axle 5.5 different lengths

[legolijntje]

I came across this, with my 5.5 axles, does sombody now why there are different lengts?:

http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/MERLego/technic/misc/axle_1.jpg

Edited March 20, 2011 by Siegfried
Please! Don't post images that big!

[DLuders]

Hmmm, neither Bricklink , Peeron, nor LDraw make no mention of a slightly-longer variant of the 32209 "Technic, Axle 5.5 With Stop" part.

[Zerobricks]

I noticed that too. Dont know whats the reason, maybe there was a problem with axle being originally too short.

[Sam42]

this is something i've noticed too...

[Brickdoctor]

Usually don't post here but I was looking at this and I wonder, could this be the reason for the 5.5 axle error in LDD?

[Didumos69]

The older / shorter ones can be recognized by sharper axle-ends. As far as I know, all black ones are old ones.

New:

Old:

[Omikron]

Yo it's fossilized 7 years ago, stop digging mr. Jones

[Erik Leppen]

Yes, the old ones are actually 5.4. In fact,

• the old one is 0.9 axle + 0.1 ring + 0.4 cylinder + 4.0 axle, total 5.4
• the new one is 0.9 axle + 0.1 ring + 0.4 cylinder + 4.1 axle, total 5.5

The 0.1 difference is equal to the ridges in all pinholes. I think the difference has to do with the fact that if the short end (0.9 long), is inserted into an axlehole (such as an axle joiner), 0.1 length of the axlehole remains unused and it's actually not in system. If you do that with the new one, it's 0.1 too long. But if the old one is inserted into a pinhole (such as a 3L differential), then there is no 0.1 shortage, but it's still 5.4 so the long end is now too short. This might be why the new ones are longer.

Edit: by the way, there are also dark-gray old ones (I mean current dark-gray, not old dark-gray).

Edited May 17, 2018 by Erik Leppen

[Didumos69]

Thanks @Erik Leppen for the exact sizes . This subscribes my observations. Funny thing is that in LDD the 5.5L axle matches the old one and in Stud.io - and probably LDraw - the 5.5L axle matches the new one. So my idea to obtain 11L by inserting the ring-side of two 5.5L axles into 2L of axle holes, turned out a disappointment...

Edited May 17, 2018 by Didumos69

[Permo]

I just tried to build that with my dark grey 5.5L axles, and indeed, it does not fit, axles are slightly too wide...

 

Good to know.

[1gor]

1 hour ago, Erik Leppen said:

Yes, the old ones are actually 5.4. In fact,

• the old one is 0.9 axle + 0.1 ring + 0.4 cylinder + 4.0 axle, total 5.4
• the new one is 0.9 axle + 0.1 ring + 0.4 cylinder + 4.1 axle, total 5.5

The 0.1 difference is equal to the ridges in all pinholes. I think the difference has to do with the fact that if the short end (0.9 long), is inserted into an axlehole (such as an axle joiner), 0.1 length of the axlehole remains unused and it's actually not in system. If you do that with the new one, it's 0.1 too long. But if the old one is inserted into a pinhole (such as a 3L differential), then there is no 0.1 shortage, but it's still 5.4 so the long end is now too short. This might be why the new ones are longer.

Edit: by the way, there are also dark-gray old ones (I mean current dark-gray, not old dark-gray).

thanks indeed,  I have noticed difference between white, and black on one side and on dark bluish gray on other side when trying to make axles for my fastrac using 4 black axles 

[Erik Leppen]

55 minutes ago, Didumos69 said:

in Stud.io - and probably LDraw - the 5.5L axle matches the new one

LDraw has both.

• 32209.dat is the old type, called Technic Axle  5.5 with Stop
• 59426.dat is the new type, called Technic Axle  5.5 with Stop Type 2

[Void_S]

1 hour ago, Erik Leppen said:

the old one is 0.9 axle + 0.1 ring + 0.4 cylinder + 4.0 axle, total 5.4

Great observation. It's the same story like "axle with stop / stud end": they have 3, 5, and 8 lengths when inserted in a pinhole, but 2.9, 4.9 and 7.9 in case of an axle hole. And as for them, I don't like be getting +0.1 axles.

[doug72]

I have had trouble with 5.5 axles being slightly too long during my last MOC when adding drives up the boom, between supports causing binding. “A file works” !

[1gor]

5 minutes ago, Doug72 said:

I have had trouble with 5.5 axles being slightly too long during my last MOC when adding drives up the boom, between supports causing binding. “A file works” !

that means that you have to use older axles 

[doug72]

1 hour ago, I_Igor said:

that means that you have to use older axles 

Haven't got any.
The example with yellow axle joiner is about 1mm longer overall than the oe with red axle joiner which matches the 11L axle.

Edited May 17, 2018 by Doug72
Corrected

[1gor]

@Doug72 sometimes old axles are sliding through wheels or gears, so perhaps this should not always be handicap 

[Didumos69]

19 minutes ago, Doug72 said:

The example with yellow axle joiner is about 1m longer overall than the oe with red axle joiner which matches the 11L axle.

1m longer? Are you wearing your 5x7-frame glasses? I suppose you mean 1mm. According to @Erik Leppen's measurements it should be twice the size of a ring (= 0.2 of a stud) longer, that should be 1.6mm.

Edited May 17, 2018 by Didumos69

[jorgeopesi]

I am too much purist and when I need rare length axles I use different combinations with those axles.

[Permo]

Indeed, mounting the 5.5L axles the other way around does give a perfect fit...

 

Good to know.