xF4LC0NxPUNCHx Posted October 14, 2013 Posted October 14, 2013 Making this my first post, I apologize in advance if this doesn't fit in here...browsing through other topics, I feel unworthy. I haven't touched my LEGO collection in earnest in 10-15 years, but luckily held on to them "just in case." Anyhow, today I got the itch to tinker, so I decided to try to build a front suspension setup. It has unequal length A-arms, pushrod suspension, and is fully studless. The studless construction is very very new to me, I've only ever built a few "new school" sets and have never really tried it in my "freestyle" building. Most of my bricks are from sets from the 1980's and 1990's. You'll probably recognize some of the suspension bits from one of the old Supercars. I'm reasonably pleased with the outcome, but would enjoy some criticism, preferably the creative kind The setup is a bit flimsy, and the suspension doesn't quite "work." If you compress the springs by hand it works fine, but if you were to compress the suspension from the hubs, as you would were the setup in a vehicle, parts just kind of...flex....and the springs don't compress. On to some photos. My apologies, all I have at hand is my cell phone. WP_20131013_005 by benmisegades, on Flickr WP_20131013_004 by benmisegades, on Flickr WP_20131013_003 by benmisegades, on Flickr WP_20131013_006 by benmisegades, on Flickr Quote
Alasdair Ryan Posted October 14, 2013 Posted October 14, 2013 Welcome to Eurobricks,that is a interesting design. Looking at your design I think a gear driven cam leading onto the shock may of worked better. Quote
weavil Posted October 14, 2013 Posted October 14, 2013 Welcome! Very interesting design. Don't worry too much about picture quality my phone's camera is all I have too. Quote
clarkdef Posted October 14, 2013 Posted October 14, 2013 I remember those parts in between the push rods and the springs being quite weak, they hold up? Also not that it matters but you cannot use large wheels with this setup because the hub has a narror axle that is easy to leverage, though if this is just a sit model it doesn't really matter. Good work! Quote
xF4LC0NxPUNCHx Posted October 14, 2013 Author Posted October 14, 2013 I remember those parts in between the push rods and the springs being quite weak, they hold up? Also not that it matters but you cannot use large wheels with this setup because the hub has a narror axle that is easy to leverage, though if this is just a sit model it doesn't really matter. Good work! You are correct on pretty much all counts! Those small parts are indeed on the weak side (I just noticed one is cracked, as a matter of fact) Originally I was going to attempt to make a simple car, but I got so engrossed and carried away with the front suspension that I just figured it would be a fun little experiment. I'm not sure I've even got large wheels any more, save for a few from the 8856 car. Quote
Rockbrick Posted October 14, 2013 Posted October 14, 2013 nice and compact which is your goal - look at the F1 sets and MOCs to get an idea of using springs in this fashion Quote
clarkdef Posted October 15, 2013 Posted October 15, 2013 You are correct on pretty much all counts! Those small parts are indeed on the weak side (I just noticed one is cracked, as a matter of fact) Originally I was going to attempt to make a simple car, but I got so engrossed and carried away with the front suspension that I just figured it would be a fun little experiment. I'm not sure I've even got large wheels any more, save for a few from the 8856 car. Ah yes thought so, I do remember them breaking often, back then a lot of parts broke and yes I am still very bitter about it Quote
Jim Posted October 15, 2013 Posted October 15, 2013 Hi, welcome to EB! Nice concept for the suspension. If you could manage to make this with stronger parts, it could work very well for some models. Quote
Thirdwigg Posted October 15, 2013 Posted October 15, 2013 Do you plan to use this setup in a full car? With a little strengthening and modification for wheels, this set up might prove beneficial. Quote
Lipko Posted October 15, 2013 Posted October 15, 2013 The new angle connectors are pretty strong, I use two of them in a bit similar suspension, and they haven't fallen with some hours of rebuilding and pushing the suspension like crazy. I think it would be possible to change the old connectors you use. Quote
xF4LC0NxPUNCHx Posted October 16, 2013 Author Posted October 16, 2013 Hi all, thank you for the replies. I may have a try at replacing some of the weaker parts with the fixed angle connectors as I do believe I own a few. I'm just worried about which angles I have. I had to improvise in several areas as I don't really have even close to enough studless beams and parts to be doing studless construction properly. For example, I do not own any straight, full width studless beams at all! Perhaps I will browse craigslist this weekend and look for used sets. Or maybe take my paycheck to the local LEGO store...I'm sure my wife would love me for that! Quote
