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[JMauk]

From looking that the video my impression is that the current "gear ratio" is not far from the ideal.

Great news! Thanks.  Philippine summer is upon us (April-May) so I think I will work on lengthening the rope and worry about point sharpening after the summer.  This way we should be able to display it all summer long.  We are thinking of having the guests help pull Bumblebee up and making T-Shirts that say "I spun the biggest top in the world!"

[ta0]

We are thinking of having the guests help pull Bumblebee up and making T-Shirts that say "I spun the biggest top in the world!"

I love it! I hope to earn the T-shirt one day! 

I will work on lengthening the rope

Be careful not to lengthen the rope too much: if there is still rope on the spool after the cart reaches the bottom, it will slack and could be caught by the spool and rewound in the opposite direction.

[JMauk]

In anticipation of regular showings for the upcoming 2016 Philippine summer season (April-May) we successfully tested the giant top and all recent tweaks are working fine. We will end testing for now and commence routine showings.  Later in the year we plan to rework the point to make it sharper for longer spin times.  We may also then add more weight for some tests for increased rpm.  For now, since audiences are basically unaware of the rpm difference with extra weight, we will just run Bumblebee without extra weight for the summer.

We added 4 meters more length of rope and the rope comes off the cart right at the very bottom of the ramp.  The cart stops soon after.  This, as Ta0 and Kirk have informed me, represents optimum energy transfer from the cart to the top.  Also, the rope comes off the spool gently, drops to the ground and snakes smoothly through the control opening.  So the whiplash problem mentioned by Kirk for when the rope releases has been apparently solved as well.

Thanks, Forum, for all your encouragement and input.  Will be back with more tweaking around August/September.

[Jeremy McCreary]

Looks ready for prime time from here in Colorado!

Curious as to how this project is funded?

[JMauk]

Curious as to how this project is funded?

It's from our marketing (promotion) budget of our conference center.  The reason for more than two years between first attempt and the start of building the new system is not me recovering from the accident. It's budget recovery!

[ta0]

I love how it is working now! Congratulations!

I do have some ideas about how to let it spin more freely, but we can talk about that in the fall. You deserve to enjoy your accomplishment the whole summer without taking any more risks 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Anyone: What's the body of the top made of? What are its dimensions? How much does it weigh? Thanks.

[ta0]

Anyone: What's the body of the top made of? What are its dimensions? How much does it weigh? Thanks.

Here is what you are looking for: Re: Re-thinking spin dynamics for world's largest top. Since then the tip was shortened (1 ft?). Another plate was added but then taken away.

[Jeremy McCreary]

Here is what you are looking for: Re: Re-thinking spin dynamics for world's largest top...

Thanks, ta0! Very informative.

[JMauk]

New paint job for Bumblebee.

[ta0]

Nice!
To me it is reminiscent of some Aztec art.
Any symbolism?

[Jack]

New paint job for Bumblebee.

trippy @-@

[JMauk]

Nice!
To me it is reminiscent of some Aztec art.
Any symbolism?

Not that I know of. Just trying to give semblance of a machine life form!  Basically let my resident artist go with it.
Had our first summer demo yesterday (Saturday, April 2, 2016) and plan on showing it every Saturday at 1 pm.  Will post a video later.

[JMauk]

Here's the video

[ta0]

Smooth!

I love to see everybody pulling the very long rope. That's (likely) how the pyramids were made!