Tracks and sprockets

[sjant.dk]

Hi all,

I'm pretty new to the forum, but I've already built quite a few official sets from the Star Wars theme during the last month or so. Most of them have already been indexed in the official sets post, so I don't think I'll bother uploading my duplicates.

Anyway, I'm currently trying to build the 10144 Sandcrawler set, and the tracks and sprockets have turned out to be a real hassle - I've spent around 5-6 hours trying to fit the tracks to the undercarriage, and I've just about given up on the project.

I've read Aanchir's post on treads and sprockets and downloaded the sprocket wheel template, but unfortunately the 10144 uses another type of tracks (#3873) and another sprocketwheel (#4019).

I'm beginning to think it can't be done, but if anyone can offer some help and advice in this respect, I'd really appreciate it.

I've included an .lxf-file of the 34 tracks and the undercarriage along with 2 circular tracks.

http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/sjantdk/Templates/tracks_and_sprockets.lxf

Edited December 11, 2011 by sjant.dk

[Aanchir]

Hi all,

I'm pretty new to the forum, but I've already built quite a few official sets from the Star Wars theme during the last month or so. Most of them have already been indexed in the official sets post, so I don't think I'll bother uploading my duplicates.

Anyway, I'm currently trying to build the 10144 Sandcrawler set, and the tracks and sprockets have turned out to be a real hassle - I've spent around 5-6 hours trying to fit the tracks to the undercarriage, and I've just about given up on the project.

I've read Aanchir's post on treads and sprockets and downloaded the sprocket wheel template, but unfortunately the 10144 uses another type of tracks (#3873) and another sprocketwheel (#4019).

I'm beginning to think it can't be done, but if anyone can offer some help and advice in this respect, I'd really appreciate it.

I've included an .lxf-file of the 34 tracks and the undercarriage along with 2 circular tracks.

http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/sjantdk/Templates/tracks_and_sprockets.lxf

Generally the solution to this type of thing is to "float" the gears into place on top of one of the individual tread links, and then rotate the rest around the gear accordingly (which isn't difficult now that there are numerical inputs). However, there is no one right way to float things into place.

Generally the easiest way to float things into place is to use Technic bushings and axles to raise up certain parts of a model by a regular interval, placing a Technic axle vertically and putting a bushing along its length, then selecting the bushing and the part you want to lift and positioning them so the bushing is higher on the axle. This can also be done for minute horizontal movements. In this case, though, this is not quite precise enough, and I had to do some fidgeting with more obscure parts like the Technic arrow in order to shift it by half of this standard interval.

In this case it's also important to rotate the bottom gears by 11.25 degrees each so that they line up with the "teeth" of the treads.

I am almost finished positioning your treads and I will post the finished LXF here when done.

[DLuders]

On this Eurobricks post, Superkalle said that the 3873 3711 "Technic, Link Tread Chain" pieces would be added to the LDD Parts Pallette on January 17, 2012 (when the DesignByMe mode gets removed). The 4019 "Technic, Gear 16 Tooth (Old Style with Round Holes)" is already in the LDD Parts Pallette.

Edited December 11, 2011 by DLuders

[Aanchir]

On this Eurobricks post, Superkalle said that the 3873 "Technic, Link Tread" pieces would be added to the LDD Parts Pallette on January 17, 2012 (when the DesignByMe mode gets removed). The 4019 "Technic, Gear 16 Tooth (Old Style with Round Holes)" is already in the LDD Parts Pallette.

Actually both of those parts are already on LDD and are in fact in the LXF file the OP linked to. The treads Superkalle is referring to in that post are an entirely different piece, 3711, which were in a previous version of LDD but were removed.

[DLuders]

I stand corrected!

[sjant.dk]

Generally the solution to this type of thing is to "float" the gears into place on top of one of the individual tread links, and then rotate the rest around the gear accordingly (which isn't difficult now that there are numerical inputs). However, there is no one right way to float things into place.

Generally the easiest way to float things into place is to use Technic bushings and axles to raise up certain parts of a model by a regular interval, placing a Technic axle vertically and putting a bushing along its length, then selecting the bushing and the part you want to lift and positioning them so the bushing is higher on the axle. This can also be done for minute horizontal movements. In this case, though, this is not quite precise enough, and I had to do some fidgeting with more obscure parts like the Technic arrow in order to shift it by half of this standard interval.

In this case it's also important to rotate the bottom gears by 11.25 degrees each so that they line up with the "teeth" of the treads.

I am almost finished positioning your treads and I will post the finished LXF here when done.

That was some good advice - I had already tried "scaffolding" the gear into place, and I'd turned the gears 11.00 degrees... but I guess it's all about precision work. I finally nailed it and got the track "fitted" to the undercarriage. It's not entirely symmetrical, but it fits.

Thanks again for the advice!

http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/sjantdk/Templates/tracks_and_sprockets_v2.lxf

[Aanchir]

That was some good advice - I had already tried "scaffolding" the gear into place, and I'd turned the gears 11.00 degrees... but I guess it's all about precision work. I finally nailed it and got the track "fitted" to the undercarriage. It's not entirely symmetrical, but it fits.

Thanks again for the advice!

http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/sjantdk/Templates/tracks_and_sprockets_v2.lxf

Great that you got it to work on your own. I can't say I had the same luck-- even following my own advice, I was having a dickens of a time getting the two ends of the tread to meet!

Good luck finishing the Sandcrawler!