Jim Posted October 16, 2013 Posted October 16, 2013 You might already know this, but you can use Bricklink to buy separate parts. http://www.bricklink.com/ It's your best source for new parts....and your wife won't even notice Quote
xF4LC0NxPUNCHx Posted October 16, 2013 Author Posted October 16, 2013 You might already know this, but you can use Bricklink to buy separate parts. http://www.bricklink.com/ It's your best source for new parts....and your wife won't even notice ohhhhhhh boy, this won't end well... Quote
Jim Posted October 16, 2013 Posted October 16, 2013 ohhhhhhh boy, this won't end well... I know Sorry Quote
Lego Otaku Posted October 16, 2013 Posted October 16, 2013 ohhhhhhh boy, this won't end well... Free funereal for your wallet right here. Quote
Marcel1980 Posted October 16, 2013 Posted October 16, 2013 It's your best source for new parts....and your wife won't even notice Its true... Quote
xF4LC0NxPUNCHx Posted October 17, 2013 Author Posted October 17, 2013 Well, a little bummed out here....I came across that LDD CAD program and immediately downloaded it as I'm a 3D CAD designer. So far seems like a pretty good bit of software, but it's missing pieces! It seems that the parts that I'm using as control arms aren't in there, the hubs don't seem to be either. I also can only seem to find one generation of the 1/2 bush, namely the ones that are flat on both sides. In my LEGO box I have three generations...the double flat sided, the single serrated sided with the half-moon shaped cut throughs, and the single serrated sided ones with a cross shaped cut through. Guess I won't be able to post a CAD file for people to scrutinize. On the flip side, holy CRAP there are a lot of parts available these days! It's almost like cheating, they have so many different parts now! Quote
xF4LC0NxPUNCHx Posted October 17, 2013 Author Posted October 17, 2013 (edited) Alright, well, whatever. I've taken it about as far as I can go. I ran across more parts that don't seem to be in the LDD library. Additionally, the "connection" functionality of LDD has its limits as I managed to freak the software out when trying to affix the other end of the springs to my control horns Going to attempt attaching the .LXF, just for fun SUSPENSION_01.lxf Edited October 17, 2013 by xF4LC0NxPUNCHx Quote
weavil Posted October 17, 2013 Posted October 17, 2013 (edited) Yeah it has personal issues with the align tool. You could try ldraw/ mlcad, leocad, or sr3dbuilder. Those have the older parts. Look in the LEGO Digital Designer and other digital tools topic for pretty much all the info, tips, and tricks. Edited October 17, 2013 by weavil Quote
Jim Posted October 17, 2013 Posted October 17, 2013 I am pretty sure that most (modern) parts are in LDD. Are you sure you are using the extended part set when creating a new model? What do you mean by control arms and hubs? Do you have pictures of these parts? Or you are building with very old parts. Guess you need to start Bricklinking Quote
Lipko Posted October 17, 2013 Posted October 17, 2013 (edited) No, LDD misses some very obvious parts. Like the 42000 or 8880 tyres, 8070 (and some other models') suspension hubs, all flex axles (that are bendable), just to name a few, plus the old parts mentioned by the OP. The align tool, that so many people flame, is actually very useful and quite smart, if you use it properly (never use it on complex models, especially Technic, because in its calculations the, the align tool involves all the rotating parts (pins for example) in a continuous assembly). See the digital tools subforum for some hints. Edited October 17, 2013 by Lipko Quote
Junpei Posted October 17, 2013 Posted October 17, 2013 He means the blue steering arms and white wheel hubs. This is why I don't use LDD, half of the parts I build with are missing (and partially because I'm lazy ). Quote
Jim Posted October 17, 2013 Posted October 17, 2013 No, LDD misses some very obvious parts. Like the 42000 or 8880 tyres, 8070 (and some other models') suspension hubs, all flex axles (that are bendable), just to name a few, plus the old parts mentioned by the OP. Okay, that's clear. I am only using some of the parts I guess Quote
xF4LC0NxPUNCHx Posted October 17, 2013 Author Posted October 17, 2013 He means the blue steering arms and white wheel hubs. This is why I don't use LDD, half of the parts I build with are missing (and partially because I'm lazy ). Yes, those exactly! Oddly enough, I also can't seem to find any of the half-tall studded beams with holes in either end that were always used for steering setups in the past. It is true that I am using old parts, because that is what's available in my particular collection (For now, at least. I just got paid. ) Quote
Junpei Posted October 17, 2013 Posted October 17, 2013 I know, LDD has only relatively new parts. You're talking about the plates with the teeth on the ends, right? Wait... doesn't LDD have Blacktron parts? Maybe it's just missing a lot of Technic. Quote
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