In case you missed the recent TechnicBricks Blogspot article on the custom ALUMINUM Lego-compatible parts ( http://technicbricks.blogspot.com/2009/12/...-and-stiff.html ), I am curious to get your opinion on the matter. Some Eurobricks members already left their comments at the bottom of that article. I know, I know, the custom parts are "not Lego", they are a tad expensive, and they may reduce the "charm" of one's creations. Nevertheless, the innovative hole patterns and unique shaped ARE very useful (in the same way that the #61479 "Technic Liftarm 5 x 7 with Open Center Thick" piece http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=64179 is).

I bought a few custom aluminum liftarms to try them out, and can vouch for their extremely high quality. Their tight fit takes the "sag" out of a long vehicle chassis groaning under the weight of several Power Functions battery boxes. Moreover, Lego gears on drivetrains don't slip anymore when the sagging is gone.

More custom aluminum parts are being added all the time (even since the TechnicBricks article came out); check them out at http://www.bricklink.com/store.asp?p=InanimateReason . One can now even integrate RC servos into Lego-compatible parts to make ROBUST electric vehicles that can be "bashed" outdoors.

Although "purists" may dismiss these custom parts from consideration, think about these creations that COULD BE MADE if you used them:

1) Sariel's recent Big Bucket Wheel Excavator project broke apart ( http://sariel.pl/2009/11/big-bucket-wheel-...ator-cancelled/ ) because the ABS plastic used in 100%-Lego liftarms broke apart from the stress. When I asked him whether he would consider using aluminum parts to overcome this problem, he said he would.

2) Advanced Lego and Lego-type vehicles could be made to bridge the gap between "toys" and real-world radio-control (RC) components, without having to invest in a whole new robotics system (like Vex, Tetrix, etc.). FIRST Lego Leage (FLL) gets elementary schoolkids all revved up to the engineers, but then (as teenagers) there's no easy way to transition them to RC components used in the adult world. The custom aluminum parts do this. The concept is explained with pics on http://inanimatereason.com/ :

"Imagine powering your robot or vehicle using a motor with 15x the torque of a LEGO XL Motor! Of course, the kit works equally well with a Hitec HSR-1425CR Continuous Rotation Servo which delivers twice the torque of the XL motor....The plate also features integrated mount points for LEGO liftarms and our custom aluminum liftarms. You can also attach liftarms or other Technic compatible elements to the face of [the] horn. The liftarm is designed to mount to either Futaba or Hitec servos (or other brands who conform to their designs)...."

In my opinion, what difference does it make if you're not using pure 100% Legos? We're not talking about using Megablocks -- objectively the custom aluminium parts are SUPERIOR to the available Lego-brand parts in strength, size, and hole patterns. Unless you're entering some Lego contest or exhibition, by CONSIDERING these parts you can open up possibilities for even better creations. Lots of folks have used non-Lego parts for years (rubber bands, batteries, ABS glue, Pittsco Dacta, & HiTechnic sensors and components before Lego bought them out). Even the full-size Lego car sitting out in front of Legoland in Carlsbad, California uses metal axles and glue. Your thoughts?

Edited January 13, 201015 yr by dluders

my only questions is this:

ok, those aluminum parts are strong and aluminum connectors are great. does this mean that all MOC (or whatever you are building) needs to use aluminum parts?

compared to ABS LEGO bricks, i am not sure if there will be permanent damage to bricks with aluminum connectors going in/out or rotate around ABS bricks since aluminum connectors have less flexibility compared to ABS connectors. do you have any idea?

i've not built that many LEGOs but 8258 bends pretty bad (chassis) and i am not sure if this is general for other LEGO technic models but i can definitely use some aluminum parts for chassis.

I would not use the aluminium parts, because if I do, I will cross the line of 100% Lego.

And if I do, I could use many others custom parts like motors, wheels, RC components, brakes, pneumatics...and then it will become something different than LEGO.

There are many other forums with custom RC cars and trucks, which looks and performance great, but this is not for it.

After all, building a big MOC using only Lego parts and making it sturdy is one of the finest challenges!

I would consider it. In my line of work, everything is designed with the optimum material possible and I can certainly envision cases in which these aluminum parts make sense. I would not like to use them as a crutch though. It is a challenge to use existing parts to make a strong design, and this can usually be accomplished with the proper engineering. For example, you could make a bridge out of a single span of aluminum, but a plastic truss is far more efficient. So I'd be open to them in a place where they are needed. Finally, I am very into R/C so I am pretty excited about the possibility of combining these two hobbies.

I am not against cross building at all. However...

