The Unofficial LEGO Technic Builder's Guide, 2nd Edition

Book description

The Unofficial LEGO Technic Builder's Guide, 2nd Edition is filled with building techniques and tips for creating strong yet elegant machines and mechanisms.

Publisher resources

View/Submit Errata

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright Page
  4. About the Author
  5. About the Tech Reviewer
  6. Brief Contents
  7. Contents in Detail
  8. Preface
  9. Acknowledgments
  10. Where to buy LEGO pieces?
  11. Part I: Basics
    1. Chapter 1: basic concepts
      1. speed
      2. torque
      3. power
      4. friction
      5. traction
      6. rolling resistance
      7. backlash
      8. efficiency
      9. vehicular concepts
        1. driveshaft
        2. drivetrain
        3. driveline
        4. turning radius
        5. FWD, RWD, 4×4, 4WD, and AWD
        6. steering lock
        7. ground clearance
        8. suspension travel
        9. camber angle
        10. caster angle
        11. toe angle
        12. weight distribution
        13. center of gravity
    2. Chapter 2: basic units and pieces
      1. the Technic brick
      2. pins, for joining and rotating
      3. beams, the studless alternative
      4. the half stud as the minimum building unit
      5. tricks with bricks
    3. Chapter 3: studless or studfull?
      1. LEGO evolving
      2. studfull building
        1. reinforcing studfull constructions
        2. studfull advantages
        3. studfull disadvantages
      3. studless building
        1. creating rigid studless connections
        2. studless advantages
        3. studless disadvantages
      4. combining the styles
        1. get inspired by Technic sets
        2. methods for connecting bricks and beams
        3. even vs. odd
    4. Chapter 4: axles, bushes, and joints
      1. axles
        1. standard axles
        2. modified axles
        3. flexible axles
      2. bushes
        1. half bush
        2. regular bush
        3. bush with a long pin
      3. universal joints
    5. Chapter 5: wheels
      1. what makes a wheel
      2. tires
        1. shape
        2. solid vs. hollow
        3. material
      3. size matters
      4. beyond the basics
        1. experimenting with rim and tire size
        2. when LEGO tires are not enough
  12. Part II: Mechanics
    1. Chapter 6: gears and power transmission basics
      1. drivers, followers, and idlers
      2. gear ratios
      3. gear ratio quick reference
      4. efficiency and gears
      5. backlash and gears
      6. controlling rotational direction
      7. an inventory of gears
        1. worm gear
        2. 3L worm gear
        3. 8-tooth gear
        4. knob wheel
        5. single-bevel 12-tooth gear
        6. double-bevel 12-tooth gear
        7. 14-tooth gear
        8. 16-tooth gear
        9. 16-tooth gear with clutch
        10. double-sided 16-tooth gear with clutch
        11. single-bevel 20-tooth gear
        12. single-bevel 20-tooth gear with pin hole
        13. double-bevel 20-tooth gear
        14. 24-tooth gear
        15. 24-tooth gear with clutch
        16. 24-tooth gear with crown
        17. 36-tooth gear
        18. 40-tooth gear
        19. Hailfire Droid wheel gear
        20. differential gears
        21. turntables
        22. obsolete gears
    2. Chapter 7: chains and pulleys
      1. chains
      2. pulleys
      3. string and pulley systems
        1. simple pulley system
        2. differential pulley system
        3. power pulley system
    3. Chapter 8: levers and linkages
      1. levers
        1. classes of levers
        2. from levers to linkages
      2. linkages
        1. Chebyshev linkage
        2. Hoeken’s linkage
        3. pantograph
        4. Peaucellier–Lipkin cell
        5. Sarrus linkage
        6. Scott-Russell linkage
        7. scissor linkage
        8. Watt’s linkage
    4. Chapter 9: custom mechanical solutions
      1. a stronger differential
      2. differential locks
      3. a custom differential
      4. an axle with a differential lock
      5. ratchets
      6. linear clutches
      7. eccentric mechanisms
      8. Scotch yokes
      9. a scotch yoke
      10. Oldham couplings
      11. an oldham coupling
      12. Schmidt couplings
      13. stepper motors
      14. Geneva mechanisms
      15. a Geneva mechanism
