All Questions
4
votes
1answer
161 views
Strongest gear configuration
I'm building a (what I hope to be) high-speed car using two PF-XL motors together and some gearing up. However, there's a point where I have to rotate the axle with power (that comes from the 3 speed ...
2
votes
3answers
167 views
Options for sorting old and new versions of colors
I'm working on sorting my LEGO collection. I'm sorting by part then color, with colors mixed when it makes sense (e.g. black is separated out, but medium blue and dark red are together). I'm trying to ...
9
votes
2answers
25k views
Where can I download the LEGO Mindstorms NXT 2.0 IDE?
I want to see how well that IDE runs on my old Windows XP laptop.
I looked on www.lego.com, but it seems to all be documentation (downloads).
2
votes
0answers
55 views
RCX 1.0 downloaded firmware successfully with RIS 2.0 but does not run any program
I have installed correctly the RIS 2.0 in an old laptop running Windows XP and I successfully downloaded the firmware through the RIS 2.0 to the RCX 1.0, following the standard setup instructions.
...
3
votes
0answers
91 views
Ultrasonic problems with the red and blue balls?
I'm still new to the nxt thing, I try to make the robot locate the ball using the ultrasonic, while there I should be in a square area marked by white color.
How can I make the robot locate the ...
7
votes
2answers
2k views
Which sets currently contain pneumatic LEGO equipment?
When I was younger my dad bought me 5218-1, a technic-based pneumatics set, which, combined with the old motor system to provide a mini compressor system created quite a bit of entertainment and it ...
8
votes
3answers
971 views
Can anyone find a photo of the “LEGO bricks, not LEGOS” insert?
Debates aside; I have been told that there used to exist a message either in Lego catalogs or inserts in boxes that reads as this:
The word LEGO® is a brand name and is very special to all of us ...
4
votes
1answer
124 views
Best sensor for balancing inverted pendulum
I want to build a balancer for an inverted pendulum. Which of the following sensors is best suited for detecting the tilt?
Accelerometer
Gyroscope
Angle sensor
3
votes
1answer
117 views
How can I make a mosaic from a given number of 1x1 bricks and a picture?
This question is similar to How can I convert an image's pixels to actual LEGO colors? except that I need to fit a certain number of bricks of a certain colour.
For example, I have 20 white, 28 ...
1
vote
1answer
58 views
Easy way to get the weight of a Bricklink order
Is there an easy way to estimate, to the nearest 100 g (or so) the weight of a shopping cart in Bricklink so that I can estimate the shipping charge (sellers may quote ranges such as "250 - 500 g: $X, ...
11
votes
9answers
8k views
LEGO cleaning techniques and tools
Previously I've used toothbrushes but maybe these would eventually scratch the surface? What have you used? And was it easy?
As well as cleaning, what about drying and buffing? Anyone tried polishing ...
9
votes
4answers
340 views
Is it legal to sell your mocs?
First off, I assume that it's legal to sell used LEGO bricks and it's also legal to sell self-made LEGO instructions and parts-lists.
As far as I know, there are people selling LEGO sets of their ...
4
votes
1answer
119 views
Is there a place where you can buy single pieces of LEGO-compatible systems?
I've acquired a set of MegaBloks and was amazed at the slopes with studs on top.
Unfortunately the set is $15 and there's only 6 pieces I need.
So I wanted to ask, are there any sites like Bricklink ...
7
votes
3answers
2k views
LEGO brick competitors?
I'm trying to find all the competitors to LEGO. I know there is MegaBloks. What are some more?
The base idea is that they should be bricks and they need to connect to each other like LEGO. However, ...
3
votes
3answers
1k views
Lego Mindstorms NXT software error
I have installed the retail version of the NXT software. Due to pitiful performance on my Mac (OSX 10.7 Lion) I followed guidance on other forums and uninstalled Flash 11 and reinstalled 10.
Now ...
4
votes
2answers
208 views
Which LEGO Technic sets include instructions to add the Power Functions accessory box?
Some LEGO Technic sets apparently come with instructions to add a motor, using the pieces from the Power Function Accessory Box (set 8293).
Is there a list of the sets which do contain such ...
