The LEGO Power Functions Idea Book, Volume 1: Machines and Mechanisms
Mechanisms Basic 1 Contents Introduction 1 Part Transmitting rotation 4 Gearing down powering up 10 Gearing up speeding up 30 Changing the angle of rotation 42 Powering up with worm drives 52 Using turntables 66 Gear systems 76 Tilting the angle of the axle 84
Changing the angle of the axle freely 90 Universal joints 96 Transmitting rotation with chains and treads 106 Transmitting rotation with rubber bands 110 Rack-and-pinion gears 114 Swinging mechanisms 124 Reciprocating mechanisms 134 Cam mechanisms 142 Gear systems with whole number ratios 154 Attaching a battery box 172 Attaching an infrared receiver 178 vi Contents
Movements Other and Wings Arms 2 PART Flapping wings 182 Gripping fingers 188 Lifting things 204 Shooting things 214 Automatic doors 226 Moving arms 238 Spinning fans 250 Drawing pictures 262 Complex movements via rotation 284 Using attachments to change motion 294 Combining modules 304 Parts list 312 Contents vii
Words the Are Introduction This is an idea book offering hundreds of projects and mechanisms you can build with LEGO Technic parts The book especially focuses on LEGO Power Functions which is the latest version of the Technic system of motors lights and other electric building elements Where Other than this brief introduction and the table of contents this book has almost no words Instead you’ll find a series of photographs of increasingly complex models each designed to demonstrate a mechanical principle or building technique While the book lists the pieces needed to build each model it does not include step-by-step building instructions Look at the photographs taken from various angles and try to reproduce the model Building in this way is something like putting together a puzzle You’ll get the hang of it after a little practice The Use of Color The examples in this book are made with parts of various colors to make it easier for you to see the individual bricks shapes But you don’t need to use the colors I’ve chosen in your models use whichever colors you want to make the projects your own Substituting Parts The parts used in this book were selected from among the easily obtainable ones as much as possible but you’ll probably still be missing a few Try to build as many models as possible using the parts that you already own If you find that you’re missing parts try to think of ways to substitute other parts for the ones that you’re missing For example there are many types of LEGO tires If you don’t have the tires shown in a particular particular project try using any tires you have that are a similar size Also there are several types of Power Functions motors In this book the commonly commonly available Medium M motors are used most frequently It’s relatively easy to replace the M motor with the Large L motor or older motors from earlier systems so use whatever you have available The Parts List in the back of the book will help you find the pieces you need You Are the Creator Look at the models you build closely By thinking about how they move and why they are designed that way you will greatly improve your building skills This is an idea book it’s about imagination It is my sincere hope that you make these projects proects your own combine them and evolve them into something even better your own original models
