Shapeways Custom Lego Parts

[Jim]

Check out this part I just found: http://www.shapeways...ts&materialId=6 . Seems like an interesting idea. The issue I have with a lot of these parts is that it is really easy to make the files but so many are untested and remain so until some unsuspecting person buys them and finds they are not up to specifications (as Sanjy found in trying to match Lego's tolerances).

Looks interesting, for big pneumatic creations. Creating a model is not that hard, but getting it 100% right is almost impossible I guess. Also due to the materials used.

What about the gearbox pieces people are always talking about?

You mean the planetary gearbox parts?

Burf2000 already mentioned these:

Lego Double Connector, Lego-compatible 40-teeth ring,The Original Bitbeam

I will order some of the parts and let you guys know.

[Surly]

No I meant the floating gears that accept the dog gears. Like the parted off differential gears to make a more realistic gearbox.

Cheers

Surly

[Jim]

No I meant the floating gears that accept the dog gears. Like the parted off differential gears to make a more realistic gearbox.

Would you mind posting a link?

[Surly]

This picture was posted by Nicjasno and shows the part I am talking about as the second gear on the left:

Cheers,

Surly

Edited September 15, 2013 by Surly

[jantjeuh]

Those are very easy to make yourself :) Just made two yesterday.

[Jim]

Those are very easy to make yourself :) Just made two yesterday.

I've seen this picture indeed. How do you make them?

[allanp]

I think he means these:

The files are in SLT format and the profile of the teeth match those of Lego gears pretty closely but i'll need to check the dimentions. Some of them are off and I should also make the center hole slightly undersize so you can drill them to 4.8mm exactly. I also need to model a 10 tooth and a 14 tooth standard gear.

[SNIPE]

hi,

you can make a 24 tooth idler gear by removing the metal spring plates inside a white lego 24 tooth clutch gear.

I like the bitbar as its dimentions allows holes to be connected with technic and system but it would be a whole lot better if the dimensions were 7.8mm x 7.8mm as but then old technic beams and lego system would need to be the same too which it inst.

So exactually the same as a stud less beam but with holes in the top and bottom faces.

[jantjeuh]

I've seen this picture indeed. How do you make them?

24 tooth clutch gears? Simply take an old style differential (http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=6573), cut off the excess part from the 24 tooth gear, use coarse sanding paper to remove the two 'stumps', then use very fine sanding paper to make the surface as smooth as possible.

Like this: http://imgur.com/a/i5IG2#0

[DrJB]

This 'shapeways' is giving some non-lego ideas ...

1. make a smaller replica of your house

2. capture 'sculptures' of your kids .... over the years

Question is: need a 3D scanner that then outputs files compatible with 3D printing. Anyone knows if this exists? I had scans of my kids done in 'acrylic' years back ... It looks like a glass cube with tiny bubbles inside, that 'mimic' the scanned surfaces.

I've seen this picture indeed. How do you make them?

Perhaps link below has answers to many questions in this thred ...

http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=86328

Edited September 15, 2013 by DrJB

[TasV]

DrJB... check out this YouTube video utilising 3D scanners that integrate with 3D printers:

I really don't understand how gearboxes work but I imagine it would be possible to print these. My concern would be how strong the material is and how well the gear teeth would wear. I am trying to get my head around this video to understand how a gearbox works:

(trying to work out how to embed YouTube vids here)

One thing is for certain... when you start down this 3D design path you want to have a computer with enough grunt to run it. I thought my new laptop had the goods but I'm currently making a 14 and 16 hole liftarm and because I have bumped the resolution of the model right up it took a good 15 minutes just to explode (combine... ironically), all the different parts! The 14-hole liftarm has in excess of 75,000 different faces.

Edited September 15, 2013 by TasV

[Paul Boratko]

I'll be the first to come right out and say it... While I find these custom made parts an interesting concept, I do not take them or any models that use them in their build as Legitimate Lego MOC projects... When things like this are introduced, the models that use them have turned into just that, models...

[TasV]

Well... the way I look at it is that this is just another aspect of what makes Lego appealing to me. You see posts on here all the time from people saying they wished TLG would make such-and-such a part because they can see a need for it. I wanted to see longer linear actuators until I recently worked out a way to use the existing LA as a distance multiplier and now I no longer want to see longer LA... that's another aspect of what makes Lego appealing to me; working out how to make something work. TLG is never going to make them unless they have a need for it and can use it in a set etc... and this is as it should be. It makes sound business sense because it is expensive tooling up for production. The onus then falls back on the individual, who can see a personal need for it, to do it themselves and this, too, is how it should be.

