All Questions
9
votes
1answer
593 views
How to build bridge using 4.5/12v train rails from 1969 Lego brochure
I am interested in building a bridge for my layout and stumbled upon this forum post in which user 'Istokg' posted a picture of a train bridge made from the blue rails used in the pre-1980s train ...
11
votes
3answers
295 views
Why are Lego sets put in such big boxes?
I am wondering why Lego puts sets in big packages. All bricks are put in small plastic bags and from my experience the packaging could be at least half of what it is.
There is so much told these days ...
4
votes
1answer
97 views
Which resolution is necessary to print bricks with a 3D printer?
I would like to print LEGO compatible figures. Which resolution is required for the 3D print in order to firmly fix the figures on LEGO bricks?
6
votes
2answers
326 views
Exact dimensions of studless Technic beams
I'm looking for the exact dimensions of the studless Technic beams. I found a number of answers for studded beams but there are some more aspects for the studless beams which are not covered.
I'm ...
13
votes
5answers
835 views
Useful machines built with LEGO
I am looking for examples of useful machines built with LEGO (probably Technics, NXT etc.). There are many fun project examples and proofs of concept, such as a Rubik cube solver and a Turing machine.
...
8
votes
3answers
368 views
What material is used to make capes and cloth in LEGO sets and where do I get it?
It seems like a conspiracy to keep everyone from knowing this. Custom cape sellers don´t say what it is, the women from the draperies I questioned always say something along the line of "coated ...
0
votes
0answers
72 views
How much GBP for a Lego Pick A Brick Large Cup? [closed]
im from the UK and i'm just wondering about how much a Lego Pick A Brick small cup costs and also the Large cup. Please reply asap! Thanks in advance.
0
votes
1answer
316 views
Does the LEGO company actively follow or copy clone bricks?
What does The LEGO group do to follow clone brands?
Do they buy at least one of every set produced by The Other Guys?
I'm more interested about what the LEGO company does to keep up with what ...
5
votes
0answers
75 views
Does the jumper plate have a Danish nickname?
Does the "jumper plate" (1×2 plate with centered stud) have a Danish nickname like the "Erling"? Who is the designer of this part? And does there exist a catalog of designers of specific bricks?
4
votes
1answer
125 views
Why does the pin recess on the Technic turntable continue to the edge of the part?
Here's the part in question (2955):
While Technic parts typically have a recess to allow the ends of pins to be flush with the surface, this part (and perhaps others) carry this recess all the way ...
3
votes
1answer
227 views
How hard is it to get a job within the LEGO company, straight out of university as a graduate?
How hard is it to get a job at the LEGO company?
Being fresh out of university as a graduate of mathematics, I'm specifically interested in answers on if and how LEGO hires graduates.
10
votes
8answers
1k views
How can I efficiently pick up bricks off the floor?
My floor is covered in bricks. My bare feet can't take much more abuse. Is there a way of collecting up the bricks easily, or should I just get on my knees and start scooping them up with my hands?
37
votes
8answers
1k views
Do any programs exist that allow you to build your own LEGO manuals?
What I'm looking for is a program or website/webapp that allows "virtual" building of a LEGO model, step-by-step, and allows you to save these single steps to get a complete building plan in the end. ...
4
votes
2answers
83 views
How can I find the value of a LEGO set over several years?
Bricklink has this handy feature on its site which allows you to view the average selling prices of a particular set based on previous auctions.
I like this feature, but unfortunately, it only ...
7
votes
3answers
172 views
Any reasons for the introduction of the new-style raised arch?
The new-style raised arch (to the left, 92950) got introduced in 2009, and has been gradually replacing the old-style arch (to the right, 3455) across the board. However, after four years, not only ...
5
votes
1answer
800 views
Remote Control option NXT Mindstorms
I bought the NXT Mindstorms education software v2.1 along with a Mindstorms kit (which I don't know the version of).
I am trying to remote control a robot I made using bluetooth between my mac and ...
2
votes
0answers
96 views
Is the Antikhythera clock design available as Open Source?
After reading and watch the video about the Antikhythera Clock, I am curious if the design reference (or better yet the instruction manual) is available as OpenSource.
Why? Because it would be cool ...
4
votes
5answers
221 views
Factories that could make off-patent bricks?
I'm quite interested in finding a factory that can produce a small-ish run of high-quality plastic bricks that I can use in my classes and possible to re-sell as stand-alone kits. I only need a few ...
6
votes
1answer
132 views
What is the true angle of a cheese slope?
What is the true angle of a cheese slope?
Bricklink lists it as "Slope 30 1 x 1 x 2/3" while LDraw and Peeron list it as "Slope Brick 31 1 x 1 x 2/3". Why do these sources disagree, and what is the ...
7
votes
1answer
316 views
Is there an easier way of threading Technic pins into other elements?
I've been using Lego Digital Designer to recreate a few models I've built in real life. One model in particular uses many Technic axles which need to be inserted fully into other Technic bricks (like ...
7
votes
2answers
347 views
Why does Lego restrict the number of colors per shape?
There are many shapes and many colors of Lego elements. Some color/shapes are rare and hard to find. Why does Lego restrict the number of colors available per shape?
6
votes
3answers
286 views
How to make a conveyor belt with LEGO parts?
