Hi,

If we had to choose between technic or system which would the following bricks come under (excluding the other themes such as Bionicle etc):

I would think those are System because they are used mainly in system sets, and they have studs

What about the wheels?

Don't forget that technic bricks have studs too however

I find this really hard to categorize

Hmm, I guess to just need a new categorie Techtem, Sysnic... It's a hard one.

Why do you need them classified? They can be used either or. I think they are used more in System sets than Technics.

  On 4/29/2012 at 4:54 PM, SNIPE said:

What about the wheels?

Don't forget that technic bricks have studs too however

I find this really hard to categorize

Let me rephrase. These parts are used way more often in system sets than in Technic.

My general idea is that if it's designed to connect with technic parts, its classified as technic. Even if it's also compatible with system parts (since just about every technic piece can be attached in some way with system parts)

I am busy sorting out all my lego at the minute into drawers so thats why I asked, I still put any theme element in if I need to.

I'd say they're all mainly system. Or, if you want to split them up, the 2x2 round plate, the 2x1 brick with pin, 2x4 brick with 2 pins, and the 3rd item on the front row from the left would all be in system. Or you could save yourself a whole lot of trouble by just sorting by color.

I keep Technic and non-Technic wheels in separate containers, and put all 3 wheels shown in the Technic category. I also put the 2 bricks with pins shown in the Technic category, since the main reason to use them is to connect to other Technic elements. I do not have either of the 2 hinge plates shown, but I would probably put them with my normal Technic plates, especially since using them as a hinge will require a Technic pin. The Plate 2x2 Round I do not put with Technic, nor do I put Brick Round 2x2 with Technic. I instead classify it as being similar in nature to Brick 1x1 Round and Cone 1x1 Round.

Edited April 30, 201212 yr by TimeCruiser

My general rule of thumb on the wheels is that wheels designed to fit this piece are System, wheels that fit a Technic pin are Technic. By my own personal sorting standards, I would call everything except the round 2x2 plate Technic.

  On 4/29/2012 at 4:54 PM, SNIPE said:

Don't forget that technic bricks have studs too however

According to Jamie Berard, "Technic Bricks" have actually been re-classified by the LEGO company as "System" rather than "Technic"!

DaveE

I have just about enough space to put all my wheels in one box, separated by size. (The exception is the huge Chassis 8860 ones which are stored elsewhere).

IMO what system they're in doesn't matter - sort by usage. If you're looking for a wheel, is it easier to go to one location or two? A strict sorting system is fine, but feel free to adapt it to best suit your needs.

Personally those are all system with perhaps the hinge pieces bing borderline as they have those holes in that technic plates often have. Why does it matter if the wheel hubs have a technic peg, cross axle or thinner peg to connect to them? You're still using them to make vehicles with wheels.

Edited April 30, 201212 yr by mrklaw

  On 4/30/2012 at 12:05 PM, davee123 said:

According to Jamie Berard, "Technic Bricks" have actually been re-classified by the LEGO company as "System" rather than "Technic"!

DaveE

When did this happen? I find this particularly strange, considering the 2006 presentation by Jamie Berard refers to them as Technic bricks, and points out the incompatibility of their dimensions for SNOT techniques.

  On 4/30/2012 at 3:08 PM, mrklaw said:

I have just about enough space to put all my wheels in one box, separated by size. (The exception is the huge Chassis 8860 ones which are stored elsewhere).

IMO what system they're in doesn't matter - sort by usage. If you're looking for a wheel, is it easier to go to one location or two? A strict sorting system is fine, but feel free to adapt it to best suit your needs.

Personally those are all system with perhaps the hinge pieces bing borderline as they have those holes in that technic plates often have. Why does it matter if the wheel hubs have a technic peg, cross axle or thinner peg to connect to them? You're still using them to make vehicles with wheels.

I separate my wheels for 2 main reasons. First, how many I have: a bucket of standard wheels and tyres, and a tub of Technic wheels, tyres, and treads. Second, while I keep both types of tyres on their wheels, I keep my standard wheels connected to the Wheels Holder elements, but disconnect my Technic wheels. Looking for a wheel is practically a non-issue for me, since I rarely use wheels. (Same with my bucket of minifigs.)