      16. reverse lights
      17. flashing lights
      18. turn signals
      19. complex turn signals
      20. double-axle turntable transmission
      21. a double-axle turntable transmission
      22. a sturdy universal joint
      23. a universal joint
    5. Chapter 10: the LEGO pneumatic system
      1. the Old system
      2. the New system
      3. the V2 system
      4. an inventory of pneumatic parts
        1. pumps
        2. control modules
        3. cylinders
        4. miscellaneous parts
      5. modding the pneumatic system
        1. non-LEGO hoses
        2. non-LEGO airtanks
        3. removing springs to create motorized compressors
        4. pneumatic suspensions
        5. turning your pneumatic system into a hydraulic one
    6. Chapter 11: pneumatic devices
      1. motorized compressors
      2. a rocking compressor
      3. motorized valves
      4. autovalve
      5. a motorized valve
      6. an autovalve
      7. electro-pneumatic switch
      8. PF Servo–controlled valve
      9. an electro-pneumatic switch
      10. a PF Servo–controlled valve
      11. automated pressure switch
      12. pneumatic engines
      13. a single-cylinder engine
      14. a two-cylinder pneumatic engine
      15. a two-cylinder pneumatic engine with sliders
      16. builder showcase
      17. a working water pressure pump
    7. Chapter 12: building strong
      1. why things fall apart
        1. finding weak links
        2. understanding where to reinforce
      2. the right way to reinforce
        1. things to remember when reinforcing
      3. reinforced differential casings
      4. four reinforced differential casings
      5. reinforced worm gear casings
      6. three reinforced worm gear casings
      7. load-bearing structures
        1. rails, chassis, and body frames
        2. trusses
        3. a simple triangular truss
        4. choosing the right truss
      8. choosing the strongest pieces
  13. Part III: Motors
    1. Chapter 13: an inventory of LEGO motors
      1. 2838, the first 9V motor
      2. 71427, a popular and powerful 9V motor
      3. 43362, a lighter 9V motor
      4. 47154, a 9V motor in a semitransparent housing
      5. Micromotor
      6. MINDSTORMS NXT motor
      7. MINDSTORMS EV3 Medium motor
      8. MINDSTORMS EV3 Large motor
      9. Power Functions E motor
      10. Power Functions M (Medium) motor
      11. Power Functions L (Large) motor
      12. Power Functions XL motor
      13. Power Functions Servo motor
      14. RC motor
      15. watertight motor (old)
      16. watertight motor (new)
    2. Chapter 14: LEGO power Functions system
      1. manually controlling motors
      2. remotely controlling motors
      3. power supplies
        1. AA battery box
        2. AAA battery box
        3. rechargeable battery
      4. receiver
      5. remotes
        1. basic remote
        2. speed control remote
        3. the speed control feature
      6. modifying the remotes
      7. a basic remote with steering wheel
      8. a basic remote with sideways lever
      9. a speed control remote with central steering wheel
      10. linear actuators
        1. large linear actuator
        2. small linear actuator
        3. linear actuators vs. pneumatics
      11. extension wires
      12. miscellaneous elements
        1. switch
        2. LED lights
    3. Chapter 15: the RC system
      1. overview of the LEGO RC systems
      2. RC proper system and its components
        1. the control unit
        2. the remote
        3. the steering attachment
        4. motors
        5. putting it all together
      3. RC system vs. PF system
  14. Part IV: Advanced Mechanics
    1. Chapter 16: wheeled steering systems
      1. basic LEGO steering systems
        1. return-to-center steering
        2. Ackermann steering geometry
        3. a simple steering arm with Ackermann geometry
        4. convergence of axles
      2. steering with virtual pivots
        1. a small virtual pivot steering system
        2. a large virtual pivot steering system
    2. Chapter 17: wheeled suspension systems
      1. driven axles
      2. suspension systems: concept and categories
      3. types of suspensions
        1. double-wishbone independent suspension
        2. Tatra-type suspension
        3. pendular suspension