16
votes
2answers
2k views
How does one get a job as a LEGO designer?
I always fantasized on the mysterious (and admittedly cool) job of LEGO designer. Is there anyone who knows what it takes?
Do you need to go to the Lego university and get good grades?
Is there any ...
13
votes
4answers
619 views
How to make a 1 ldu offset?
LDraw units are defined so that a simple 1x1 brick has a side of 20 ldu and a height of 24 ldu.
Using simple building techniques, it's easy to create 2 ldu offset, as illustrated in this picture, ...
2
votes
2answers
354 views
Building instructions from an LXF file
I've downloaded an LXF file from rebrickable.com. Which software do I need (for Windows and/or Linux) to get the building instructions based on the LXF file?
4
votes
1answer
152 views
Can I download a programm written in C# into brick?
I use C# language and http://www.mindsqualls.net/ library. But I could not find how to download my program into brick. Actually, is it possible? Or I just have to control my nxt 2.0 robot via ...
6
votes
0answers
93 views
How to simulate Lego Mindstorms programs written in C#?
I am going to do some programming for Lego Mindstorms in C# using
http://www.mindsqualls.net/
and have a question. Is there any good simulator to see result of my program without uploading the code ...
20
votes
8answers
11k views
What glue should I use for permanent LEGO construction?
The incredible precision of LEGO parts makes them attractive for building precise jigs, but the fact that they can come apart fairly easily isn't so helpful for this application. Can anyone recommend ...
5
votes
1answer
73 views
Is there a way to change the Lego NXT sensor polling frequency?
I am using LEGO NXT 2.0 with the native NXT flowchart-style programming environment, I would love to be able to poll the sensors more frequently. (In particular, it seems that the light sensor is ...
9
votes
2answers
286 views
Is there a way to build a stronger LEGO ball than what was done by the Mythbusters?
In one episode, the Mythbusters busted a fake video by building a 7' tall LEGO ball. The construction did not roll very far before falling apart.
Assuming that they only used standard bricks (with ...
6
votes
2answers
622 views
Whatever happened to Architecture 21015 Eames House?
The set was scheduled to be released in 2012, no such luck. Any idea on why it never came out? Was looking forward to building it.
16
votes
3answers
858 views
What is the male:female ratio of gendered minifigures?
For many years now, Lego has provided more detail on the face and bodies of minifigures. One of the effects of this is that the usually visually gender-neutral minifigures of my childhood (with the ...
3
votes
4answers
2k views
Are there plans to release new trains for AFOL?
I just built the Maersk train, what an amazing model! I did a little research and found that it was released in 2011 and the Emerald Night was released in 2009. Given the two year gap it seems ...
25
votes
3answers
4k views
Are DUPLO blocks compatible with LEGO blocks in any way?
Can I build a model out of both DUPLO blocks and LEGO blocks? Do they fit together?
5
votes
2answers
321 views
What is the best way to transport a large quantity of LEGO bricks?
I have a decently sized collection (thousands of bricks/hundreds of sets/a bunch of bins) from my childhood, but they're all at my parents' house. I live in the US and a couple states away from my ...
8
votes
2answers
514 views
Removing glue from Lego bricks
When I was five my Dad used some kind of a good glue to put together a set together so I didn't loose any pieces. Putting the ethics of that action aside, I want to split the bricks from another and ...
4
votes
2answers
249 views
How to start with technic?
I have bought myself the technic set 9393 Tractor. I really like the model and I want to dig deeper into the Lego technic universe. I am not focused in building pre-designed models (although I enjoy ...
9
votes
2answers
202 views
What element modifications are incorporated by the LEGOLAND builders?
I know they glue their sculptures together, and sometimes support them with an inner frame. Is that the limit to their element modifications, or are there more tricks to the awesome LEGOLAND builds on ...
24
votes
4answers
2k views
How do I build a curved wall?
On my latest MOC I want to build a round tower.
This is a minifig-scale build, and the tower is going to have a diameter of about 20/30 studs.
How should I go about building the "curved" wall of the ...
7
votes
2answers
706 views
How does LEGO handle the breakage of Hero Factory sockets?