  On 5/1/2012 at 4:32 AM, TimeCruiser said:

When did this happen? I find this particularly strange, considering the 2006 presentation by Jamie Berard refers to them as Technic bricks, and points out the incompatibility of their dimensions for SNOT techniques.

I got the impression that it was more recently than 6 years ago, but he didn't say when. Plus, I expect that even though they're "re-classified", that doesn't really mean that everyone's going to stop calling them "Technic Bricks". That's what they've probably been called for the last 30+ years, so the name's likely going to stick.

As for the re-classification, that came about in a discussion regarding Technic sets that I had with him in January of 2012. He sort of went off on a tangent (which I think many AFOLs must ask him about) regarding studless Technic builds, and why studded Technic beams aren't used as frequently in Technic sets these days, compared to smooth Technic beams. He said that the old Technic bricks drove the designers crazy, because the alignment of the holes isn't QUITE correct (at least not by their current standards), and isn't as nice as the smooth beams, which are "cubic" rather than rectangular in their dimensions. Hence, Technic designers can accomplish more with the smooth beams, and get less of a hassle from QA for being "In System".

Anyway, during the course of that conversation, Jamie informed me that the Technic bricks were actually re-classified as "System" rather than "Technic". Actually, I shouldn't say that. He simply said that they were re-classified as "System". He didn't say that they were classified as "Technic" beforehand, that's just an assumption on my part. As for WHEN it happened, I don't think he explicitly said. The impression I got was that it was somewhat recent (like, the last couple years), but that's just inferred by me.

Essentially, it makes sense to me, because these days, Technic bricks are more commonly used in System sets than in Technic sets-- whereas in (say) 1997 and before, Technic bricks were the "core foundation" of most Technic models, and were used more sparingly in System sets.

Also, I don't really know what "re-classifying" means in the context of the LEGO company. Does it mean that it will appear in a different area of LDD? A different category in BrickFinder? Will the item get a new descriptive name? I don't know enough about how an element's "classification" at LEGO changes anything. Certainly they aren't about to stop USING them, or start changing how they're used (they already did that in the late 1990's).

So, take it to mean what you will.

DaveE

Edited May 1, 201212 yr by davee123

  On 5/1/2012 at 3:24 PM, davee123 said:

I got the impression that it was more recently than 6 years ago, but he didn't say when. Plus, I expect that even though they're "re-classified", that doesn't really mean that everyone's going to stop calling them "Technic Bricks". That's what they've probably been called for the last 30+ years, so the name's likely going to stick.

As for the re-classification, that came about in a discussion regarding Technic sets that I had with him in January of 2012. He sort of went off on a tangent (which I think many AFOLs must ask him about) regarding studless Technic builds, and why studded Technic beams aren't used as frequently in Technic sets these days, compared to smooth Technic beams. He said that the old Technic bricks drove the designers crazy, because the alignment of the holes isn't QUITE correct (at least not by their current standards), and isn't as nice as the smooth beams, which are "cubic" rather than rectangular in their dimensions. Hence, Technic designers can accomplish more with the smooth beams, and get less of a hassle from QA for being "In System".

Anyway, during the course of that conversation, Jamie informed me that the Technic bricks were actually re-classified as "System" rather than "Technic". Actually, I shouldn't say that. He simply said that they were re-classified as "System". He didn't say that they were classified as "Technic" beforehand, that's just an assumption on my part. As for WHEN it happened, I don't think he explicitly said. The impression I got was that it was somewhat recent (like, the last couple years), but that's just inferred by me.

Essentially, it makes sense to me, because these days, Technic bricks are more commonly used in System sets than in Technic sets-- whereas in (say) 1997 and before, Technic bricks were the "core foundation" of most Technic models, and were used more sparingly in System sets.

Also, I don't really know what "re-classifying" means in the context of the LEGO company. Does it mean that it will appear in a different area of LDD? A different category in BrickFinder? Will the item get a new descriptive name? I don't know enough about how an element's "classification" at LEGO changes anything. Certainly they aren't about to stop USING them, or start changing how they're used (they already did that in the late 1990's).

So, take it to mean what you will.

DaveE

Okay, thanks for your explanation and the context.