Hank Fletcher

According to Google, today's the 50th anniversary of arguably the best toy ever made: Lego!

In honour of the occasion, I've made a model of dual quick return levers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yL0QkjoZYg

theinfamousbob

That video is pretty cool Hank.

Obligatory Wikipedia article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lego

Legos are made with 2µm tolerance...cool.

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-Ian

Hank Fletcher

Yeah, I was impressed by that detail, also! Considering how well the pieces still fit after decades of abuse is impressive, too.

Thanks for the compliment!

blueroomelectronics

What are quick return levers used for?

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Dr.EM

Lego is great! Here is my working Lego crossbow. Locks automatically when carrier is pulled back, ergonomic handle (ish!) and suprisingly accurate (lego man at 4 metres range is quite possible). Mabye I should get a Youtube account and make a video of it working.

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Hank Fletcher

I'm not sure what the most common, real-world application must be. A quick return lever can be used where intermittent power is desired, but the application calls for something other than the equal power/return of a piston, and if for whatever reason a cam just won't do. By tinkering with dimensions of the wheel and its relative position to the fulcrum, the proportion of one direction of motion to the other can be adjusted.

I'm going to build a larger version of my lego model for use with the recorder robot (and possibly use for later instrument robots). Each lever will move its own bellow. I think this method will require the least amount of bellows (only two) while providing the smoothest output (what with the slight overlap).

Hank Fletcher

Hell, yeah!

Krumlink

Lol hank arent you at least 30 (dont mean to be disrespectful)? It would be somewhat wierd to see a grown adult playing with cute colorful legos

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MechTronics

World of Warcraft is a disease

Nigel Goodwin

Lego is great! - it's why you have kids, so you have an excuse to play with their Lego!

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Hank Fletcher

There's no shame in being old. Old people are just stupid young people who got smart enough to survive.

Leftyretro

Lego are for you young guys.

Us older and wiser were raised in a progressive manner.

Start with Tinker Toys

Graduate to Lincoln Logs

And finally those wishing to go further on the nerd path went on to

ERECTOR SETS

I ended up with a Erector set model 11 1/2, I think there was only one size larger.

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Measurement changes behavior

Andy1845c

I'm only 23 and I had all of the above when I was a kid
Makes me a little sad that I don't still have any of them.

Anyone else my age remember the Capsela construction sets? Kind of a cross between Legos and erector set?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capsela

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theinfamousbob

Oh BOY did I have Capsela...Got my first set before K'nex or Lego (I'm pretty sure about having it before Lego).

Built some crazy stuff. Never had enough to do really cool stuff, so I was limited. Had the voice recognition module and later bought the IR remote set for it. One of the best things a kid in electronics could have.

...I always wanted crane parts like that. Although I don't get why one would set up the vehicle like that (the picture)...

I had plenty of Lincoln logs, K'nex, Lego bricks, Capsela, and some Erector all through childhood. My parents would buy half of the stuff second hand (all of the Lego bricks I have) from relatives. A fortune new.

Geez, this thread is making me want to bring a tub of K'nex to school with me. Built some interesting gear ratio/piston stuff. They don't have a lot of strength though. One time I built a gear box that ripped itself apart because of the extreme ratio.

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-Ian

Hank Fletcher

I had Capsela, too! I'm kinda surprised it lasted that long - I didn't know anyone else had had it until now. I don't have it anymore, but I remember it because the terminology in the instructions was my first introduction to sex ed (me as an eight-year old: "Male connectors into female connectors? What's that all about?").

kchriste

If you ever get the chance go to legoland:
http://www.layer1.net/gallery/legoland
It's pretty impressive.

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