My son has a slowly growing collection of Hero Factory figures, and they have accumulated a consistent problem: socket connector cracking.
The tips of the angular part of the limb which connects to a ...
3
votes
0answers
91 views
LEGO Digital Designer is unable to connect to the Internet [closed]
I just installed LEGO Digital Designer on my Macbook Pro running OS X (10.8.2). Every time I start up the application, it immediately displays a dialog box stating "Internet access failed" as you can ...
8
votes
3answers
332 views
What is the easiest technique for large builds?
I recently acquired the Space Shuttle set, #10231, and find that it isn't a staged build--one with sequential bags. This leaves me at a bit of a loss over how to organize and search through 1200+ ...
0
votes
1answer
78 views
How do I get started with Mindstorms NXT 2.0?
I need help programming a NXT 2.0 Lego Mindstorms. I want to make the robot turn, stop, go back, etc. when the color sensors see certain colors. For example when the robot sees red it stops then ...
7
votes
2answers
571 views
How do I keep LEGO boxes looking their best for as long as possible?
I want to buy a few cool sets for investing purposes or to give to my kids later on if they prove to be poor investments. I'm not going to open the boxes they'll just be stored but it might be nice to ...
10
votes
2answers
570 views
Why does LEGO now use studless technic designs?
It seems to me that sometime between 1998 and 2006 (between the Mindstorms RCX and NXT), LEGO switched from using studded technic bricks (like this:)
to studdless beams (like this):
In my ...
11
votes
5answers
811 views
Have any Lego sets been released with errors/mistakes in the build instructions? If not, why not?
I was thinking about the documentation process of a large set like the Death Star and it got me thinking; surely at some point Lego must've released a set of instructions that contained a mistake?
...
19
votes
5answers
677 views
Does longterm storage in a connected state harm the studs/tubes?
Does storing bricks in a connected state lessen their longevity?
8
votes
3answers
353 views
Are there any Star Wars vehicles that have not yet been produced in a Lego kit?
This includes all six films and the Clone Wars spin-offs. Every vehicle I can think seems to have been produced as part of a kit at some point. Are there any that haven't?
4
votes
3answers
170 views
What is the official term used for building MOC models?
I know that MOC means "my own creation" as noted here. What I would like to know is do you call the actual act of creating a MOC, "MOC building", or is there another official term? I wanted to build ...
4
votes
1answer
104 views
Electric, Plug Holder 4.5V/12V what is it for?
I have seen the Electric, Plug Holder 4.5V/12V on bricklink a few times and have often wondered what it is for.
According to Bricklink, it was only ever produced in Light Gray and appeared in 3 ...
7
votes
3answers
326 views
How can I build a human-scale Lego gun?
I would like to build Lego projectile weapons. Are there any designs available? Can one make an amunition magazine and self-reloading mechanism? Should I use rubberbands as ammunition or are there ...
8
votes
1answer
209 views
How do I remove orange (rust?) stains from white elements?
I'm building with some yard sale Lego, and have several elements that have orange stains on them. If I had to guess, I'd say something seeped onto the bricks while they were in storage. At this point ...
-1
votes
3answers
404 views
Why do new LEGO bricks feel softer than old bricks?
The older bricks that were made back in the day, "pre-2K", seemed to be made out of a harder more durable brick that seemed to hurt your feet when you walked on them. Now it seems that since the other ...
4
votes
3answers
398 views
Lego Digital Designer Alternatives
I am been using LDD (Lego Digital Designer) for my latest NXT project and noticed a major delay in building and making instructions for my Projects (My Mindstorm projects contain well over 500 pieces) ...
4
votes
1answer
145 views
Why did LEGO create different canister for the Visorak?
I have the six original Visorak (Sets 8742, 8743, 8744, 8745, 8746 and 8747) with different canisters (or boxes).
For example, my Suukorak (8747) has a white canister, and my friend's has a black ...
13
votes
3answers
3k views
Are all the Magnet minifigs now glued on and how should I remove them?
A couple of years ago (around 2010 I think), I bought a number of the Star Wars magnet sets, as they looked like a (slightly) economical way of buying a number of specialist characters (including the ...