One is never going to reach the same level of engineering excellence that TLG has but that is ok because the learning that must take place in order to produce the part and improve on it in the future is an invaluable thing and if other people want to use the pieces that I make then... that's great too. The fact that the unit price is also quite high for custom parts also guarantees they won't be widely used.

It is common to hear people say on here that they are purists etc... but I see this as totally incorrect because they are very different concepts. If I'm making a Lego MOC then I will use Lego pieces... by definition if it uses other parts it's not a Lego MOC... it's a MOC. If I want to make a robot that follows a line then who cares what pieces I use to make that happen. Even the rules of RoboCup don't stipulate that the robot must be made from Lego and they even encourage the students to show innovation to construct their own robot parts. In Tasmania, this is supported by the School of Engineering at The University of Tasmania and is a highly sought after accolade which helps students secure pathways into engineering and computing. So... it depends on your motivation and intent. I just hope that people can see this and don't start a 'it's not Lego' bashing...

Edited September 16, 2013 by TasV

[Paul Boratko]

I guess my biggest gripe is the fact that most people(Lego builders) don't consider TECHNIC to even be Lego to begin with and then when you start introducing Frankenstein createded parts whether thay are either chopped up and glued real Lego parts, or custom made non Lego parts like these, they are not taken seriously... I am a guy who is trying to push real Technic into mainstream(and I have been doing my best for many years) and this kind of stuff is what newcomers to the advanced style turn their nose up at...

I just hope that people can see this and don't start a 'it's not Lego' bashing...

I am not going to start any bashing, but it isn't Lego..

If I go to a Lego show and I recognize models with homemade parts, I am not even going to acknowledge that they are there... Do you know how many times that I would have loved to have made my own part(s) to make my designs easier, but I worked with official parts instead..? I am working on a piece right now for a Museum and I could really use some custom parts that would help me out tremendously, but that would be defeating the point...

Edited September 16, 2013 by Paul Boratko

[TasV]

I guess I'm not trying to make things easier, either. Believe me, the effort needed to design them is by no means easy. It is, instead, a nice way to feed another interest I have that is able to blend nicely with my interest in Lego and my passion for science. I'm not in any way suggesting people should make official MOCs for exhibition purposes at official Lego events. There is a process (Cuusoo) for this to happen that needs to be respected.

I think it's strange that people don't consider Technics as Lego. My first kit as a kid was the old 853-1 from the Expert Builders range. I still have all the parts from it 35 odd years later and now my own sons play with them by mixing them with modern studless and Bionicle parts. The only Lego I ever knew as a kid was Technics and now my eldest Son wants to go on the become a robotics engineer and work for Lego. I am actively teaching him about 3D design and the physics of Lego and maybe one day he will be helping to shape the look and feel of official Lego. I digress...

I think there is a design process that can be acknowledged here that everyone can benefit from. TLG is not going to go to the expense of making a part unless it is part of a kit. They have a process in place by which people can design parts and MOCs that can be voted on and put into production. If new kits are to be developed then parts also need to evolve and these new parts need to be fully prototyped and tested before anyone should even consider submitting them to Cuusoo, don't you think? Today's Frankenbits are tomorrow's genuine article if that process is followed and respected. Personally, I love your passion for Technics. People like you and Sariel are incredible inspirations to so many, including myself, and I support your cause to mainstream Technics completely (again personally... non-technic Lego bores me (but I love this atm http://lego.cuusoo.com/ideas/view/16897 ) and I don't get minifigs either *shrugs*), but I think things like this actually support your cause, not hinder it, if done properly.

[Paul Boratko]

There is a process (Cuusoo) for this to happen that needs to be respected.

I don't know how familiar that you are with Cuusoo, but I am a little familiar with their processes and I know that proposing Non-Lego elements to Cuusoo is a complete waste of time... Projects that have already reached 10k supports have been rejected due to non Lego elements being used... I honestly do not know why they even accept non existant projects since they will reject them anyways..

