A kit that you can assemble yourself would be really cool. Or a set of plans you could use as a template for people who don't own a laser cutter. Either way, I would definitely be interested.
This looks great! I agree with @LiqdPT that the tray should be deeper to prevent pieces from bouncing out. I also think adding a handle to one of the sides to allow it to be cranked would be a lot more fun!
This is why I love this channel. I have no use for a Lego sorter, but getting the alignment for next to nothing material waste on Glowforge is something I struggle with all the time! Nice one Bob!! Thanks for the tip!
My one design suggestion is that I'd put higher sides on the tray. I was thinking it and then saw one of the smaller parts bounce out. I've dropped way too many small parts and had them bounce away, so I know that pain.
@@Iliketomakestuff i agree on higher walls, but also prob make the bottom wooden piece differently like a box to store the different filters, so they are all together.
I’d make it sized appropriately so that the tray can be a quarter sheet pan (maybe half). That way someone could use items they already have around the house to work with this (though it’d be very loud). Of course, your material size is an important constraint too!
Love this! I agree the sides should be higher. The only other change I'd love would be a little pouring spout or section? So that if you are pouring the pieces into a smaller container you could ensure they went where you want as opposed to trying to pour them from the corner or something.
You could make the base for the tumbler a kind of shelf for the various different filters, so they have a place to store them. People would have to place them elsewhere or may have them break if not stored well. Just an idea
I think an improvement you could do is add in a hex head emboss to the side walls. This way you do not have any metal parts rubbing against the legos. Also. With the threads facing outwards, you could put wingnuts on. This would allow you to tighten down so you wouldn’t have to worry about the container flipping over when changing out the tray and the filters.
I’ve always sorted by type of brick (single stud bricks, double stud bricks, plates, slopes, windows, wheels,…) and colour. I’m not sure how sorting by size would be a better method. I would love to see the following steps of this sorting method.
Love this design! When I do tolerance testing I have found that it's faster and cheaper to print just the fitted portions of the models. So when fitting the sides of the tumbler, you could just print the fitting edge rather than the entire side. Also, I'd definitely buy plans for this.
I'd love a kit for something like this. As someone who owns a giant tub full of bricks, I understand the pain of having to sift through to find one particular part. Great work as always Bob!
But if you go through and sort it all one time you wont have to do it again. Its a really cool idea but how many times are you going to have a bucket full of random pieces after sorting one time. Everyone I know that has a lot of Lego has separate containers for different types of pieces and when they take apart something they have made they sort it as the disassemble it.
I'm definitely interested in plans or a kit! And maybe an even bigger version! I coach a FIRST Lego League team, and they've accumulated a WHOLE lot of pieces over the years that are just randomly piled in bins.
YES! WOULD LOVE A VERSION OF THIS!! We have a whole room dedicated to LEGO building and are constantly trying to figure out the best way to sort/organize our bricks. We have Pete's small version but with carpet it gets difficult for us to shake it. Your table-top version would be perfect for us. Thanks Bob!!
Two suggestions 1. Size it for the storage container instead of the tray. Skip the step of dumping it from tray to storage container 2. Side compartment for the sorting insert storage 3. Love it
Skip the sorter. Make yourself a rack with individual containers/trays and sort your parts by color, brick, plate, function and so on. Kinda like you would screws nails and such. It’s better than any sorter. Years ago I repurposed a bookshelf for LEGO storage and filled it large 3Qt plastic food containers. Bought those by the case… about 3 cases. Sorted all the LEGO once. Best thing I ever did. This system was relatively cheap to do.
Great design! Two little tweaks that can possibly make it more user friendly. The first one is to add two little rails for the filter to slide on so the end of the filter does not need to be redirected with a second hand. Really helps with one handed operation. The second is skip the middle man and dump them right into the clear organization bins. Thanks for all the great projects!
Interesting design love the shape and the clear acrylic, definitely easy to see when your done, which is a massive improvement, but replacing the grate with a different size everytime. I'd lose them between cycles of use, the all in one was better and faster.
Hand sorting can be tedious. However, the problem I see with all Lego sorters is the shape of Lego pieces. 1x8 brick can fit in the same size hole a 1x2 brick fits in if it slides in longwise. The horizontal sliding trays help reduce this but the tumbling or vigorous movement trays long 1x bricks can still go through small holes. How often that happens I don’t know. There is no perfect way to mass sort bricks. Glad you are continuing the progress of Lego organization.
I would love plans or kit to make this. I agree with the tray needing to be deeper, but awesome idea. I’m lacking a good laser engraver but the printing is fine.
Thank you for the video. This is a neat idea and I’d be interested. A few suggestions if this becomes a kit (apologies if these ideas have already been covered in previous comments): - making a deeper output bin, with a removable cutout with very small openings, so dust / dirt can pass through. This would be useful when sorting bulk lot purchases -I think I saw you adding clips to each side of your filters. Having a stop on one side, that would prevent it from sliding through, would mean you’d only have to clip one side. -having a large / XL plan option, with a hole for a handle or crank so it’d be easier to turn. For those of us with large sorting needs 😅
1] I don't need plans/kits - I'm done with Lego. 2] Couldn't you just put handles on the sides and do away with the whole stand? Then shake directly over a storage container? 3] Could you sacrifice a few holes in the upper left hand corner and number the filters 1,2,3,etc so you know which filter to use first, second, third....might help the lil ones so they can clean up their own messes. Jus' thinkin' out loud.
