DLuders

Rottermannen / tv2mustdie posted this of his fully-functional Lego Technic Crawler Crane which can lift 4 kg (8.8 lbs.) at 50 studs distance -- "4 kg (7 x 3.5" Hard disks) at 50 studs radius. Slewing and crawlers working. 5.2 kg ballast + 1.8 kg central ballast." It can lift 7 kg (15.4 lbs.) at a closer distance. His Flickr photoset has 13 pictures with descriptions of how his various load tests developed over time. He description of his MOC: "LEGO Technic Lattice Boom Crawler Crane Lattice boom crawler crane with 9 kg lift capacity made from LEGO Technic. max. lifting capacity 9 kg at 200 mm (25 studs) max. load moment 18 Nm Main boom 432 to 1152 mm (54 to 144 studs) Lattice jib 420 to 1120 mm (60 to 140 studs) Crane weight (base + superstructure) 2.7 kg Central ballast 1.8 kg Superstructure ballast 6.2 kg The superstructure is mounted to the base through a turntable powered by 1 small power functions electric motor enabling slewing under full load. The superstructure is equipped with 4 winches and 6.2 kg of counterweight. The base is equipped with 1.8 kg of ballast and crawlers powered by 2 small power functions electric motors enabling the crane to move with full load. The lattice boom consists of 2 to 5 sections (54 to 144 studs length) and is connected to an A-frame which is raised and lowered by 2 times 12 falls powered by 2 winches each with 1 large power functions electric motors. The hook is lifted with 2 times 12 falls powered by 2 winches each with large power functions electric motors. T he jib is raised and lowered by 1 winch with 1 small power functions electric motor (12 falls) and the jib hook is lifted with 8 falls powered by 1 winch with 1 small power functions electric motor. Non lego parts: 2 axial steel roller bearings are fitted to the turntable to allow slewing with max load moment. The crane will have similar load capacity without them but slewing will not be possible. 1 mm braided ropes are used on all winches."

@ lockdownTF: Even though the Power Functions Infrared Controller has a published range of 10 meters (33 feet), it would be best to operate your car outdoors on a cloudy day or in the shade (so that the sun's infrared rays don't overpower the PF signals). Many Trial Truck events are held in the shade of a forest, and not out in the open.

@ Sicil: I liked your car so much, I built it from your original photos (before you created your LDD .lxf file). "Imitation is the greatest form of flattery" -- thanks for sharing it! See this Flickr photoset for detailed descriptions on the 16 pictures I took. I had some problems "reverse-engineering" some things, so I came up with slightly different solutions than you did. I did not have the same colored parts as you, so I used a red-and-yellow color scheme. I added some parts to the front grille and underside of the hood (bonnet) to fill in the gaps. The hood/bonnet pivots upwards; I used a temporary axle prop for the photo below. The windscreen frame has been simplified. Two white rally lights have been added to the roofline. The car retains the original's "dog running" stance (where the rear axle is longer than the front axle). I added a yellow brace under the rear window, a black rear spoiler, and a black rear bumper: It is possible to replace your two Power Functions (PF) Medium motors with one PF Large motor (to save weight and increase speed a tad). The rear axle's gear ratio has been changed from 3:5 (0.6) to 1:3 (0.33) (by using a 36-tooth bevel gear instead of a 24-tooth bevel gear), since there was a lot of space above the axle. I had to "prop up" the PF battery box a bit so that it would not interfere wih that black 36-tooth gear (see photo above).Here you can see the single PF L-motor driving the solid white rear axle. Additional photos of the L-motor's bracing is shown in the Flickr photoset. Your car is now 45% faster than before!

Nice GBC! I would imagine that it took a bit of "tinkering" to get the "timing" of the falling balls the same in both paths. From the video, it seems that the length of time that one ball needs to travel down the ramp is roughly the same as the time it takes for a second ball to navigate the zigzag. Do you ever take your Great Ball Contraption to public exhibitions? Kids really like looking at the various mechanisms, and get enthused about Lego Technic.

I like the proportions of this car. It seems that it is slightly smaller than your Lego "Rally Car Blacked" model. It may be possible to relocate the Power Functions v2 Receiver in the front passenger seat area (like you did with the "Rally Car Blacked"), so that it does not stick out of the back so much.

You should get the 9395 Tow Truck -- more pieces, more functions, more playability!

LegoTechnicModel05 posted this YouTube video of his Liebherr LTM 1090 4.1 model with Lego Power Functions. His website has 12 pictures, and his Facebook page has some commentary. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMtmTuha6sI

That part does not have a LDR file in Peeron either:

The x873c01 "Technic, Steering Gear with 4 Ball Joints, Complete Assembly with Black Base" is not in LDD's Parts Pallette, so you're out of luck.

This Eurobricks review of the upcoming 42011 Race Car set showed the Lego Element ID for the 8z gear -- it's 6012451: You can try telephoning Lego Customer Service to access the "Lego Direct" service for ordering this part.

@ andyfarang: Check out this Carnegie Mellon Robotics Academy ROBOTC Curriculum for LEGO MINDSTORMS. It has this detailed, online index leading to various video lessons. There is also this Tutorials webpage and this ROBOTC NXT Curriculum full of lessons, videos, and printable guides.

