How do I start making LEGO machines in 2024?

[TheMaydayMan]

I don’t have any motors, gears, tracks etc. and not much technic. I’m also confused about Mindstorms, Spark, Technic Hub and all that stuff. Can someone explain what to get to get started and what the deal is with the different electronic things?

[Paul B Technic]

What do you actually want to build? That will help us provide some advice on what the best thing is that you want to get so that you can get what you want.

[Aurorasaurus]

If you want to build cars, I think the 42160 Audi is a good parts pack as it has good wheel hubs and differentials.

As for the different electronics, C+/Powered Up motors all have built in rotation sensors and as such can be used as servos, or as regular motors, which is quite powerful. But C+ has some disadvantages, you cannot stack the motors plugs so you are limited in the amount of motors you can use.

Power functions has the advantage of smaller motors and stackable plugs, but because its discontinued now PF motors are more expensive. Also, the PF servo is rare and the clone PF servos don't have proportional control.

Mindstorms is a different beast, which I haven't experimented with.

The official Lego options for controlling and powering your models are not very good. You can use the brickcontroller 2 app for a better way to control your models, and Buwizz is a premium option for getting more power in a smaller footprint.

As for buying parts, bricklink is a good place to go for real lego parts, but if you're on a tight budget clone parts have got remarkably good recently.

[TheMaydayMan]

I want to build the kinds of things in Brick Machines videos (of course much less ambitious level atm) with all the moving parts and such, such as like mindstorms, but also mindstorms is discontinued so I’m unsure what I need to get

[TheMaydayMan]

I made a new post where I ask the question I actually meant to ask, I’m not sure how to close a thread so sorry about the junk post