I'm not very interested in this type of size sorter. But what I DO need and would pay for plans or a kit, is a device that can winnow away all the dust dirt and pet hair out of my LEGO bricks as I clean them up off the floor. Basically a box that you can drop drop handfuls of dusty bricks into the top, it passes by a fan that blows away the dust but not so hard it blows away the bricks, traps the dust, and lets the bricks fall into a pan below, nicely dusted.
Looking good, few suggestions would be making the filter swapping easier, have like a hinged rim or 2 sheets with offset holes to adjust size really quickly. Those white clips seem fiddly and will get lost in the Lego. Maybe a funnel to go to a better shaped container/adjustable legs to fit someone’s individual box. Basically just to be as simple and inconvenient as possible to make it as an efficient tool as possible. Look forward to where it goes!!
I would be interested. I would suggest having the option of buying just the acrylic insert with the holes. Most people would have tools to make all of the portions but no one wanted to drill out that many holes. That is what has stopped me for making a lego sorter.
Hey Bob! I think a kit of that Lego sorter would be cool. Also, I wonder if the tray sides should be taller to catch bouncing bricks? I couldn’t see if that was a problem or not. Lastly, how about including plans for additional trays that are even more specific? For example, you have, by necessity, made plates that sort certain sizes, but a 1 stud button is much smaller than a 1 x 1 stud brick. Or minifig hands… 2x2, 2x4,maybe even slots that plates? Just for finer sifting, if desired. Great stuff, keep it up and have a great Christmas!
The thing I always find strange about Lego sorters like this, is that they sort only by size, and not type. All my Lego is sorted by type into compartment trays and boxes. If I want a particular brick, or pin, or accessory, I know which tray compartment it is in. I can mix visually different bricks into the same tray, as they are easy to distinguish. Beams are all sorted by length, likewise plates. Slopes can mix with curves. Axles are sorted as 2 and 3 stud, 4 and 6 stud, all other longer axles. Gears on their own. Clear bricks in their own space. Etc. When I take apart a model I just replace all the bricks back where they came from, as I dismantle. I guess I just have the mentality of a printer with their trays of typeface. 😄
I like the idea of one powered by a shop vac. It can be used just for sorting but also cleaning up the bricks off the floor and also be part of cleaning the brinks themselves by sucking up dirt or moisture. something similar to those leaf separators on downspouts. It would also be fun to have it be a bit of a rube goldberg machine or a marble run that can be a fun way of putting legos away and either stare at it or let it sort things out by itself.
You can do a sifter for all the pieces at once in three different levels. Like just get a 5 gallon bucket and then make laser cut plexi inserts for three levels. Start with the largest holes on top and the smallest holes at the bottom level - for sifting all at once.
Plans would be great. As a European, getting a kit shipped with all the import fees makes it unviable, but having some plans and just getting the supplies here would be a lot of fun. I would like if there were options to make the various panels out of wood or acrylic or 3d print. Some people only have access to 1 of the 3, and technically the entire design is feasible with any 1 of those. The combination of materials just makes it nicer esthetically
Things I'd change if I were to build this... - Higher sides on the bottom tray - Biscuit type hole for in the side support to hold that white piece that locks the filter - Bearings of some sort for the basket to sit on the pivot point. Otherwise looks awesome.
What about tumblers within tumblers and a hand crank, filtering big to little - inside to outside? If you could get it to rotate on just one side you could even do a hopper. Probably be faster in the long run.
I am VERY interested in plans/files! This could be a really good intro to manufacturing/modeling project in my classes and would be super-useful for my students!
Very clever design. Perhaps add a crank style handle on one side. Bit easier with the shake and may help keep it all going off balance if you really load in the bricks.
Great idea as standard Bob. I'd sugest designing the securing clips to be mounted. Like a fliping action. Then reduce the chance of loosing it. Also the hex design could work if you left room on each side for the legos to sit up to. Thanks for sharing Bob
I would love to get a kit like this. I have none of the tools that you are using, but I think the design is totally awesome. It would save me so much time on sorting and storing.
Very cool design! Definitely could see this come in handy when sorting a bunch of LEGO! Instead of a tray underneath, why not make it so that your storage boxes immediately fit underneath? So you can sort your LEGO straight into your storage boxes. Skips one step from sorting to storing. (Would have to make the sides higher, so the sorter can still rotate above the storage boxes..)
As a bonus, you now have a bunch of acrylic blanks that you can use to make game pieces and tokens with! This is a great system for initial sorting, but I've been sorting my bricks down to the type, such as 1x1, 1x2, plates, and bricks. Still a cool project through!
Great built and nice to watch video! Little feedback: The first set of holes seems to be too small, most of the 1-nob-parts came in the 2nd round. And is the approach using round holes a bit 2-deminsional? Could be a 1-hight, 1-widsth, but 10-lengst piece coming through...?
