'legal' construction, Stud in Technic axlehole?

[xenologer]

I notice on recent new sets, that official instructions are more often telling us to connect brick studs into technic axleholes. In all past official sets, this construction technique has been very rare; almost like it was an unwritten rule.

In fact once I saw a website (a long time ago, lost it) that said that the technic axlehole is actually slightly smaller than a stud, so while you can make them fit, over time it causes plastic warping.

I've actually had technic bricks where the holes did get wider over time and if you try putting a studded brick back into the same hole it is all loose since it warped, so for all my MOCs I try to avoid doing it now.

But like I said... lots of new sets are doing it. Does anyone else know much about the issue?

[snefroe]

hm... i had to read this twice before i understood what you're asking... *wacko*

but i see your point now...

i think they used this technique very often in the train sets when they put a round transparant plate into an axlehole of a 2x1 technic brick. (http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItemPic.asp?S=7727-1)

i'm not sure if the actual technic hole has changed tho. it's clearly ribbed these days to allow a better connection... there obviously has got to be some friction to make sure the plate stays where it's supposed to be but the plastic is flexible enough to take care of that...

[xwingyoda]

I shall move this topic to the main Lego forum ;-)

*yoda*