Comments on: Making tracks http://dansdata.blogsome.com/2008/09/19/making-tracks/ the blog that is not dansdata.com Sun, 12 Feb 2012 02:11:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.1-alpha by: Erik T http://dansdata.blogsome.com/2008/09/19/making-tracks/#comment-3103 Mon, 22 Sep 2008 07:53:31 +0100 http://dansdata.blogsome.com/2008/09/19/making-tracks/#comment-3103 Linear actuators baaah. I liked the pneumatics. Linear actuators baaah. I liked the pneumatics.

]]> by: trouserlord http://dansdata.blogsome.com/2008/09/19/making-tracks/#comment-3083 Fri, 19 Sep 2008 21:34:19 +0100 http://dansdata.blogsome.com/2008/09/19/making-tracks/#comment-3083 Now this takes me back.. I had the both the Universal Motor Set and the Gear, Axle & Brick set that had the link chain and spiky gears. I found the motor perked up considerably when powered by a monster 9V battery from an old radio. It made great dragsters when combined with the large diameter steel axle wheels. Sadly my fun came to end when it ran onto our shag pile rug, tangled itself up and stripped its internal gears. I think I still have it, anyone got any of the internal bits? Now this takes me back.. I had the both the Universal Motor Set and the Gear, Axle & Brick set that had the link chain and spiky gears. I found the motor perked up considerably when powered by a monster 9V battery from an old radio. It made great dragsters when combined with the large diameter steel axle wheels. Sadly my fun came to end when it ran onto our shag pile rug, tangled itself up and stripped its internal gears. I think I still have it, anyone got any of the internal bits?

]]> by: Itsacon http://dansdata.blogsome.com/2008/09/19/making-tracks/#comment-3082 Fri, 19 Sep 2008 15:30:26 +0100 http://dansdata.blogsome.com/2008/09/19/making-tracks/#comment-3082 Yu have the original Excavator? You lucky sod! That's the one Lego kit I've always wanted, but never managed to lay my hands on... Maybe I'll get the new one, for old times' sake... ...and I just looked on ebay and found the old one for sale... aaargg Yu have the original Excavator? You lucky sod! That's the one Lego kit I've always wanted, but never managed to lay my hands on...

Maybe I'll get the new one, for old times' sake...

...and I just looked on ebay and found the old one for sale... aaargg

]]> by: Daniel Rutter http://dansdata.blogsome.com/2008/09/19/making-tracks/#comment-3080 Fri, 19 Sep 2008 14:23:20 +0100 http://dansdata.blogsome.com/2008/09/19/making-tracks/#comment-3080 I can think of a few solutions to the traction problem besides the one actually used in the videos, which is link-pins just sticking out of the tracks like spikes on sport shoes. It'd be easy enough to attach rubber tyres to the pins, but the tank would of course leave the tyres behind whenever they got caught on anything One obvious but sacriligeous option would be to cut up small tyres and cement them onto the outside of the track components. Another would be to tie rubber bands (even official Lego(TM) rubber bands, if you like :-) around the middles of the track links as you assembled the track. If you left one stud worth of "air space" in the middle of each link (and thereby forced the track to be even <b>bigger</b>, in order to go around its drive and guide wheels moderately smoothly), you could non-destructively add quite a good pad of rubber to each link. Hey, there's a thought - would the train-wheel <a href="http://peeron.com/inv/sets/1111-1" rel="nofollow">rubber rims</a>, or stationery rubber bands of similar dimensions, fit nicely around these links <b>length</b>wise? I can't help but think that <a href="http://peeron.com/inv/parts/70961" rel="nofollow">Technic Bumpers</a> could be used for this purpose too, but mounting them solidly might be a big hassle. Perhaps there'd even be a way to work the various <a href="http://peeron.com/inv/parts/32133c04" rel="nofollow">Technic</a> <a href="http://peeron.com/inv/parts/32133c05" rel="nofollow">Arrows</a> into a track design - I'm thinking something <i>very</i> directional, with the arrowheads all sticking out towards or away from the direction of travel - but I suspect they're going to remain in their current role as Instant Walking-Robot Feet. I can think of a few solutions to the traction problem besides the one actually used in the videos, which is link-pins just sticking out of the tracks like spikes on sport shoes. It'd be easy enough to attach rubber tyres to the pins, but the tank would of course leave the tyres behind whenever they got caught on anything

One obvious but sacriligeous option would be to cut up small tyres and cement them onto the outside of the track components.

Another would be to tie rubber bands (even official Lego(TM) rubber bands, if you like :-) around the middles of the track links as you assembled the track. If you left one stud worth of "air space" in the middle of each link (and thereby forced the track to be even bigger, in order to go around its drive and guide wheels moderately smoothly), you could non-destructively add quite a good pad of rubber to each link.

Hey, there's a thought - would the train-wheel rubber rims, or stationery rubber bands of similar dimensions, fit nicely around these links lengthwise?

I can't help but think that Technic Bumpers could be used for this purpose too, but mounting them solidly might be a big hassle.

Perhaps there'd even be a way to work the various Technic Arrows into a track design - I'm thinking something very directional, with the arrowheads all sticking out towards or away from the direction of travel - but I suspect they're going to remain in their current role as Instant Walking-Robot Feet.

]]> by: FuzzyPlushroom http://dansdata.blogsome.com/2008/09/19/making-tracks/#comment-3077 Fri, 19 Sep 2008 09:41:00 +0100 http://dansdata.blogsome.com/2008/09/19/making-tracks/#comment-3077 Surprisingly capable, and unsurprisingly awesome. The multi-colored tracks are a neat touch... Surprisingly capable, and unsurprisingly awesome. The multi-colored tracks are a neat touch...

]]> by: Conchas http://dansdata.blogsome.com/2008/09/19/making-tracks/#comment-3075 Fri, 19 Sep 2008 07:26:12 +0100 http://dansdata.blogsome.com/2008/09/19/making-tracks/#comment-3075 Hi, TBs editor right here! ;D I agree the new TECHNIC tracks that appeared with Power Function elements, are quite versatile. However these polished and big plastic parts, slip to much on many kinds of floor (wood, ceramics,...). Hope LEGO or someone else come with some rubber pitons, that fit into the track holes. ;) Hi,

TBs editor right here! ;D

I agree the new TECHNIC tracks that appeared with Power Function elements, are quite versatile. However these polished and big plastic parts, slip to much on many kinds of floor (wood, ceramics,...).
Hope LEGO or someone else come with some rubber pitons, that fit into the track holes. ;)

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