I just found your channel and have been watching your lego content. I would love a kit. A small sorter is something I have been trying to find to make our cleanup and putting away of Lego in their very organized drawers so much easier. I Lego area does look like most Lego channels yet, but we have several drawer sets.
jesus i need one. would love a kit or something where you built it youre self, just to feel the process. Nice to see you improving your own design, and would love to see where you could take this concept, and make it even more easy to sort bricks, maybe even more detailed sorting later on(dont know how, but maybe you get a good idea).
At first I thought a kit would be great but I would take it with handles on the ends rather than the stand. And just turn it upside down and shake. I realised then it was a box with interchangeable lids so something like a “Really Useful” box where the lid clips on could be used if you drill the hole pattern into a range of lids. Not as pretty but just as functional? So maybe some plans would be good so people can make one or take details like the hole spacing to DIY it.
Looks like a very effective design, well done. About that white locking tab though. It would have to be on the other end to actually lock the filter in place right? The way it's installed right now, it only prevents further insertion which is already limited by the other orange end piece. Or am I missing something?
I would absolutely be interested in purchasing a kit. I was interested in the kit you showed but decided against since it was too large... Your removable filters are perfect. You have made this well enough that putting together would be easier and take up less room for shipping. While i agree with the taller sides...a fix could be adding a soft mat in the tray to prevent bouncing. Please keep us posted on potential orders... Really great idea. I will be purchasing.
Only a couple of things, I think the catching tray needs to be a lot deeper, I noticed small parts bounce out of the tray, also a pouring spout for tipping the pieces into the separate storage containers. Finally, it doesn't sort by colour, which, when you get to the AFOL (Adult Fans of Lego, yes we got the worst acronym) level is a must have.
That looks amazing. Selling them as complete builds, kits, or plans is a great idea because different people might want it in different stages. If I was getting one, I'd get a kit and put it together so I can use nuts and bolts made of a high-carbon steel for long-term durability. If I made one, I'd use a tray that has a lid to keep the pieces from scattering all over the floor as I pour them into another container. Not only would mine be sorted by size, but also by type and color. Easier to find the exact piece you need that way.
Great design! However I think it would be more efficient to have a barrel instead. The whole barrel would have holes on it so you would just spin it around a few times, almost like a tumble dryer. you'd have a little hatch/door on it to insert your bricks. What do you think?
Would be very interested in a kit! I could build the sides at home, but don't have a CNC so would need the box sorter included. Lots of options to provide different price points!
I would possibly look into tubes, have tubes that are very similar in size, so they can fit inside each other, with the tube with the smallest holes being on the outside, then as you spin the tubes, they are always filtering, so you don't have only one side filtering. As the smaller ones are filtered out each time, you remove a tube, until you have the tube with the largest holes left, and that is all your big pieces. It is great for storage, as the tubes all fit togethers, and I don't think it would take a lot to engineer two circles for each end as stoppers. Just something to throw in the mix for a design idea. Oh, also zero waste with tubes, 😛
I had a set of 4 high sided trays for Lego back in the 90s which stacked together, all with different sizes holes going from largest to smallest. You just shook the whole thing and it would sort out the pieces all at the same time. Way simpler design, way more efficient to use.
very cool! one suggestion that might keep the pieces from bouncing out as they fall, a fold up guard like on a popcorn machine. when it's "poppin" the guard goes up, and when you need to pull out the tray you let the guard down. could do both sides or just put clear plate on the opposite side! I'd like to have one of those!
Bob, I am an avid fan of your channel and absolutely love the videos on Lego as I am an AFOL as well. As someone with a lot of Lego can attest, sorting is a major PITA. I would absolutely love to see a video where you take this to the next step. Maybe a conveyor belt with Lego pieces flowing, camera taking a picture of the piece, some Tensorflow image recognition to identify the piece and using raspberry pi controlled servo motors to guide the identified piece in the appropriate sorted bucket?
If be interested in a kit/plans to download. I do not have a laser cutter but I have a printer. Instead of files to cut acrylic, could you vector those files into an stl that could print the sides, box, tray and filters. Then I could just have get some wood yo build the base.
just a tought. You can lasercut the side pieces with the pivot points from 2 sheets of acrilic, then glue them together. then you have the rised details, and the holes not go thrue.
Another great video!! I too have a Lego problem. Plans for your Lego sorter would be cool, but an assemble-it-yourself-kit would be awesome!! Just tell me where to send my money!
This thing is awesome and I would totally be down for ordering parts to put together as I don’t have the tools to make one myself. Agreed with people on a larger tray to make sure it catches all the small bricks.
We have a massive Lego organization problem and a kit that we could assemble ourselves would be amazing. Love your positivity and creativity and "stick-to-it-iveness"! Keep up the good work!
I find this kind of system kind of unreliable as even a small hole e.g. for around 2x2 bricks, will not block 2x4 and bigger. You can even see those long bricks falling through when testing. I would rather build a more complex pick and place system to get bricks properly sorted than use this "rough presort system". However, as always a nice design.
