W HEN I BUILD LEGO ROBOTS, I GET out the drill. I have been doing this since 2002 when I had the job of building a robotic search and rescue demonstration for the U.S. Office of Naval Research. This job was commissioned to develop an immersive activity exposing trainees to the very real challenges of robotic search and rescue. With an aggressive budget and schedule, I decided to use a combination of Lego and custom-fabricated materials to build the working search robots. The two robots had to be durable and powerful enough to climb steep inclines and simulated staircases, have working pan-tilt cameras, and, particularly challenging, carry a smaller “scout” robot onboard. The Lego purists will cringe, but I adopted a liberal approach to construction, using any materials and fabrication methods available to achieve functionality and scale. This article shares ten tips I learned during this project that I think you will find useful when applied to your own contraptions.
2 Use machine screws to mount non-Lego materials on to your creations.
1 Use vertical through-bolts for stronger structures.
Why: You can reinforce
structures by adding
more Legos, but bolts
are stronger and use
less space.
Materials: #4-40 size
machine screws, nuts,
and washers.
Procedure: Drill through Lego Technic studs
with a 1" bit. With a washer, slip a 4-40 screw
through the holes. Snug, but don’t over-tighten,
as you might crack the Lego plastic.
Why: Add a platform
as large as you want
for your Lego bricks,
as well as reinforcing
the structure.
Materials: #6
machine screws, #6
washers, and any flat
sheet material ( 1" acrylic works well).
Procedure: Drill holes in your sheet material
at the appropriate places for your design.
Drill through the mating Lego studs with a 1"
bit. The larger machine screws will securely
thread into the hollowed Lego studs to mount
your sheet. Be careful not to strip the holes
by over-tightening.
References:
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