Brick Dimension Question

[ZebraFinch001]

Hi,

Please excuse my ignorance, but I am wondering about part number 14716 1 x 1 x 3.

I understand the 1 x 1 part but where does the x 3 come from? I'm thinking '3 bricks in height' but which type of brick height?

Just trying to educate myself on correct terminology when describing bricks to other people.

Many thanks. 

 

[ColletArrow]

Yep, dimensions of LEGO parts are usually given in "studs x studs x bricks", where a brick is the height of, say, a regular 2x4 brick, 3001. If the height is given as "1/3" or "2/3" etc that means it is one or two "plates" high, as in 3020, as 3 plates stacked make a brick (as I'm sure you are aware). A plate without any studs, such as 3068, is called a tile.

There are many other types of categorisation, far to many to go into here. There are frequently multiple names given to the same element, to make things even more confusing for beginners! I usually go by the names in the BrickLink catalogue, but that's personal preference. When I was younger, me and my brother made up our own names for parts, like "thick", "flat" and "smooth" to distinguish bricks, plates and tiles. As long as you know what you mean and can explain it roughly, most of the time it doesn't matter.

Incidentally, a "brick" is slightly taller than a "stud". However, a useful bit of LEGO geometry is that 2 studs = 1 and 2/3 bricks. Very useful when building sideways etc. In fact, most of the geometries of LEGO bricks are incredibly carefully designed, no matter how odd and arbitrary they might look!

[ZebraFinch001]

Just now, ColletArrow said:

Yep, dimensions of LEGO parts are usually given in "studs x studs x bricks", where a brick is the height of, say, a regular 2x4 brick, 3001. If the height is given as "1/3" or "2/3" etc that means it is one or two "plates" high, as in 3020, as 3 plates stacked make a brick (as I'm sure you are aware). A plate without any studs, such as 3068, is called a tile.

There are many other types of categorisation, far to many to go into here. There are frequently multiple names given to the same element, to make things even more confusing for beginners! I usually go by the names in the BrickLink catalogue, but that's personal preference. When I was younger, me and my brother made up our own names for parts, like "thick", "flat" and "smooth" to distinguish bricks, plates and tiles. As long as you know what you mean and can explain it roughly, most of the time it doesn't matter.

Incidentally, a "brick" is slightly taller than a "stud". However, a useful bit of LEGO geometry is that 2 studs = 1 and 2/3 bricks. Very useful when building sideways etc. In fact, most of the geometries of LEGO bricks are incredibly carefully designed, no matter how odd and arbitrary they might look!

Many thanks for your detailed reply. This has helped me get a proper grip. Stopping me getting that 'gunfighter has just walked into the saloon' silence when asking other builders if they have a 'flattish 2 x 3 thingy'.  Hopefully, I can now be allowed back from the wilderness.  Much appreciated.

[ColletArrow]

 Not a problem. It took me a while to get the hang of things, but seeing as I had already made up names for things all I had to do was swap them for the proper ones.