Needs to incorporate storage for the filters. Maybe a slotted area under the catch tray. In addition, I would make the retention clips slide mounted, so that they would not get lost.
I think you need a vibratory motor on that bad boy, maybe with a timer. Dump in your Legos turn on the motor for 5 minutes and go do something else. come back switch the screen and start the process again.
Great video, Bob! I'm a simple man. I see an ILTMS video featuring Lego and I press the "like" button. The synth/vaporwave music towards the end made this video even more amazing. I'd say plans for this would be something I'm interested in.
Nope, it needs to be a round drum . . . or octagonal (if that's easier to build or considering your filter material). The side to side shifting is inefficient. A rolling drum would be chef's kiss.
I'd loose that white clip to hold the filter in place in like 5 seconds... would be cool if it was a print in place movable piece so it just slide back and forth and locks it in and is part of the side panel so it can't be lost.
I'm sure you noticed that the filter has no side support or guide rails to channel it evenly to the far side of the tumbler. Not only would that help insertion, but I did see a couple of pieces wedged between the filter and side wall, so it would prevent that gap and decrease any bowing of the filter plate when loaded with bricks.
Neat idea - the filter clip though is a break point for shipping. I wouldn't buy one cause it would cost so much to ship. You could possibly just sell the acrylic parts?
A flat packed kit would be awesome. I have a cnc, but no laser or 3d printer, and a kit would just make life easier. I have a 12 gallon bin full of misc lego bricks, some of which date back to the 80's, so this is something I definitely need in my life.
Not sure if someone mentioned this already. if you want to make the sides out of acrylic instead of 3d printing, you could make it out of two layers. One with the slots through the piece and then a backer plate that is solid. Then glue them together.
that's the BEST kind of problem to have. Lego ones. Some kinda easier filter attachment mechanism and i'd buy somethin like that i think. slotting in each filter seems a little fiddly. but you're def on the right track.
Instead of bolts and nuts, on the 3d printed side pieces, make a post and just have a u shaped slot for the post to slide into. It would allow for taking the tumbler off easier if need be.
Plans would be cool. I am looking into making a stackable tray set with different size holes, which is compatible with the containers I use for my Legos.
That is a dope idea I really like it. The tray at the bottom either needs to be narrow or have higher walls because Legos bounce and get lost but what a nifty idea
Get Jimmy's team to make a kit... I'd love that. I use a lot of technic, so separating different-sized rods and beams is a concern for me. Maybe a two-level plate? The first plate uses small holes, and the second plate is an adjustable distance from the first? That way longer beams and rods can fit in the first set of holes, but can't go any farther and so don't fall out. Short beams and rods will go through the first set of holes, but will able to clear the second plate as well. Just a thought.
An Idea for iterating on this idea; if you where to extend the catch tray you could potentially motorise the the system, and have the sifter slowly work through the stack. That does take the fun out of making it rain lego's yourself, but this way you can sit back and watch the blocks tumble in the chamber like a hard plastic lava lamp
There could be filters on both sides of the box because you only ever sift one side at a time, you filter two sizes before having to change filters. Great compact design man I really like it
this is so cool I would definately buy one and finally sort my giant bin of legos, would be cool if it had a handle or a wheel on the side to aid in the tumbling
Anyone who has Lego probably needs this! I could see me buying a full kit or just the custom sorting panels for my own design. A sorting kit that was cheap enough and ikea style assembly would be great for gifting to other families who do not know they have a lego problem yet.
wow amazing idea! Love the sponsorship even! This whole video re-energized me to continue to keep making things! Also, yea, a kit that you could assemble to have this sorter would be awesome!
A kit that you can assemble yourself would be really cool. Or a set of plans you could use as a template for people who don't own a laser cutter. Either way, I would definitely be interested.
Agree.. kit would be great
I would for sure be interested in a kit.
Kit, plans: yes please!
Would love the kit since I’m missing a couple of key pieces of equipment
Totally! A kit would be awesome.
Suggestion for if you do make plans: size it so that makers can just get a 9x13 cake pan to use as the catcher tray.
This looks great! I agree with @LiqdPT that the tray should be deeper to prevent pieces from bouncing out. I also think adding a handle to one of the sides to allow it to be cranked would be a lot more fun!
Or it could simply be designed to fit over an exciting bin.
This is why I love this channel. I have no use for a Lego sorter, but getting the alignment for next to nothing material waste on Glowforge is something I struggle with all the time! Nice one Bob!! Thanks for the tip!
My one design suggestion is that I'd put higher sides on the tray. I was thinking it and then saw one of the smaller parts bounce out. I've dropped way too many small parts and had them bounce away, so I know that pain.
Yeah they could be higher for sure 👍
@@Iliketomakestuff i agree on higher walls, but also prob make the bottom wooden piece differently like a box to store the different filters, so they are all together.
I’d make it sized appropriately so that the tray can be a quarter sheet pan (maybe half). That way someone could use items they already have around the house to work with this (though it’d be very loud). Of course, your material size is an important constraint too!
I would buy this as a kit for sure. Especially with how simple you made it to put together.
@@dubya13207 You could line the sheet pan with a silicone pad. That should cut the noise down.