Here in the states, Technic is by far the most unaccepted style of Lego building with AFOL (mostly TFOL) and Casual fans of Lego... It is sickening..

[TasV]

I don't know how familiar that you are with Cuusoo

Only what I see and hear as a casual observer. That's a shame. Still... you have to try I think... might get onto a project with my eldest Son to have a crack myself :)

P.S.... I just saw the Make-a-Wish Vampire GT entry on Cuusoo... very noble thing you have done. Kudos.

Edited September 16, 2013 by TasV

[Jim]

The way I see it, there are two types of builders:

• Lego Technic builders
  
• Builders who use Lego Technic...mostly
  

When you are into robotics and you use Mindstorms, the step to using third party components is very small. One can hold on to his/her principles, but using other robotic stuff gives you so much more possibilities. Take the Rotacasters and Compass sensor for example.

Same goes for using a mobile phone to control your robot. Are these robots not considered Technic?

This applies to normal Technic as well. Replicating real world mechanics sometimes calls for using customized parts.

Obviously when entering a Lego Technic contest, only genuine Lego parts should be allowed. But showing a model on an event, using a customized gear to create a better gearbox....would that do any harm?

I definitely hear you Paul, but I don't think it's as black and white as you suggest. But maybe that's because Lego Technic is considered real Lego here in The Netherlands. At least, that's my experience.

[Burf2000]

I agree, if your just using LEGO as a way to build, then why not use 3rd party pieces, I use 3rd party sensors

[Jim]

I have placed an order:

Included in this order are the following products:

• 2x 1x4 Lift Arm in White Strong & Flexible Polished
  
• 1x Lego 24 Tooth Shell Gear in White Strong & Flexible Polished
  
• 1x 1x4 Lift Arm in Alumide
  
• 1x Lego Double Connector in White Strong & Flexible Polished
  
• 1x The Original Bitbeam in White Strong & Flexible Polished
  

Est. Shipping date will be 2nd of October. So now....we wait.

[zux]

But showing a model on an event, using a customized gear to create a better gearbox....would that do any harm?

Well, I believe the main challenge and fun is to utilise all exisiting Lego parts to create what you want. As for me, seeing MOC with, as you say, better gearbox with customized parts is just not fun, there is no interest in challanges it took to create it. This feels me like screwing and glueing parts together in crazy ways, angles and shapes. Such way it becomes not a LEGO at all, just a material you can use to create a model of desired shape/form.

However I find it cool creating custom Go Pro camera holder, which connects to your MOC, so you can make onboard video. But it shouldn't be part of a MOC.

Also I'm not sure about 3rd party tires, this is a cool option, but still undesided.

Robotics is a kind of a different story, there are different challenges so for me it is fine when 3rd party or custom parts used.

[Jim]

Well, I believe the main challenge and fun is to utilise all exisiting Lego parts to create what you want. As for me, seeing MOC with, as you say, better gearbox with customized parts is just not fun, there is no interest in challanges it took to create it. This feels me like screwing and glueing parts together in crazy ways, angles and shapes. Such way it becomes not a LEGO at all, just a material you can use to create a model of desired shape/form.

However I find it cool creating custom Go Pro camera holder, which connects to your MOC, so you can make onboard video. But it shouldn't be part of a MOC.

Also I'm not sure about 3rd party tires, this is a cool option, but still undesided.

Robotics is a kind of a different story, there are different challenges so for me it is fine when 3rd party or custom parts used.

I tend to agree with all of your arguments

[piterx]

it's really a thin line between accepted third party pieces and denied ones...

for example why 3rd party tires are ok and a cut differential isnt?

btw im 99% purist, i prefer using only lego pieces because it's more tricky...but i can surely say that lego is missing some important things for us afols

[Jim]

it's really a thin line between accepted third party pieces and denied ones...

for example why 3rd party tires are ok and a cut differential isnt?

btw im 99% purist, i prefer using only lego pieces because it's more tricky...but i can surely say that lego is missing some important things for us afols

Agreed

That's also exactly what I was thinking about. The HiTechnic sensors are not an issue....because they look like the real deal and you can't replace them with a Lego counterpart. Third party tires are okay because they fit a purpose. But using a 1x4 liftarm isn't, probably because you can solve this in another way.

It's a thin line....let's keep it to that

[Jim]

Your Order #300148 is en route to the 3D printers