        4. trailing arm suspension (floating axle suspension)
      4. wheel hubs and how to use them
        1. a pre-2011 wheel hub
        2. a regular wheel hub
        3. a steered wheel hub
        4. a portal wheel hub
      5. driven and suspended axles
        1. pendular suspension with turntables
        2. a stabilized pendular suspension
        3. portal axles (geared hubs)
        4. a stabilized pendular suspension with a portal axle
        5. a Tatra-type suspension stabilized with four shock absorbers
        6. an independent suspension
        7. a floating axle with four links
      6. steered and suspended axles
        1. a pendular steered axle
        2. an independent steered axle
      7. driven, steered, and suspended axles
        1. an independent axle
        2. a heavy-duty pendular portal axle
        3. a pendular axle with a worm gear
    3. Chapter 18: tracked vehicles and suspensions
      1. rubber tracks
      2. hard plastic tracks
      3. tracked wheel systems
      4. suspension systems
        1. bogies
        2. trailing arms suspension with shock absorbers
        3. trailing arm suspensions with torsion bars
      5. experimenting with road wheels
      6. custom heavy-duty tracks
      7. a custom heavy-duty track
    4. Chapter 19: transmissions
      1. types of transmissions
      2. how LEGO transmission driving rings work
      3. transmission designs
        1. 2-speed synchronized transmission
        2. 2-speed linear heavy-duty transmission
        3. 2-speed RC motor transmission
        4. 2-speed orbital transmission
        5. 2-speed ratchet transmission
        6. 3-speed linear transmission
        7. 4-speed double-lever transmission
        8. 4-speed synchronized transmission
        9. 4-speed sequential RC synchronized transmission
        10. 5-speed linear transmission
        11. 10-speed synchronized transmission
        12. continuously variable transmission
      4. distribution transmissions
      5. a 2-speed synchronized transmission
      6. a 2-speed linear heavy-duty transmission
      7. a 2-speed RC motor transmission
      8. a 2-speed orbital transmission
      9. a 2-speed ratchet transmission
      10. a 3-speed linear transmission
      11. a 4-speed synchronized transmission
      12. a 4-speed sequential RC synchronized transmission
      13. a 10-speed synchronized transmission
      14. a continuously variable transmission
    5. Chapter 20: adders and subtractors
      1. hard-coupling
      2. coupling motors with adders
        1. summing torque with an adder
        2. adding more than two motors
      3. subtractors
        1. why use a subtractor?
        2. longitudinal subtractor
        3. a longitudinal subtractor
        4. transverse subtractor
        5. a transverse subtractor
        6. a studless transverse subtractor
    6. Chapter 21: planetary gearing
      1. LEGO annular gears
      2. a planetary gear system with a turntable
      3. a planetary gear system with the #64712 wheel
      4. gear ratio and planetary gearing
      5. advantages of planetary gearing
    7. Chapter 22: 3D printing
      1. in the land of unlimited possibilities
        1. modifying existing designs
        2. complementary LEGO pieces
        3. third-party adapters
        4. specialized real-world designs
      2. the downsides of 3D printing
      3. getting started with 3D printing
        1. printing your own
        2. working with a vendor
  15. Part V: Models
    1. Chapter 23: form vs. function
      1. cars
      2. trucks
      3. motorcycles
      4. tracked vehicles
      5. aircraft
        1. planes
        2. helicopters
    2. Chapter 24: scaling a model
      1. blueprints
      2. points of reference
      3. scaling
    3. Chapter 25: the modeling process
      1. size matters
      2. wheels
      3. other circular elements
      4. colors
      5. devil in the details
        1. building at odd angles
        2. building cleverly
      6. the next step: controlling your models
  16. Afterword
  17. Index
  18. Updates and Additional Resources
  19. What Will you Build?

Product information

  • Title: The Unofficial LEGO Technic Builder's Guide, 2nd Edition
  • Author(s): Pawel Sariel Kmiec
  • Release date: October 2016
  • Publisher(s): No Starch Press
  • ISBN: 9781593277604