Love this! I agree the sides should be higher. The only other change I'd love would be a little pouring spout or section? So that if you are pouring the pieces into a smaller container you could ensure they went where you want as opposed to trying to pour them from the corner or something.
You could make the base for the tumbler a kind of shelf for the various different filters, so they have a place to store them.
People would have to place them elsewhere or may have them break if not stored well.
Just an idea
I think an improvement you could do is add in a hex head emboss to the side walls. This way you do not have any metal parts rubbing against the legos. Also. With the threads facing outwards, you could put wingnuts on. This would allow you to tighten down so you wouldn’t have to worry about the container flipping over when changing out the tray and the filters.
I’ve always sorted by type of brick (single stud bricks, double stud bricks, plates, slopes, windows, wheels,…) and colour. I’m not sure how sorting by size would be a better method. I would love to see the following steps of this sorting method.
Love this design!
When I do tolerance testing I have found that it's faster and cheaper to print just the fitted portions of the models. So when fitting the sides of the tumbler, you could just print the fitting edge rather than the entire side.
Also, I'd definitely buy plans for this.
I'd love a kit for something like this. As someone who owns a giant tub full of bricks, I understand the pain of having to sift through to find one particular part. Great work as always Bob!
But if you go through and sort it all one time you wont have to do it again. Its a really cool idea but how many times are you going to have a bucket full of random pieces after sorting one time. Everyone I know that has a lot of Lego has separate containers for different types of pieces and when they take apart something they have made they sort it as the disassemble it.
I'm definitely interested in plans or a kit! And maybe an even bigger version! I coach a FIRST Lego League team, and they've accumulated a WHOLE lot of pieces over the years that are just randomly piled in bins.
YES! WOULD LOVE A VERSION OF THIS!! We have a whole room dedicated to LEGO building and are constantly trying to figure out the best way to sort/organize our bricks. We have Pete's small version but with carpet it gets difficult for us to shake it. Your table-top version would be perfect for us. Thanks Bob!!
Two suggestions
1. Size it for the storage container instead of the tray. Skip the step of dumping it from tray to storage container
2. Side compartment for the sorting insert storage
3. Love it
It looks like a good idea so far. It looks like the portion with the holes needs support around the perimeter to keep it from flexing.
Skip the sorter. Make yourself a rack with individual containers/trays and sort your parts by color, brick, plate, function and so on. Kinda like you would screws nails and such. It’s better than any sorter.
Years ago I repurposed a bookshelf for LEGO storage and filled it large 3Qt plastic food containers. Bought those by the case… about 3 cases. Sorted all the LEGO once. Best thing I ever did. This system was relatively cheap to do.
Great design! Two little tweaks that can possibly make it more user friendly. The first one is to add two little rails for the filter to slide on so the end of the filter does not need to be redirected with a second hand. Really helps with one handed operation. The second is skip the middle man and dump them right into the clear organization bins. Thanks for all the great projects!
Interesting design love the shape and the clear acrylic, definitely easy to see when your done, which is a massive improvement, but replacing the grate with a different size everytime. I'd lose them between cycles of use, the all in one was better and faster.
Hand sorting can be tedious. However, the problem I see with all Lego sorters is the shape of Lego pieces. 1x8 brick can fit in the same size hole a 1x2 brick fits in if it slides in longwise. The horizontal sliding trays help reduce this but the tumbling or vigorous movement trays long 1x bricks can still go through small holes. How often that happens I don’t know. There is no perfect way to mass sort bricks. Glad you are continuing the progress of Lego organization.
I would love plans or kit to make this. I agree with the tray needing to be deeper, but awesome idea. I’m lacking a good laser engraver but the printing is fine.
Thank you for the video. This is a neat idea and I’d be interested. A few suggestions if this becomes a kit (apologies if these ideas have already been covered in previous comments):
- making a deeper output bin, with a removable cutout with very small openings, so dust / dirt can pass through. This would be useful when sorting bulk lot purchases
-I think I saw you adding clips to each side of your filters. Having a stop on one side, that would prevent it from sliding through, would mean you’d only have to clip one side.
-having a large / XL plan option, with a hole for a handle or crank so it’d be easier to turn. For those of us with large sorting needs 😅
1] I don't need plans/kits - I'm done with Lego. 2] Couldn't you just put handles on the sides and do away with the whole stand? Then shake directly over a storage container? 3] Could you sacrifice a few holes in the upper left hand corner and number the filters 1,2,3,etc so you know which filter to use first, second, third....might help the lil ones so they can clean up their own messes. Jus' thinkin' out loud.
I'm not very interested in this type of size sorter. But what I DO need and would pay for plans or a kit, is a device that can winnow away all the dust dirt and pet hair out of my LEGO bricks as I clean them up off the floor.
Basically a box that you can drop drop handfuls of dusty bricks into the top, it passes by a fan that blows away the dust but not so hard it blows away the bricks, traps the dust, and lets the bricks fall into a pan below, nicely dusted.
