BrickEngineer: LEGO Design

LEGO Engineering for LEGO NXT and Robot Enthusiasts

MEGLug LE-GOKART


Check out this amazing LEGO Go-Kart, called LE-GOKART!
It runs on 48 LEGO motors and can actually carry a small child!

See its development at MEGLug

NEW LEGO Storage Opportunities

I have recently found some new and interesting LEGO storage units.

This is the IRIS LEGO 6-Case Workstation and Storage Unit

There is a smaller version with three drawers.
IRIS LEGO 3-Case Workstation and Storage Tabletop with 1 Base Plate

This is another design called the BOX4BLOX Lego Organizer.

If you don’t have a large enough collection to warrant drawer-type organizers. Here are some options using bins:
LEGO 4-piece Square Stacking Basket Set with Wheels TSB-SQ

or the
Lego 4PC Project Case Set each case of which has dimensions (3.125″H x 13″W x 12.25″D).

This is an interesting possibility: The Container Store LEGO Storage Brick (2×4), which comes in several colors

which also comes in a smaller size
The Container Store LEGO Storage Brick (2×2)

and smaller still…
The Container Store LEGO Storage Brick

and smaller still!
The Container Store LEGO Storage Brick

or you can always revert to the plain white IRIS 6 Drawer Cart

Be sure to check out our older posts on LEGO storage:
Colorful LEGO Storage Ideas
Storing Your LEGO Collection

Colorful LEGO Storage Ideas

In a previous post, Storing Your LEGO Collection, I discussed various options for storing one’s LEGO collection. Several of these options included tackle boxes since they can hold several utility boxes with adjustable partitions, while providing top bulk storage. I have found them to be quite useful in providing portable storage for small to medium LEGO collections.

Plano has come out with a new line of colorful tackle box designs geared for arts and crafts storage. These are the Creative Options
line of Storage Boxes and Organizers. The color scheme is a avocado green base with a purple lid and gold handles. These storage units are excellent for storing small LEGO collections while providing portability.

Here are some of the available models:

Grab N’ Go Rack System with 2 Deep #2-3630’s and 1 #2-3650 -Avocado Base/Purple Lid/Gold Handle

It comes with Two Deep #2-3630’s and One #2-3650 Prolatch Utility Boxes and Bulk Top Storage. It has dimensions: 13.1 x 9.9 x 13.6 inches

Multi-Craft Rack System

This includes three 2-3650 and two 3449 utility boxes and a compartmentalized top access storage on lid and large bulk storage area. Its dimensions are 17-3/4-Inch (Length) x 9-3/4-Inch (Width) by 11-Inch (Height).

Creative Options Grab & Go Storage Box/Organizer

This includes four #2-3500’s Prolatch Utility Boxes and Bulk Top Storage. ITs dimensions are 11-Inch (Length) by 7-1/4-Inch (Width) by 10-Inch (Height)

Be sure to check out some new ideas at:
New LEGO Storage Opportunities

Smooth LEGO Clutch with Differential

In a previous post, I describe the design of a smooth LEGO clutch.

Here I introduce a version where I have added a differential to the top of the clutch. By rotating the main differential gear in one direction, the clutch will engage and rotate one axle. By rotating it the other direction, the clutch will engage and rotate the opposite axle.

LEGO clutch with differential

It would be straightforward to attach a motor to this system.

Here are the building instructions.

Enjoy,
Kevin

LEGO Triangles

LEGOs are designed to go together to form rectangles.  Here I present some possibilities for equilateral triangles, which can be extended to form hexagons.  Some of the more recent triangle designs, which I present below are being used in a current design for a tri-wheel drive system for a Mindstorms rover I am currently constructing.

These first triangular designs are equilateral triangles (same side lengths), and can be put together to form hexagons as well.  These are extremely sturdy constructs and may find use in triangular or hexagonal bases.

Below is the smallest LEGO equilateral triangle.  The parts used to construct it are shown to the right.  It often takes a bit of pressure to snap this together since it is a tight fit, so take care when doing so.

One can make equilateral triangles of any size this way.

Big Triangle

If the connectors are a bit cluncky,
one can use the thin technic liftarms with the small axles to secure the triangle.

Alternate Triangle Design

Here is a rotating image of the result so you can get a good look.

Alternate Triangle Design

The two following designs are slightly alternate forms.
One uses beams of length 11, but is offset slightly so that there are empty peg holes at the corners of the equilateral triangle.

Alternate Triangle Design

The following design uses beams of length 9, and lacks holes at the triangle corners.

Alternate Triangle Design

The following triangle is composed of beams of length 11, and has a a 3-blade rotor in the center to act as an axle.  The parts list and instructions can be found here.

Equilateral Triangle with Axle

An animated version illustrates how the braces hold the central rotor in place.

Equilateral Triangle with Axle

Storing your LEGO Collection

It can be very difficult to figure out exactly how to store one’s LEGO parts. This depends greatly on the extent of your collection, and how mobile it needs to be. Below I offer a wide array of suggestions ranging from the size of one NXT set through tens of NXT sets with thousands of dollars of extra parts. Here I will review the solutions that I have found useful, and at the end I will provide a detailed description of my particular storage strategy.


Utility Boxes with Compartments
Clear plastic utility boxes with adjustable compartments are excellent for storing LEGO parts, keeping them separated, and making sure that they are accessible. I have found the products manufactured by Plano Molding Company to be especially useful. The Plano Prolatch with Adjustable Dividers
is secure and allows one to carry the box around without fear of accidental opening. These utility boxes are also included in the larger Plano Tackle Boxes, which provides an excellent means of both storage and transport.The new Custom Divider Systems (CDS) give you a great many ways to divide each box into bins with the greatest versatility. The other divider systems work well, but this is a nice option.