I feel that if anyone is going to start crossing over and mixing Lego parts with knock off ones made out of aluminum, then they might as well start posting on an erector set forum, because that isn't Lego building anymore. Or Nicjasno may be the proper site to discuss this. They accept building outside of the box and modifying and altering parts.

I have no problem using aluminium parts in my MOCs, in fact I really want to incorporate them in one of my future MOCs, but unfortunately the seller doesn't ship to my country, so I won't be able to do this.

In my opinion these parts are great and just what I need. I know these are not LEGO, but you cannot achieve everything with standard parts, so sometimes sacrifices are required.

I would definitely buy them.

Megabloks are also compatible with Lego, so is it ok to use them on your MOC if they have cool looking pieces that Lego Doesn't make and then display it as a Lego creation? Like I said, I am all for it if you wanted to build a cool RC Car or whatever, but I don't think it is proper to display pictures of it on a Lego Forum. Or even Brickshelf.com for that matter.

In my opinion, what difference does it make if you're not using pure 100% Legos?

I agree with this, especially since the quality is obviously there with these parts. I am always open to using non-Lego parts in MOC if they do something that cannot be done with Lego.

On the other hand, I don't really see the point of these aluminum beams, and can't think of many situations where the same thing couldn't be accomplished with standard Lego parts. They aren't necessarily needed even for Sariel's model, as people have built much larger models than that with standard Lego parts (Alvin Brant's cranes, for example). The beams are quite expensive and it wouldn't be practical to use a large quantity of them in a model. There is also a possible issue with their long-term effect on the Technic friction pins. I think the TechnicBricks article on them said that the holes are slightly smaller to get a more firm connection with the pins.

The aluminum gears and axles brought up on TechnicBricks look more useful and I would be more interested in those.

I don't realy see 100% Lego builds as something that must happen every time.

I built a 3m high crane a few years ago and it would have cost a fortune if it was 100% lego. Instead I used lolipop sticks drilled to the same size as lego. Sticks were visable and it was obvious they were there. Still looked great.

The long aluminium beams looks very usefull - long and strong. Unfortunatly they're rather expensive at the moment and I recon Lego will shut them down shortly.

You've only got to look at Jennifer Clarks craine to see how usefull non-lego parts are.

It's a touchy topic. I wouldn't use them, just because for me the challenge is to build with the limitations of the material in mind. But that doesn't mean I would diss someone's MOC just because they used these to achieve something you can't with just LEGO. A feat of engineering is always a feat of engineering, no matter the limitations you give yourself.

What might become a more serious problem, though, is that he is not currently making the aluminum parts in shapes and sizes TLC makes for copyright and patent reasons. While this is commendable practice in itself, I really hope the issue won't turn on its head in the future. What if, some day, his parts keep TLC from making the same kind of parts, for fears of the same IP issues? While he might not have the reason to sue, there's always the off chance that one day the rights to his parts end up in the portfolio of Hasbro, Mattel or Megabloks, through a sale or two.

compared to ABS LEGO bricks, i am not sure if there will be permanent damage to bricks with aluminum connectors going in/out or rotate around ABS bricks since aluminum connectors have less flexibility compared to ABS connectors. do you have any idea?

The holes in the custom aluminum liftarms are 1/1000th of an inch smaller in diameter than standard Lego liftarm holes. The 2-cent Technic Friction pin has to be inserted with more force than normal, but since there is less "slop" between the pin and the hole, there is no appreciable "sag" joining the aluminum to regular Lego ABS plastic pieces. The pins can be easily removed without permanent damage to the pin or the Lego Technic Liftarm.

Of course one doesn't have to use aluminum as a "crutch". However, there are some Technic building situations where one JUST CAN'T DO IT with Legos without breaking the ABS plastic. I don't know why one would want to spend lots of money on extra Lego parts when one could spend the same amount on a SLIMMER, stronger aluminum part.

I think many folks didn't really get the point of my post. The integration of Lego with R/C servos can expand a teenager's horizons past mere "toys" to the adult world. Modern robotics in high-tech industry doesn't use Lego Power Functions -- they use Futaba and Hitec servos that can be housed in the custom aluminum parts. The fellow selling the parts is going BEYOND what is possible with simple FIRST Lego League-type robots. Doesn't the prospect of "...powering your robot or vehicle using a motor with 15x the torque of a LEGO XL Motor" excite you? My son and I will finally be able to build the Lego-type "Battlebot" that we've dreamed of for 10 years!

Anyway, you now know about the option. If you don't want to use aluminum parts (for whatever reason), then don't. Those who want to do stuff NOT POSSIBLE WITH LEGO will have a fun time. As the saying goes, "To each his own".