Looking good, few suggestions would be making the filter swapping easier, have like a hinged rim or 2 sheets with offset holes to adjust size really quickly. Those white clips seem fiddly and will get lost in the Lego. Maybe a funnel to go to a better shaped container/adjustable legs to fit someone’s individual box. Basically just to be as simple and inconvenient as possible to make it as an efficient tool as possible. Look forward to where it goes!!
I would be interested. I would suggest having the option of buying just the acrylic insert with the holes. Most people would have tools to make all of the portions but no one wanted to drill out that many holes. That is what has stopped me for making a lego sorter.
Hey Bob! I think a kit of that Lego sorter would be cool. Also, I wonder if the tray sides should be taller to catch bouncing bricks? I couldn’t see if that was a problem or not. Lastly, how about including plans for additional trays that are even more specific? For example, you have, by necessity, made plates that sort certain sizes, but a 1 stud button is much smaller than a 1 x 1 stud brick. Or minifig hands… 2x2, 2x4,maybe even slots that plates? Just for finer sifting, if desired.
Great stuff, keep it up and have a great Christmas!
The thing I always find strange about Lego sorters like this, is that they sort only by size, and not type.
All my Lego is sorted by type into compartment trays and boxes. If I want a particular brick, or pin, or accessory, I know which tray compartment it is in. I can mix visually different bricks into the same tray, as they are easy to distinguish. Beams are all sorted by length, likewise plates. Slopes can mix with curves. Axles are sorted as 2 and 3 stud, 4 and 6 stud, all other longer axles. Gears on their own. Clear bricks in their own space. Etc.
When I take apart a model I just replace all the bricks back where they came from, as I dismantle.
I guess I just have the mentality of a printer with their trays of typeface. 😄
I like the idea of one powered by a shop vac. It can be used just for sorting but also cleaning up the bricks off the floor and also be part of cleaning the brinks themselves by sucking up dirt or moisture. something similar to those leaf separators on downspouts. It would also be fun to have it be a bit of a rube goldberg machine or a marble run that can be a fun way of putting legos away and either stare at it or let it sort things out by itself.
Take all the cut out circles and drill small holes om them, use jump rings, make window hangers or wind chimes. As a way to reuse waste
You can do a sifter for all the pieces at once in three different levels. Like just get a 5 gallon bucket and then make laser cut plexi inserts for three levels. Start with the largest holes on top and the smallest holes at the bottom level - for sifting all at once.
Having a Kit would be great for those of us who do not have tools to cut out the parts
Plans would be great. As a European, getting a kit shipped with all the import fees makes it unviable, but having some plans and just getting the supplies here would be a lot of fun. I would like if there were options to make the various panels out of wood or acrylic or 3d print. Some people only have access to 1 of the 3, and technically the entire design is feasible with any 1 of those. The combination of materials just makes it nicer esthetically
Things I'd change if I were to build this...
- Higher sides on the bottom tray
- Biscuit type hole for in the side support to hold that white piece that locks the filter
- Bearings of some sort for the basket to sit on the pivot point.
Otherwise looks awesome.
What about tumblers within tumblers and a hand crank, filtering big to little - inside to outside? If you could get it to rotate on just one side you could even do a hopper. Probably be faster in the long run.
I am VERY interested in plans/files! This could be a really good intro to manufacturing/modeling project in my classes and would be super-useful for my students!
Very clever design. Perhaps add a crank style handle on one side. Bit easier with the shake and may help keep it all going off balance if you really load in the bricks.
Came out awesome! I wonder if it would be helpful to put a turning handle on one side to make it more ergonomic for sifting through many bins of legos
Great idea as standard Bob. I'd sugest designing the securing clips to be mounted. Like a fliping action. Then reduce the chance of loosing it. Also the hex design could work if you left room on each side for the legos to sit up to.
Thanks for sharing Bob
I would love to get a kit like this. I have none of the tools that you are using, but I think the design is totally awesome. It would save me so much time on sorting and storing.
Very cool design! Definitely could see this come in handy when sorting a bunch of LEGO!
Instead of a tray underneath, why not make it so that your storage boxes immediately fit underneath? So you can sort your LEGO straight into your storage boxes. Skips one step from sorting to storing.
(Would have to make the sides higher, so the sorter can still rotate above the storage boxes..)
As a bonus, you now have a bunch of acrylic blanks that you can use to make game pieces and tokens with!
This is a great system for initial sorting, but I've been sorting my bricks down to the type, such as 1x1, 1x2, plates, and bricks. Still a cool project through!
Great built and nice to watch video! Little feedback: The first set of holes seems to be too small, most of the 1-nob-parts came in the 2nd round. And is the approach using round holes a bit 2-deminsional? Could be a 1-hight, 1-widsth, but 10-lengst piece coming through...?
I recommend making the clips holding the sorting boards larger. Theres plenty of room and a larger clip would easier to handle and harder to lose.
Also maybe have the clip attach to the sorter by a chain or something as I can see it getting misplaced when swapping out the sorting sheets?
