Lego Technic

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"Studded" versus "Studless"

A construction using the old pieces with studs.

Although studless beams have been present in Technic sets for many years, the change from primarily studded to primarily studless construction represented a major paradigm shift and has been quite controversial. melamine dinnerware sets

The primary advantage of studless construction is the addition of new construction methods that were previously unavailable. The new studless beams are exactly 1 width unit in height, in contrast to studded beams, which are a non-integer multiple of one unit. It can be awkward to use studded beams in vertical structures because it is necessary to insert plates between the studded beams in order to get the holes to line up. asian dinnerware

A vehicle using the new pieces without studs. dinner trays

Studless beams allow greater flexibility when building in multiple dimensions, while remaining compatible with "classic" studded beams. Some builders also believe that models constructed with studless beams look nicer than their studded counterparts.

However, studless construction also introduces disadvantages. Studless construction is not immediately intuitive, requiring the builder to think five or six steps ahead. While studded construction follows the classic bottom-to-top building pattern, studless construction requires building inside-to-outside.

As of 2006, Lego has begun to re-incorporate studded bricks back into the Technic line, which can be seen in sets such as 8421, The Mobile Crane.

Lego Technic components

Lego Technic system expands on the normal Lego bricks with a whole range of new bricks that offer new functionality and building styles. The most significant change from normal Lego is that single-stud wide bricks ('beams') have circular holes through their vertical face, positioned in-between the studs. These holes can accommodate pins, which enable two beams to be held securely together, either side-by-side, or at an angle.

Motors

Lego Technic system has always included a variety of different electric motors. Broadly, these divide into those powered by batteries, held in a connected battery box, or by mains electricity, via a transformer. Battery-power is the most common.

Early motors were either 9 volt or 4.5 volt, and consisted of a large brick with a small protruding axle that would rotate when the motor was powered. The motor was not hugely geared-down, resulting in high-RPM, low-torque output.

Recent motors contain a hole into which an axle should be inserted, enabling axles of different lengths to be used.

Power Functions

In late 2007, a new motor system was released called Power Functions; it was included within LEGO set 8275 Motorized Bulldozer. It comprised a set of motors, two IR receivers, IR remote control and a battery box, thus resulting in a remote-control model. One IR receiver would connect to the battery box whilst the other receiver connected to the motor (up to two motors per receiver), thus remote-control was achieved.

With these sets it is possible to build or convert manually operated mechanical movement to motorized using electric motors and controlled via switches or IR remote control. Future plans for this set include more parts which will add even more functionality/control possibilities. Lego has already started to design and sell Lego TECHNIC models (sets) which can be easily retrofitted with Power Functions blocks. For example models like the 8294 Excavator, 8295 Telescopic Handler or 7645 MT-61 Crystal Reaper are sold like classic Lego TECHNIC models with manual motorization but are designed with free space for the Power Functions components with factory instructions on how to perform the conversion to an electrically operated model.

Number

Name

Released

8881

Power Functions Battery Box

2008

8882

Power Functions XL-Motor

2008

8883

Power Functions M-Motor

2008

8884

Power Functions IR Receiver

2008

8885

Power Functions IR Remote Control

2008

8886

Power Functions Extension Wire

2008

8869

Power Functions Control Switch

2009

8870

Power Functions Light

2009

8871

Power Functions Extension Wire 20

2009

8293

Power Functions Motor Set

2009

The Power Functions line-up also includes a Linear Actuator currently not sold separately, but already used in many models like the 8294 Excavator.

Pneumatics

Main article: Lego pneumatics

Gears

Various Lego Technic gears.

Gears have been included within Lego Technic sets as a way of transferring rotary power, and of gearing-up or down the speed. Gears come in several sizes: 8 tooth, 16 tooth, 24 tooth and 40 tooth spur gears, 12 tooth, 20 tooth and 36 tooth double bevel gears, and 12 tooth and 20 tooth single bevel gears. The double bevel gears are cut so they can also be meshed as spur gears. There is also a 16 tooth clutch gear, and a 24 tooth friction gear that slips when a certain amount of torque is put on it to prevent motors from damaging any parts or burning themselves out.

In addition to standard gears, some kits include a rack, a clutch and even worm gears and differential gears. The original differential had a 28 tooth bevel gear, designed to be meshed with the 14 tooth bevel gears (replaced by the 12 tooth gears) to give 2:1 reduction. They can also be meshed with the newer double bevel gears. It was replaced by a newer design incorporating 16 tooth and 24 tooth gears on opposite sides of the casing. The casing holds three 12 tooth bevel gears inside.

As of 2008, an updated version of the original differential has been released, optimised for studless construction.

Chain links were also introduced as an additional way of connecting gears. Tension (resulting from the correct number of chain-link parts used), along with the combination of gearwheel-sizes used, is critical to reliable operation. 8-tooth gears are not to be recommended.

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Lego Technic

Lego Mindstorms

Fischertechnik

External links

Lego Technic information at Lego website

References

^ http://journals.aol.com/jmenomeno/brickjournal/entries/2006/10/03/other-fun-things...nxt-and-studless-building/781

^ http://news.lugnet.com/general/?n=48416

^ http://www.actionfigurecustoms.com/blogs/2007/10/2009-camaro-custom-Lego-technic-by.php

^ http://news.lugnet.com/general/?n=48420

^ http://powerfunctions.lego.com/en-us/Movies/M3.aspx

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