How do you store over 12,000 Lego bricks and pieces? Pencil
boxes and nut and bolt organizers. The blue bolt organizer (Fig 2.) I’ve had
since January and its worked wonders since then, it has 30 small drawers that
can be divided, and 9 large drawers that can also be divided. as my collection
has grown so has my need to store all my pieces, I picked up some pencil boxes
(Fig 1.) yesterday at my local Walmart, as they were marked down to 25 cents,
what a steal, I was able to get 20 for 5 dollars, (my little brother took 2),
they fit wonderfully between my bolt organizer and the wall, and they interlock
with one another. I don’t have the room to store sets intact, so after a while
I tear them down into a box, until I can slowly organize them. Organization takes
a long time when you don’t have the room to pull all your boxes out and sort
each piece you pick up. I have to get one box down and search for pieces that
go in that box only. the small black bolt organizer (Fig 3.) was also picked up
at my local Walmart a couple months ago, it contains pieces I don’t often use
such as; pneumatic valves, pumps, cylinders, and shock absorbers are stored in
this organizer. These boxes and organizers will be filled before I buy anything
else to sort my pieces into. Until next time check out the links in the right
margin and remember, if you can dream it, you can build it.
A 2 speed orbital transmission, a what? That’s the question
some of you just asked yourself. An orbital transmission is a transmission that
is placed between two gears, gears are changed by turning the transmission 180
degrees, and there are usually no dead gears in an orbital transmission making
it very efficient. in the orbital transmission I have shown in the video, 1st
gear has a ratio of 3:1, whereas 2nd gear has a ratio of 1:3, this transmission
is very effective when speed and torque are both needed, but not at the same
time. The only downfall in this transmission is the play in the rotating
transmission body, allows the gears to skip when too much resistance is applied
to the output, (in the video the output is the yellow connecter). The
transmission will smoothly change gears, because the gears roll together,
instead of clicking together and stripping the teeth on other gears. The motor
used to power this transmission is a Lego M motor, with a Lego AA battery box. All
can be found at the online Lego shop, link in right margin. Pieces can all be
found at Bricklink.
A blog not just about
Lego's, but about different mechanisms, for the mechanically inclined and fans
of Legos it’s wonderful. I’m Andrew, 16, my love for Technic Legos began
this past Christmas when I received the 42009 MKII crane (fig. 1) as a present,
within 2 nights it was built and running, in the next week I had torn it apart
and was trying to build my own truck, I soon realized though that I didn't have
enough parts to do so, even though the crane came with 2606 pieces. I stopped
by my local Walmart and found the 42022 hot-rod (fig. 2), containing 414 parts
to build a generic drag-link steering system, and a v6 engine linked by a
drive-shaft to the right rear wheel, then decorated by a light blue shell and
convertible roof. For my birthday I received the 42008 service truck (fig.3) Containing
1224 pieces, based upon a European cab over tow truck, the truck featured rear
outriggers/ spades, an integrated lift boom, the wrecker arm and tow dolly are
one piece. The dolly was lifted and lowered with the use of a 1x5 pneumatic
cylinder (fig. 4), the arm also has an extendable section powered by a 1x5
cylinder. The boom is raised by a linear actuator. These technic sets have
enabled me to explore functions and different mechanisms, torque vs. speed
ratios in gearboxes. When I first got the 42009 crane for Christmas I had no
clue how a gearbox changed from one gear to another, the crane had 1 lever that
would flip and slide between 4 functions. Building the gearbox in the super
structure of the crane helped me realize how driving rings have paws the slip
in and out of clutch gears and take power further down the driveshaft. I'll do
a more detailed breakdown of what each set has to offer later on as I put them
back together, until then, if you can dream, it you can build it!
Below
you will find a link to my YouTube channel, Andrews Lego world. A link to
Eurobricks, a very friendly place for all your Lego needs and fantasies. I've
also provided a link to Rebrickable and Bricklink, Rebrickable is helpful for
keeping track of your Lego sets and pieces ( I currently have 12375 pieces in
16 set). Bricklink can be a very useful tool if you create your own sets and
models, Bricklink allows you to pick any part you want and however many you
want, then order them, and wallah, there delivered.