I just found your channel and have been watching your lego content. I would love a kit. A small sorter is something I have been trying to find to make our cleanup and putting away of Lego in their very organized drawers so much easier. I Lego area does look like most Lego channels yet, but we have several drawer sets.
jesus i need one. would love a kit or something where you built it youre self, just to feel the process. Nice to see you improving your own design, and would love to see where you could take this concept, and make it even more easy to sort bricks, maybe even more detailed sorting later on(dont know how, but maybe you get a good idea).
Totally interested in something like this! Have been trying to figure out both a LEGO sorting and storage solution for a while!
Same
At first I thought a kit would be great but I would take it with handles on the ends rather than the stand. And just turn it upside down and shake.
I realised then it was a box with interchangeable lids so something like a “Really Useful” box where the lid clips on could be used if you drill the hole pattern into a range of lids.
Not as pretty but just as functional?
So maybe some plans would be good so people can make one or take details like the hole spacing to DIY it.
Looks like a very effective design, well done. About that white locking tab though. It would have to be on the other end to actually lock the filter in place right? The way it's installed right now, it only prevents further insertion which is already limited by the other orange end piece. Or am I missing something?
I would absolutely be interested in purchasing a kit. I was interested in the kit you showed but decided against since it was too large... Your removable filters are perfect.
You have made this well enough that putting together would be easier and take up less room for shipping.
While i agree with the taller sides...a fix could be adding a soft mat in the tray to prevent bouncing.
Please keep us posted on potential orders... Really great idea. I will be purchasing.
Only a couple of things, I think the catching tray needs to be a lot deeper, I noticed small parts bounce out of the tray, also a pouring spout for tipping the pieces into the separate storage containers. Finally, it doesn't sort by colour, which, when you get to the AFOL (Adult Fans of Lego, yes we got the worst acronym) level is a must have.
That looks amazing. Selling them as complete builds, kits, or plans is a great idea because different people might want it in different stages. If I was getting one, I'd get a kit and put it together so I can use nuts and bolts made of a high-carbon steel for long-term durability. If I made one, I'd use a tray that has a lid to keep the pieces from scattering all over the floor as I pour them into another container. Not only would mine be sorted by size, but also by type and color. Easier to find the exact piece you need that way.
Great design! However I think it would be more efficient to have a barrel instead. The whole barrel would have holes on it so you would just spin it around a few times, almost like a tumble dryer. you'd have a little hatch/door on it to insert your bricks. What do you think?
Would be very interested in a kit! I could build the sides at home, but don't have a CNC so would need the box sorter included. Lots of options to provide different price points!
I would possibly look into tubes, have tubes that are very similar in size, so they can fit inside each other, with the tube with the smallest holes being on the outside, then as you spin the tubes, they are always filtering, so you don't have only one side filtering.
As the smaller ones are filtered out each time, you remove a tube, until you have the tube with the largest holes left, and that is all your big pieces.
It is great for storage, as the tubes all fit togethers, and I don't think it would take a lot to engineer two circles for each end as stoppers.
Just something to throw in the mix for a design idea.
Oh, also zero waste with tubes, 😛
I wonder if it would’ve worked to print some bushings for the acrylic instead of re-printing the entire side pieces
great project bob, I’d just add washers and bearings to ease the stress on the screws for spinning the box.
I had a set of 4 high sided trays for Lego back in the 90s which stacked together, all with different sizes holes going from largest to smallest. You just shook the whole thing and it would sort out the pieces all at the same time.
Way simpler design, way more efficient to use.
very cool! one suggestion that might keep the pieces from bouncing out as they fall, a fold up guard like on a popcorn machine. when it's "poppin" the guard goes up, and when you need to pull out the tray you let the guard down. could do both sides or just put clear plate on the opposite side! I'd like to have one of those!
Bob, I am an avid fan of your channel and absolutely love the videos on Lego as I am an AFOL as well. As someone with a lot of Lego can attest, sorting is a major PITA. I would absolutely love to see a video where you take this to the next step. Maybe a conveyor belt with Lego pieces flowing, camera taking a picture of the piece, some Tensorflow image recognition to identify the piece and using raspberry pi controlled servo motors to guide the identified piece in the appropriate sorted bucket?
With a few mods to those box's you could make a interesting studio light box or spot light!
If be interested in a kit/plans to download. I do not have a laser cutter but I have a printer. Instead of files to cut acrylic, could you vector those files into an stl that could print the sides, box, tray and filters. Then I could just have get some wood yo build the base.
just a tought. You can lasercut the side pieces with the pivot points from 2 sheets of acrilic, then glue them together. then you have the rised details, and the holes not go thrue.
Another great video!! I too have a Lego problem. Plans for your Lego sorter would be cool, but an assemble-it-yourself-kit would be awesome!! Just tell me where to send my money!
This thing is awesome and I would totally be down for ordering parts to put together as I don’t have the tools to make one myself.
Agreed with people on a larger tray to make sure it catches all the small bricks.
We have a massive Lego organization problem and a kit that we could assemble ourselves would be amazing. Love your positivity and creativity and "stick-to-it-iveness"! Keep up the good work!
I find this kind of system kind of unreliable as even a small hole e.g. for around 2x2 bricks, will not block 2x4 and bigger. You can even see those long bricks falling through when testing. I would rather build a more complex pick and place system to get bricks properly sorted than use this "rough presort system". However, as always a nice design.