Small Box
Plano No. 2-3500-20
9-1/8″ Wide. x 1-1/4″ High x 5″ Deep
Up to 9 adjustable compartments
Order from Amazon.com
These fit into the Plano 1354 Tackle Box
below
Medium Box
Plano No. 2-3650-20

11″ Wide x 1-3/4″ High x 7-1/4″ Deep
Up to 18 adjustable compartments
These fit into the Plano 1364 Tackle Box below
Large Box
Plano No. 2-3750-20

14″ Wide x 2″ High x 9-1/4″ Deep
Up to 20 adjustable compartments
These fit into the Plano 1374 Tackle Box below

Tackle Boxes
Plano tackle boxes are designed to hold multiple (typically four) utility boxes above. This provides for a readily mobile storage solution. Your LEGO collection can be carried from your home, to the lab, a friend’s house, or into the field at a moment’s notice. Here is a photo of my Plano 1364 Tackle Box that I use for most of my construction needs.

Plano 1354 Tackle Box (3500 size)
I have found that the 1354 Tackle Box is a bit on the small side for even the smallest collections. You will be surprised at how many distinct kinds of Lego parts there are, when you find that they will never fit into the 9×4 compartments. However, this tackle box can hold 4 utility boxes, and you often can put an additional box in the top compartment.
Order at Amazon.com
Plano 1364 Tackle Box (3650 size)
This is a really nice size for a tackle box. I can easily store at least two NXT sets in this tackle box as well as many extra parts. Four Plano ProLatch 3650 stowaway boxes
fit in the tray resulting in 4×18 = 72 compartments. I also manage to keep an additional 3650 box in the top of the tackle box. I can often work with just this subset of my collection. In addition, it makes travel easy.
Plano 1364 Tackle Box at Amazon.com
Plano 1374 Tackle Box (3750 size)
This tackle box can hold a large number of parts. The top bulk storage compartment is sufficiently large and deep to actually hold smaller robots! The 3750 size utility boxes are very spacious, and this tackle box comes with one of the newer Custom Divider System (CDS) utility boxes, and one flip-sider, which is good for fishing tackle, but not so useful for LEGO parts. For this reason, you may need to buy an extra 3750 box to replace the flip-sider. And you may want an extra 3750 to fit in the top compartment.
Plano 1374 Tackle Box at Amazon.com

Compartmentalized Storage
For a more extensive LEGO collection, one may require more storage space for small parts, such as pins, axles, etc. Akro-Mills makes some very nice organizers with a large number of small drawers.

Akro-Mills 10724 24 Drawer Storage

This organizer can hold a healthy supply of small LEGO parts. The organizer comes with partitions that can be inserted into the drawers allowing one to keep more parts.Overall Size: W=20″ H=15.81″ D=6.38″ (inches)
Drawer Size: 4.25″ W x 5.25″ D x 2.0″ HI have three of these. One holds all of my pins and connectors. The second holds all of my axles and axle connectors, and the third holds all of my gears.
Akro-Mills 10124-2 44 Drawer Storage
This organizer can hold a healthy supply of small LEGO parts. The organizer comes with partitions that can be inserted into the drawers allowing one to keep more parts.Overall Size: W=20″ H=15.81″ D=6.38″ (inches)
Large Drawers: 4.38″ W x 5.25″ D x 2.0″ H
Small Drawers: 2.13″ W x 5.25″ D x 1.50″ H
Akro-Mils 10764 64-Drawer Storage

This organizer can hold many small LEGO parts. The organizer comes with partitions that can be inserted into the drawers allowing one to keep even more parts.Overall Size: W=20″ H=15.81″ D=6.38″ (inches)
Small Drawers: 2.13″ W x 5.25″ D x 1.50″ H

Large Storage Bins with Drawers
The larger collections require more extensive storage. Storage bins with drawers are excellent for storing large numbers of bricks of many colors and types. Stackable bins with drawers facilitate organization and access, although they require a good bit of space… or rather, your collection does!

Three Drawer Organizer
I have found the Sterilite ClearView™ Wide Three Drawer Organizer 2093 to work very well. Its dimensions are suffciently large to hold a large number of brick. Or one could make partitions (they do not come with the drawer) to store a wide array of parts in a single drawer. At this point, I use 20 of these to store my bricks, plates, liftarms, wheels, and specialized NXT parts. The clear drawers make it easy to see what is inside, and one can easily afix large easy-to-read labels.The dimensions of the three drawer organizer is:
14 5/8″ L x 14 1/2″ W x 10 5/8″ H.

Large Mobile Storage
My lab requires that a large proportion of my parts be easily transported. The best solution that I have found for this is the mobile toolbox together with a healthy set of Plano Utility Boxes (above). I was surprised to find that there is not the diversity in toolbox designs that I expected. I finally settled on the
Stanley Consumer Storage 033023R Pro Mobile Tool Chest.

This tool chest when packed full holds:
4 large Plano 3750 compartment boxes
3 medium Plano 3650 compartment boxes
6 small Plano 3500 compartment boxesThis is in addition to the large top tray that can hold Mindstorm NXT bricks, a great deal of cabling, and other tools that you might need.The tool chest has a handle and wheels, which makes for easy transportation.
Order from Amazon.com here.

See the more recent posts: COLORFUL LEGO STORAGE IDEAS and New LEGO STORAGE OPPORTUNITIES for more ideas.

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