Should LEGO Produce a Micro Motor?

[9v system]

Hi all I've always been wondering if Lego will ever make another micro motor even tho the other one was great but had been discontinued

Should lego make another micro motor?

[Zerobricks]

Only if its:

More powerfull than the old one

More reliable

Easier to integrate

[9v system]

Only if its:

More powerfull than the old one

More reliable

Easier to integrate

Ok I see want you mean

[5imon]

I hope the smallest current motor isn't called "M" for no reason. There would be room for "S" or even "XS".

[sm 01]

I hope the smallest current motor isn't called "M" for no reason. There would be room for "S" or even "XS".

That's a good point. It would be nice to see a new pf motor.

[kieran]

A nice small one will be cool

[NXT45]

A nice small one will be cool

Maybe for 2h 2014. That would be so cool!

[paul_delahaye]

It's intresting to think what the finished model would be that they would need to make to justify the development of a S motor,

but I totally would like to see this and as someone mentioned earlier, there has to be a reason why they started making the M and XL motors first.

[Brickend]

A two stud wide motor that powers LAs directly would be my guess.

[Erik Leppen]

I hope the smallest current motor isn't called "M" for no reason.

Marketing, marketing.

XL sounds cooler. Hence M and XL, rather than S and L. (not counting the current L, which came later)

[9v system]

I would like to see the current micro motor in a transparent casing so you can see how it works

[gevans12]

I think there was a lego cuusoo project last year some time in regards to this... Maybe @D3k, Blakbird et al might be kind enough to post the link here for it, I'm not quite sure how to do it; sorry!

[Doc_Brown]

Slightly off topic, but has no one tried to put a modern motor inside the casing of a Lego one?

In the attempt to get more torque and reliability?

[darksheep]

I would love a new micro motor !!!

[weavil]

It's intresting to think what the finished model would be that they would need to make to justify the development of a S motor,

but I totally would like to see this and as someone mentioned earlier, there has to be a reason why they started making the M and XL motors first.

There was a discusion in a topic some and mentioned the "S" motor that was on Cuussoo. But it will not be made for to reasons...

1- As long as the M motor can still be used insted. Meaning the designers make the M motor fit in the model and it doesn't look ugly.

2- They will not see a return on the investment of R&D of a smaller motor. It would likely be used in maybe 3 sets over 4 years.

However, if they did invest in a smaller (or micro) motor, they would need to make a smaller power source for the "new, smaller motor".

This way the "new" motor and power source could be incorperated into more models. Like 2 or 3 medium and small models a year, would help offset the R&D invesment quicker.

[andythenorth]

Seriously, is anyone on this forum going to say no to this question?

[Erik Leppen]

Meaning the designers make the M motor fit in the model and it doesn't look ugly.

And even if it does (look ugly) - I mean we all remember how they motorized 9395...

if they did invest in a smaller (or micro) motor, they would need to make a smaller power source

Good point. You don't really need a tiny motor unless you also have a tiny battery box.

Unless you would be buliding a studless space shuttle, of course :D

Seriously, is anyone on this forum going to say no to this question

No.

Oh wait... :P What question? :P

[kieran]

I dont think a small battery box is an issue, in the Space shuttle the micro motor was used to unfurl the solar panels of the transported satellite. The power for this was a long way form the motor as was the old 9V batter box, what was cool was the overall effect

[Foggy]

I really hope to see sooner or later a smaller motor, with pf attachment. We don't need a new smaller battery box, but a micro motor would have a lot of applications..moving LA's just to mention...♥♥♥

[DrJB]

I wonder whether this is the correct question to ask. Ultimately, the real one is: WILL Lego produce a micro-motor, though no one knows for sure, unless possibly one scans patents, though those are not an absolute certainty.

[weavil]

I dont think a small battery box is an issue, in the Space shuttle the micro motor was used to unfurl the solar panels of the transported satellite. The power for this was a long way form the motor as was the old 9V batter box, what was cool was the overall effect

But if you look at sets with PF (included or added in) they are built in to the model. I'm not going to hold the batt box and remote to play with an rc Lego car.

[9v system]

I hope that lego make one

[N-4K0]

I think a micro motor would be nice to "upgrade" e.g. excavators visually. You would only need cables out to every LA to run the micro motor directly on the LA instead of axles and connectors.

[bonox]

I think a micro motor would be nice to "upgrade" e.g. excavators visually. You would only need cables out to every LA to run the micro motor directly on the LA instead of axles and connectors.

Would it not become hard to synchronise multiple LA's without mechanical linkage?

If one of a pair slips on its clutch, it'll be permantly out of sync with its mate. Would seem to be a much more elegant solution to torque limit (white clutch gears) the source drivetrain of the LA's than trying to get a bunch of individual motored LA's to stay together. Different torques will also give the same problems if, for example, your digger bucket is asymmetrically loaded.

[N-4K0]

Well, I was thinking about single LA's on e.g. excavator arms. 2 or more in the same spot, like lifting of crane booms, would probably be different...