One of my favorite topics is to build 2D/3D shapes using various connector types parts. I'm currently working on a project to reproduce the mechanics of a combine header/feeder. Such system uses a rotating pentagon to move the 'combs'. Now, Everyone on here knows how to built rotating squares and hexagons, but has anyone been able to build an equilateral pentagon?

I'm tempted to believe it is doable since, for many of us old-timers, we can draw a pentagon with just a compass and few pencil strokes.

Let's see how inventive/creative this community truly is.

 

 

In

https://webspace.science.uu.nl/~hooft101/lectures/meccano.pdf

by Gerard ’t Hooft the following is stated:

1. "For a multigon of n edges, 10n-27 strips are required, using this method. With a bit more sophistication, I found heptagons made out of 35 pieces, 27 pieces, and any n-gon out of 7n-20 integral strips (assuming n to be odd; if n is even, a slightly different algorithm is needed). A bit of serendipity led to a heptagon of only 15 pieces (see Fig. 9)."
2. "Figure 8: The rigid regular heptagon, using the method of equalizing angles as explained in Section 5. It is built out of 43 integral strips. This algorithm can be extended to any muligon."

 

 

That's a nice vid, but the solution with the T-shaped liftarm is slightly off. The T-shaped liftarm creates an angle of 106.26 degrees, not a regular pentagon's 108 degrees.

Also, it pains me to see all those cracked, rare & expensive red toggle joints!

8 hours ago, technicmath said:

In

https://webspace.science.uu.nl/~hooft101/lectures/meccano.pdf

by Gerard ’t Hooft the following is stated:

1. "For a multigon of n edges, 10n-27 strips are required, using this method. With a bit more sophistication, I found heptagons made out of 35 pieces, 27 pieces, and any n-gon out of 7n-20 integral strips (assuming n to be odd; if n is even, a slightly different algorithm is needed). A bit of serendipity led to a heptagon of only 15 pieces (see Fig. 9)."
2. "Figure 8: The rigid regular heptagon, using the method of equalizing angles as explained in Section 5. It is built out of 43 integral strips. This algorithm can be extended to any muligon."

 

Thank You. That's a beautiful reference. Just finished reading it, and there is also a Meccano Math 2, for mechanisms .... beautiful!

On 11/30/2022 at 7:17 PM, DrJB said:

Thank You. That's a beautiful reference. Just finished reading it, and there is also a Meccano Math 2, for mechanisms .... beautiful!

Just in case some people might not know where to look, there is a list-directory: https://webspace.science.uu.nl/~hooft101/lectures/

And there you can find https://webspace.science.uu.nl/~hooft101/lectures/meccano2.pdf and https://webspace.science.uu.nl/~hooft101/lectures/meccano3.pdf

On 11/30/2022 at 3:42 AM, astyanax said:

Thank You. I got the 6-blades version of that part just few days ago :)

There is a remarkable exact bracing of a regular nonagon:

and a 2-4-5 triangle has an angle within 0.2 degrees of that of a regular pentagon:

Edited December 2, 20222 yr by aeh5040

Thank you Alex ... I have none of the 7L thin arms ... lol ... a BL order I must do :)

On 12/3/2022 at 3:35 AM, DrJB said:

Thank you Alex ... I have none of the 7L thin arms ... lol ... a BL order I must do :)

Of course you can use normal 7Ls with a +oo pin plus a , but it does work out nicely with the thin ones.

2 hours ago, aeh5040 said:

Of course you can use normal 7Ls (...)

Why not use normal 7L liftarms and normal black pins, then connect everything with 4L bars through the black pins...

Edited December 4, 20222 yr by astyanax

2 hours ago, astyanax said:

Why not use normal 7L liftarms and normal black pins, then connect everything with 4L bars through the black pins...

Indeed, that's definitely also a possibility, although I always think of it as a bit inelegant!

Edited December 4, 20222 yr by aeh5040

On 11/30/2022 at 3:42 AM, astyanax said:

I thought this was an Efferman part (which I ordered only 2 weeks ago) ... In fact, it is a Lego part and came with the Airbus Helicopter. I've been away from this forum for so long and was not keeping track of the latest. Incidentally, such part is NOT available on the PAB website ... and commands hefty prices on BL.

20 hours ago, DrJB said:

 Incidentally, such part is NOT available on the PAB website ... and commands hefty prices on BL.

Give it some time...

Not for some kind of ~gons but can someone make isosceles right triangle?

No matter for size but smaller is better.

Edited December 6, 20222 yr by msk6003

12 minutes ago, msk6003 said:

isosceles right triangle?

Closest smallest will be 5x5x7

For such triangel hypothenuse is x√2 , so just do some excel.

Can't be done with Lego considering √2 is irrational number, except with approximations such as the suggestion above or maybe with axle joined with connectors and bushings as the hypotenuse.

3 hours ago, howitzer said:

Can't be done with Lego considering √2 is irrational number, except with approximations such as the suggestion above or maybe with axle joined with connectors and bushings as the hypotenuse.

1 hour ago, aeh5040 said:

That's not a triangle though.

1 hour ago, howitzer said:

That's not a triangle though.

The middle section has two pin holes that are exactly 2 sqrt(2) apart. It can be used to make isosceles right triangles in many ways.

Edited December 6, 20222 yr by aeh5040

1 hour ago, aeh5040 said:

The middle section has two pin holes that are exactly 2 sqrt(2) apart. It can be used to make isosceles right triangles in many ways.

But the elongated hole doesn't hold pins securely, instead they are free to move along it, so I don't think it's that great for building.

1 hour ago, howitzer said:

But the elongated hole doesn't hold pins securely, instead they are free to move along it, so I don't think it's that great for building.

He meant the holes surrounding the elongated one. They are 2sqrt(2) apart.

42 minutes ago, Davidz90 said:

He meant the holes surrounding the elongated one. They are 2sqrt(2) apart.

Yes, so are some of the studs on any plate with at least the length of 2 in two directions, and holes in 3x5 beam and various frames, etc. But I'm not aware of any part that's correct length for the hypotenuse to complete the triangle.

The 2sqrt(2) length can be either the hypotenuse or the shorter side.  The other side is 2 or 4 respectively, achievable with a standard liftarm.

Edited December 6, 20222 yr by aeh5040