Unofficial LEGO Technic Builder's Guide by Kmiec, Pawel "Sariel" -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Unofficial LEGO Technic Builder's Guide foreword preface acknowledgments I. basics

1. basic concepts

speed torque power friction traction rolling resistance backlash efficiency vehicular concepts

driveshaft drivetrain driveline steering lock turning radius FWD, RWD, 4×4, 4WD, and AWD weight distribution center of gravity ground clearance

2. basic units and pieces

the Technic brick pins, for joining and rotating beams, the studless alternative the half stud as the minimum building unit two tricks for building with half studs

3. studless or studfull?

LEGO evolving studfull building

reinforcing studfull constructions studfull advantages studfull disadvantages

studless building

creating rigid studless connections studless advantages studless disadvantages

combining the styles

get inspired by Technic sets methods for connecting bricks and beams even vs. odd

4. axles, bushes, and joints

axles

standard axles modified axles flexible axles

bushes

half bush

toothed half bush toothed half bush with a cutout smooth half bush with a cutout

regular bush bush with a long pin

universal joints

II. mechanics

5. gears and power transmission basics

drivers, followers, and idlers gear ratios efficiency and gears backlash and gears controlling rotational direction an inventory of gears

worm gear 8-tooth gear single-bevel 12-tooth gear double-bevel 12-tooth gear 14-tooth gear 16-tooth gear 16-tooth gear with clutch single-bevel 20-tooth gear single-bevel 20-tooth gear with pin hole double-bevel 20-tooth gear 24-tooth gear 24-tooth gear with clutch 24-tooth gear with crown 36-tooth gear 40-tooth gear differential gears turntables knob wheel Hailfire Droid wheel gear obsolete gears

6. chains and pulleys

chains pulleys string and pulley systems

simple pulley system differential pulley system power pulley system

7. levers and linkages

levers

classes of levers from levers to linkages

linkages

Chebyshev linkage Hoeken’s linkage pantograph Peaucellier–Lipkin cell Sarrus linkage Scott-Russell linkage scissor linkage Watt’s linkage

8. custom mechanical solutions

a stronger differential differential locks a custom differential an axle with a differential lock ratchets linear clutches eccentric mechanisms Scotch yokes a Scotch yoke Oldham couplings an Oldham coupling Schmidt couplings stepper motors Geneva mechanisms a Geneva mechanism reverse lights flashing lights turn signals complex turn signals double-axle turntable transmission a double-axle turntable transmission a sturdy universal joint a universal joint

9. the LEGO pneumatic system

the Old system the New system an inventory of pneumatic parts

pneumatic pump (Old) pneumatic pump (New) small pneumatic pump (New) distribution block (Old) valve with studs valve with no studs (New) large cylinder (Old) 6L cylinder (Old) small cylinder (New) large cylinder with square base (New) large cylinder with round base (New) pneumatic tubes and hoses T-piece (Old) T-piece (New) hose connector with an axle joint (New) cylinder bracket airtank manometer

modding the pneumatic system

non-LEGO hoses non-LEGO airtanks removing springs to create motorized compressors pneumatic suspensions turning your pneumatic system into a hydraulic one

10. pneumatic devices

motorized compressors a rocking compressor motorized valves autovalve a motorized valve an autovalve automated pressure switch pneumatic engines a single-cylinder engine a two-cylinder pneumatic engine a two-cylinder pneumatic engine with sliders builder showcase a working water pressure pump

11. building strong

why things fall apart

finding weak links understanding where to reinforce

the right way to reinforce

things to remember when reinforcing

reinforced differential casings four reinforced differential casings reinforced worm gear casings three reinforced worm gear casings load-bearing structures

rails, chassis, and body frames trusses

Brown truss Warren truss triangular Warren truss

choosing the right truss

choosing the strongest pieces

III. motors

12. an inventory of LEGO motors

2838, the first 9V motor 71427, a popular and powerful 9V motor 43362, a lighter 9V motor 47154, a 9V motor in a semitransparent housing Micromotor NXT motor Power Functions E motor Power Functions Medium (M) motor Power Functions L motor Power Functions XL motor Power Functions Servo motor RC motor

13. LEGO Power Functions system

manually controlling motors remotely controlling motors power supplies

AA battery box AAA battery box rechargeable battery

receiver remotes

basic remote speed control remote

understanding the speed control feature

modifying the remotes a basic remote with steering wheel a basic remote with sideways lever a speed control remote with central steering wheel linear actuators

large linear actuator small linear actuator linear actuators vs. pneumatics

extension wires miscellaneous elements

switch LED lights

IV. advanced mechanics

14. wheeled steering systems

basic LEGO steering systems

return-to-center steering Ackermann steering geometry a simple steering arm with Ackermann geometry convergence of axles

15. wheeled suspension systems

driven axles suspension systems: concept and categories types of suspensions

double-wishbone independent suspension Tatra-type suspension pendular suspension trailing arm suspension (floating axle suspension)

driven and suspended axles

pendular suspension with turntables a stabilized pendular suspension portal axles (geared hubs) a stabilized pendular suspension with a portal axle a Tatra-type suspension stabilized with four shock absorbers an independent suspension a floating axle with four links

steered and suspended axles

a pendular steered axle an independent steered axle

driven, steered, and suspended axles

an independent axle a heavy-duty pendular portal axle a pendular axle with a worm gear

16. tracked vehicles and suspensions

rubber tracks hard plastic tracks tracked wheel systems suspension systems

bogies trailing arms suspension with shock absorbers trailing arm suspensions with torsion bars

experimenting with road wheels

17. transmissions

types of transmissions how LEGO transmission driving rings work transmission designs

2-speed synchronized transmission 2-speed linear heavy-duty transmission 2-speed RC motor transmission 2-speed orbital transmission 2-speed ratchet transmission 3-speed linear transmission 4-speed double-lever transmission 4-speed synchronized transmission 5-speed linear transmission 10-speed synchronized transmission continuously variable transmission

distribution transmissions a 2-speed synchronized transmission a 2-speed linear heavy-duty transmission a 2-speed RC motor transmission a 2-speed orbital transmission a 2-speed ratchet transmission a 3-speed linear transmission a 4-speed synchronized transmission a 10-speed synchronized transmission a continuously variable transmission

18. adders and subtractors

hard-coupling coupling motors with adders

summing torque with an adder adding more than two motors

subtractors

why use a subtractor? longitudinal subtractor a longitudinal subtractor transverse subtractor a transverse subtractor a studless transverse subtractor

V. models

19. form vs. function

cars trucks motorcycles tracked vehicles aircraft

planes helicopters

20. scaling a model

blueprints points of reference scaling

21. the modeling process

size matters wheels other circular elements colors devil in the details

building at odd angles building cleverly

the next step: controlling your models

A. afterword Index About the Author updates and additional resources Copyright

← Prev
Back
Next →

← Prev
Back
Next →