Great project! Interested in a kit, at least for the laser cut pieces which are a little less accessible for folks.
Needs to incorporate storage for the filters. Maybe a slotted area under the catch tray. In addition, I would make the retention clips slide mounted, so that they would not get lost.
I think you need a vibratory motor on that bad boy, maybe with a timer. Dump in your Legos turn on the motor for 5 minutes and go do something else. come back switch the screen and start the process again.
Great video, Bob!
I'm a simple man. I see an ILTMS video featuring Lego and I press the "like" button. The synth/vaporwave music towards the end made this video even more amazing.
I'd say plans for this would be something I'm interested in.
Nope, it needs to be a round drum . . . or octagonal (if that's easier to build or considering your filter material). The side to side shifting is inefficient. A rolling drum would be chef's kiss.
I'd loose that white clip to hold the filter in place in like 5 seconds... would be cool if it was a print in place movable piece so it just slide back and forth and locks it in and is part of the side panel so it can't be lost.
Flatpack kit and plans seems like the best option. Trying to ship an assembled one seems like an expensive nightmare.
I'm sure you noticed that the filter has no side support or guide rails to channel it evenly to the far side of the tumbler. Not only would that help insertion, but I did see a couple of pieces wedged between the filter and side wall, so it would prevent that gap and decrease any bowing of the filter plate when loaded with bricks.
Neat idea - the filter clip though is a break point for shipping. I wouldn't buy one cause it would cost so much to ship. You could possibly just sell the acrylic parts?
A comprehensive set of plans with a materials list would be fantastic! Great project. Very Kiwico-esque too.
A flat packed kit would be awesome. I have a cnc, but no laser or 3d printer, and a kit would just make life easier. I have a 12 gallon bin full of misc lego bricks, some of which date back to the 80's, so this is something I definitely need in my life.
Not sure if someone mentioned this already. if you want to make the sides out of acrylic instead of 3d printing, you could make it out of two layers. One with the slots through the piece and then a backer plate that is solid. Then glue them together.
that's the BEST kind of problem to have. Lego ones. Some kinda easier filter attachment mechanism and i'd buy somethin like that i think. slotting in each filter seems a little fiddly. but you're def on the right track.
Great project. Right up my alley. I would love plans, please.
This was a really well made video, some cool new editing things. Super neat
Instead of bolts and nuts, on the 3d printed side pieces, make a post and just have a u shaped slot for the post to slide into. It would allow for taking the tumbler off easier if need be.
Plans would be cool. I am looking into making a stackable tray set with different size holes, which is compatible with the containers I use for my Legos.
That is a dope idea I really like it. The tray at the bottom either needs to be narrow or have higher walls because Legos bounce and get lost but what a nifty idea
Get Jimmy's team to make a kit... I'd love that.
I use a lot of technic, so separating different-sized rods and beams is a concern for me. Maybe a two-level plate?
The first plate uses small holes, and the second plate is an adjustable distance from the first?
That way longer beams and rods can fit in the first set of holes, but can't go any farther and so don't fall out. Short beams and rods will go through the first set of holes, but will able to clear the second plate as well. Just a thought.
I 100% need this. I would love a kit with the acrylic and 3d pieces already cut. that way as a wood worker I could make my own stand.
An Idea for iterating on this idea; if you where to extend the catch tray you could potentially motorise the the system, and have the sifter slowly work through the stack.
That does take the fun out of making it rain lego's yourself, but this way you can sit back and watch the blocks tumble in the chamber like a hard plastic lava lamp
A lot of the whole thing or a kit of just the bin and we make our own base. Random color for each sifter is a definite gotta have.
There could be filters on both sides of the box because you only ever sift one side at a time, you filter two sizes before having to change filters. Great compact design man I really like it
I would be VERY much interested in a kit! This is an awesome idea!
this is so cool I would definately buy one and finally sort my giant bin of legos,
would be cool if it had a handle or a wheel on the side to aid in the tumbling
You should add automation to where you can fill it and press run and it will invert and cycle itself for 5 minutes then flip right side up again.
If you do a bit deeper trays and put handles then you can use them as drawer to save them already sorted, the same way you save your screw and bolt.
The orange looks great in my opinion! Awesome Bob!
Awesome job. Any issues with all the big flat pieces warping or curling on the printer?
This was excellent! You should absolutely consider marketing this as a product. One of the best designs I’ve seen yet for Lego sifting. Well done!
Anyone who has Lego probably needs this! I could see me buying a full kit or just the custom sorting panels for my own design. A sorting kit that was cheap enough and ikea style assembly would be great for gifting to other families who do not know they have a lego problem yet.
The Tumbler portion should be a hexagonal shape with a handle so you can crank the Tumbler and all the pieces will roll through the holes.
wow amazing idea! Love the sponsorship even! This whole video re-energized me to continue to keep making things! Also, yea, a kit that you could assemble to have this sorter would be awesome!
Yes! Thank you!
Plans for laser cutting with no printing involved would be good for me as I live in New Zealand easier than a kit fantastic work and design as always