Possible to rigidly stack 2x2 bricks with 45 degree offset?

[fred67]

I have an idea in mind, but it requires me to stack 3 2x2 bricks, with the center one at a 45 degree offset.  They do not need to be snapped together (obviously!), but need to be relatively close (2 plate offset, max), and need to be able to rigidly spin on axis.

I may be able to use round 2x2 - they conveniently have axle holes, but I don't see one with an offset.  Anything - putting some sort of plate or gear in between would work.

Any suggestions?  I'm looking through my gears and parts and can't really come up with anything.  Again, they would need to spin rigidly on axis, so I don't want to rely on simple friction.

[deraven]

Can you give a little more detail (or a photo) of what you're trying to do?  Regular 2x2 square bricks, 3 of them with the one in the middle offset by 45º with not more than 2 plate offset between them, that seems easy enough.  But what do you mean by "spin rigidly on axis"?  The one in the center needs to spin, or the group of 3 of them needs to spin, but you're concerned about the strength of the offset connection because that center brick may get bumped off of 45º so something as simple as a 1x1 round plate between them just with the friction of the clutch power may not be OK?  (I'm envisioning it being used as a cutting/grinding head spinning horizontally or something.)  Is that right?

How/what are you planning on connecting to the ends of bricks #1 and 3?

[fred67]

Something like this.  This has two 2L axles in the middle - stuck into the 2x2 bricks, though, it's not rigid - it could slip when spinning.

Something that took less space would be ideal.... what would be perfect is if there were plain 2x2 bricks with axle holes - one type "+" and another "X" to make it as compact as possible.  All the bricks with axle holes I can find have something else attached that make it not work.  I think maybe two full bushings in the middle might take less space.

The goal here is to make a sort of simple corkscrew... if each brick side were labeled with 1 to 4, all in the same direction, then imagine the brick on the left has 1 pointing towards you and 4 on top, the middle brick has 1 pointing over your head and 2 pointing at your keyboard (assuming you're sitting at a desk), the third has 1 pointing up and 2 pointing towards you.

I'm a couple of weeks away from needing something like this for the idea I'm working on... I might kragle the axle into the bricks.  It would "ruin" a total of only four pieces.  If I thought I could do a good job of it, I might just kragle three 2x2 bricks together, if that's what it takes - it's just an experiment.

[JACKATTACKS]

Hmm, don't suppose this could work https://brickset.com/parts/6115080/plate-round-w-1-knob   as it probably doesn't provide enough strength.

[MAB]

Do they have to be square bricks? You could use round bricks and put the numbers in the right place to make it look like it is twisted.

[fred67]

6 hours ago, JACKATTACKS said:

Hmm, don't suppose this could work https://brickset.com/parts/6115080/plate-round-w-1-knob   as it probably doesn't provide enough strength.

Not on it's own - but it's a great idea if I have to kragle, it reduces spacing to only one plate thickness, so I will definitely keep it in mind.

6 hours ago, MAB said:

Do they have to be square bricks? You could use round bricks and put the numbers in the right place to make it look like it is twisted.

Yes, unfortunately, it really needs to be the square bricks.  The numbering was just so you can get an idea of the corkscrew effect I'm going for.  This is for a functional build, not cosmetic.

I don't really want to say too much about it, because it may completely fail, but if it works it will be really cool.

Thanks for the help.

[rodiziorobs]

I don't have bricks in front of me to try this, but I think it help you find a non-kragle solution, or at least point you in a new direction.

Use one each of these  , stacked so their SNOT studs face in opposite directions. Put a 2x2 plate on each side, topped with two of these, back to back . On a separate 2x2 plate, put two of these (without the lever) on opposite corners with the slot pointed towards the center of the plate. Build two of these (one for each end), and fit them onto the first assembly--the slots for over the center wall of the panels (the one that bisects the Friends foot plate)

The disadvantage here is that the center section here is quite wide, more so than you would like. I think it could be narrower if you were to switch things around and put the lever bases in the center and the foot plates on the outside, but I'm not sure.

Another more destructive way would be to take a Technic bushing (the 1M kind that have grooves/notches at the base to fit in the middle of the studs on a brick) and take a drill to the other end to make offset grooves/notches. It would take some trial and error, but be simpler, for sure.

[Johnny1360]

1 hour ago, rodiziorobs said:

 

Another more destructive way would be to take a Technic bushing (the 1M kind that have grooves/notches at the base to fit in the middle of the studs on a brick) 

Ah-Ha, thank you for that, now I finally know why they have those notches, always wondered. Sorry for off topic post. 

[fred67]

3 hours ago, rodiziorobs said:

...

I see what you're going for, but I really don't want it to be any bigger than what's shown in the picture.  Smaller is better.  I know it's a weird request.

 

1 hour ago, Johnny1360 said:

Ah-Ha, thank you for that, now I finally know why they have those notches, always wondered. Sorry for off topic post. 

Yes!  I saw that a long time ago, but for quite some time I was wondering how I could motorize a car when the wheels had circular openings for the wheels to spin freely.  Then I saw someone post a picture of a build and was like "OH!!!!!!"

Surprising what you learn over time by seeing what others are doing.

[rodiziorobs]

18 hours ago, fred67 said:

I see what you're going for, but I really don't want it to be any bigger than what's shown in the picture.  Smaller is better.  I know it's a weird request.

Dah, I was going to build this last night when I got home as a proof of concept, or try out some other things, but forgot. I'll try and remember tonight.

I get that you need it smaller, I just am not sure how to do it.

[fred67]

Well, I think I figured a way I can do what I want using the round bricks (as @MAB suggested, but it requires changing a few other aspects of what I'm doing).  I also think I'll try @JACKATTACKS idea of using the 2x2 round with an open stud.

In the interests of making EB more interesting (as I participated in that discussion, and agreed MOCs were great, but WIP posts could be a lot more interesting, stir up a lot more brainstorming, and generally motivate people to try things), I'll tell you exactly what I'm trying to accomplish instead of being secretive about it; I laid it all out in this thread on the train forum.

[rodiziorobs]

Ah okay, I read that thread and now it all makes sense. I assumed you needed the outer dimensions of the brick to fit, not the interior space, so none of the solutions I was coming up with would have been helpful!

Good luck, I hope you can get your project to work.