, 2019
• BrickFair Chantilly VA, August 2019 brickfair.com
• BrickCon Seattle WA, October 2019
• Brickdays Lincoln, November 2019
• BrickCan Richmond BC Canada, May 2020

Europe

• LEGO World, Jaarbeurs, Utrecht, NL, Oktober 17-23th, 2019
• Doe's gek, IJsselhallen, Zwolle, NL, Oktober 24-27th, 2019
• Kinderen bouwen voor kinderen, Bouwbedrijf Heijmans, Rosmalen, NL, November 2-3th, 2019
• Mega Bricks, Rabotheater De Meenth, Steenwijk, NL, November 23-24th, 2019
• Festijn met Bouwsteentjes, Broodfabriek, Rijswijk, NL, November 30th - December 1st, 2019
• Mega Trucks Festival, Brabanthallen, 's Hertogenbosch, NL, December 14-15th, 2019

APAC

• BrisBricks Brisbane LEGO Expo 2019 - 5th, 6th and 7th October 2019, Chandler Arena, Sleeman Sports Complex, Brisbane QLD, Australia
• Bricktober Western Australia Lego Exhibition 2019 - 12th and 13th October 2019, Curtin Stadium, Bentley, WA, Australia
• Brickvention LEGO Expo - 18th and 19th January 2020, Royal Exhibition Building, 9 Nicholson Street, Carlton, VIC, Australia

See also Past Events.

Edit events

Browse

• List of great ball contraption resources
• Building Techniques
• Lift mechanism
• Widget
• Modules

Contributing

www.greatballcontraption.com QR Code

The Great Ball Contraption Wiki is your web site! Add the GBC content you want to see. We are kindly hosted by Brickimedia, so your Brickimedia/ShoutWiki account is all you need. How you can make this site better:

• Spread the word!

• Share the link: http://greatballcontraption.com
• Display the QR Code.

• Check out the Forums, especially the Community Discussion.
• Browse the Something needed category.
• Read the Manual of Style for guidelines on editing articles.