I am making a small robot with an Arduino and Technic LEGO powered by stepper motors. I am planning on moving small rocks throughout my machine. Does anyone have an idea of what kind of Technic LEGO ...
1
vote
1answer
120 views
What are the size of Lego Technic Parts?
I'm creating a LEGO Mindstorms catalogue for a school project. I measured the LEGO parts and I made an average size. My goal is to create new parts with a Rapid prototyping machine and I wanted to ...
9
votes
3answers
218 views
Why can't I reproduce this SD card box in LDD?
I've built an SD card box a few years ago. Now I am trying to reproduce it in Lego Digital Designer.
However when I tried to reproduce the closed version, LDD refuses to snap it in place.
In ...
6
votes
3answers
252 views
Simplest approach for rail sets automation
How would you tackle the automation of a lego rails set. I am looking for a solution that can be achieved with available parts.
From the answer I will chose either to invest into lego rail sets for ...
8
votes
2answers
228 views
Why are there “unique” characters in many sets?
When I was young, about 30 years ago, I'd had no problem to have two policemen, two yellow astronauts or knights. Then I had some lack of Lego sets and didn't know what was happening on this field.
...
7
votes
2answers
270 views
Colouring bricks with the sun
This question is related to How do I change the color of a brick? and the exact opposite of How to minimise or remove sun-stains/fading from blocks?
Is it feasible to artificially age bricks in ...
14
votes
3answers
2k views
Has anyone made their own custom LEGO bricks?
As I've just learned, LEGO bricks are made from ABS plastics.
I wonder if it would be possible to make some simple molds at home, get some ABS pellets, melt them up and make your own custom bricks? ...
3
votes
1answer
64 views
Set to run a program within another program using NXT-G
I'm using NXT-G to program my robot to do few tasks autonomously for so many possibilities. When using C programming, we can call a function from different file into the main program. So, I wonder if ...
4
votes
0answers
90 views
Old Lego movies
As I remember, it was about 1990 maybe some years earlier, there were movies, made by Lego, they were about 3 minutes long, maybe longer.
It was of course not computer-generated videos but normal, ...
4
votes
3answers
191 views
Set missing all the Minifigures and a few other parts
When I got the Quinjet set, I dug through every bag but the manufacturers forgot a few pieces and my set didn't have any minifigures. How can I get the missing minifigures and the parts I'm missing?
2
votes
1answer
54 views
NXT Bluetooth “Failed!” when turning on
When I attempt to turn on my bluetooth, the response on the display after about 5 seconds is "Failed!" Then I'm sent back to the main menu.
I've reset the unit and updated to latest firmware (1.31) ...
2
votes
1answer
896 views
Programming the NXT brick using an ipad app
for the past few years, I have been using netbooks to program the NXT. I would like to move into the 21st century and use ipads. Is there an ipad app for programming the NXT brick?
68
votes
3answers
8k views
How much usage can a LEGO piece take before it loses its 'clutch power'?
In this article it's mentioned that one very important feature of the LEGO bricks are their 'clutch power' which is "the ability of its bricks to snap together tightly while also being easy to ...
9
votes
1answer
416 views
Where can I find the LEGO fire dept. logo in high resolution or in vector format
I want print a high resolution version of the Lego fire department shield (the shield with three flames that is used on all Lego fire trucks). When I search with Google, I find mostly low resolution ...
5
votes
0answers
137 views
how to make custom lego signs, newspapers etc.
I have several ideas but I am finding it hard to get started. What I am interested in is making my own decals for signs, newspapers, artwork for the walls and others. So far I haven't had any luck. ...
6
votes
1answer
532 views
Why was the 1x1 round brick changed?
The first 1x1 round bricks had no lip, just like most bricks:
Brick, Round 1 x 1 Old - No Bottom Lip
A lip was then added:
Brick, Round 1 x 1 Solid Stud
Why?
Later, a hole was added in the ...
7
votes
1answer
177 views
Can I take an old LEGO winch apart?
I have an old LEGO winch that looks like #73037
It has been "restrung" but it is very stiff and it looks like it has some of the old string stuck between the rotating and non-rotating parts. It ...
2
votes
1answer
75 views
Setting priorities in LEGO NXT Programmer
For a sumo bot competition I made a robot that has a perfectly functioning ultrasonic senor. However, when I made a second branch on the program for a light sensor, I calibrated the light sensor and ...
9
votes
1answer
171 views
How to remove printed decoration
This is probably heresy, but how can I remove the printed decoration on a brick? I managed to buy a large number of bricks with an eye decoration cheap and found that rubbing a long time with ...
3
votes
2answers
4k views
How do I unlock the daily surprises? [closed]
I got a lego star wars 2012 advent calendar (9509), and on the back it say "unlock a surprise every day", and it says to go to legostarwars.com, and there's a code on the back of the advent calendar ...
10
votes
3answers
286 views
What are the essential resources for learning the fundamentals of LEGO building?
After years of buying and building LEGO sets, my six-year-old son is tearing through the first level of the Master Builder Academy. He's fascinated by micro-building, and generally seems liberated ...
4
votes
1answer
154 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
166 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
24k 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
50 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
90 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
966 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
117 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