On his Flickr photoset, Noriart posted 28 images of several more pages out of Sariel's The Unofficial LEGO Technic Builders Guide. (NOTE: I sure hope he got permission from the publisher and the author before doing this! )

@ andyfarang: You may see all of the various options on this Team Hassenplug webpage. I think that the National Instruments (NI) LabView Toolkit may be useful. It "Can be used to create blocks that work in NXT-G programs, OR it can create programs to download directly to the NXT OR it can create PC programs to control the NXT ." If you have access to a Wii Remote Controller (Wiimote), you could consider the University of Washington has step-by-step instructions on how to use NI LabView software with a Lego NXT in this PDF document . You can learn more about the Labview software here, and get a free 30-day trial version (designed for students) by registering here. There are several useful videos on the NIK12lab YouTube Channel. "LabVIEW for LEGO MINDSTORMS is the most powerful programing tool for the LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Robotics system. If you would like LabVIEW for LEGO MINDSTORMS for yourself just go to. http://bit.ly/OrderLVLMSingle . "For ideas on how to use LabVIEW and LEGO MINDSTORMS in the classroom check out http://www.K12Lab.com ." Here are two of their videos:

Welcome to Eurobricks! Maybe Sariel's article about his "NXT Brick-to-Brick Remote" could help you; it contains ROBOTC programming code for Bluetooth communication. On this LEGO.com MINDSTORMS webpage, there is a downloadable "Bluetooth Developer Kit" which "Documents the communications protocols to the intelligent NXT brick, enabling you to create applications for various Bluetooth devices to communicate with MINDSTORMS NXT robots."

The of aeh5040's "Lobster" Lego Technic Mecanum Wheel Car shows how one can use two Power Functions remotes. His Lobster Building Instructions show those remotes too:

To get that "first person" point of view in your action videos, do you have ideas on how to mount your video camera or iPod using Lego Technic pieces? This thread is meant to capture those ideas. I know that Sariel likes to mount his video camera on his MOCs, and sometimes he tows a trailer. What are your ideas? Here are two: Method 1: Use Lego Technic to secure your iPod to "Equip your RC Vehicle with a Remote Video Connection" ( by where44444) -- "It started as a useful modification for my RC tank so it could actually be useful in air soft wars. When your out where everyone can see you so that you can see where your driving the tank kind of defeats the purpose. You can now control it from a safe distance and be an active participant in the game through a wireless video connection." Method 2: "LEGO TECHNIC GoPro Mount" ( by Kyle Martin): "In this GoPro mounting tips and tricks video I show how to make a LEGO TECHNIC GoPro Mount. This can be used to mount a GoPro to any LEGO creation. The mount is low profile and will not destroy any of your LEGO. There is another video coming that will show how to mount using just good old LEGO."

msbbanl posted this of his excellent, 8880-based, Lego Technic Nissan Skyline GTR R34 model. He wrote that it is a "Modified LEGO Technic 8880 with 6 cylinder engine with air filter, turbo, intercooler, air intake, horn, battery. In the back subwoofer, amplifier and NOS bottles. Standard 8880 4-speed gearbox, 4 wheel drive."

On his LEGOstudio Model Gallery, ISOGAWAYoshihito posted his cool Lego Technic OMNI WHEEL CRAB with several detailed pictures so you could possibly make your own:

I'm wondering if that new 6019987 "Plate, Modified, 1 x 2 with Pin Hole (horizontal) (on top)" part could be used as a pivoting mounting point for a Technic vehicle's mirror, or perhaps a pivoting Rear Spoiler like the Bugatti Veyron has?

Hoezer2/ gijserman had posted about "The Making of a Lego Rollercoaster". He wrote this about the parts used: "We bought them at bricklink. It's from the old lego train track system. The car wheels are lego 9V train wheels, they run really smooth."

Gijserman is known as "Hoezer2" on his YouTube Channel. He's a "roller-coaster junkie" and has been refining his designs for several years. He's a member of LowLUG, and his new LowLUG Forum topic has no images so far -- only the video. However, this LowLUG Forum topic has this image:

Saberwing40k made a LDD File of the Lego Power Functions L-motor and Servo-motor, and posted it here. You can see how he built up the equivalent pinhole locations: They represent Bricklink Part 99498c01, "Light Bluish Gray Electric, Motor 9V Power Functions Servo with Dark Bluish Gray Bottom". ...and Bricklink Part 99499c01, "Electric, Motor 9V Power Functions L with Dark Bluish Gray Bottom."

@ Tacker: Since The Lego Group won't sell individual Power Functions Servo Motors until March 2013, you could get one from Bricklink. It's Bricklink Part 99498c01, "Light Bluish Gray Electric, Motor 9V Power Functions Servo with Dark Bluish Gray Bottom". The Power Functions Large Motor won't be sold individually by TLG until March 2013 either, so consider getting some from Bricklink too. It's Bricklink Part 99499c01, "Electric, Motor 9V Power Functions L with Dark Bluish Gray Bottom."

Nice find! That hybrid part could be described as a "Plate, 1x2x1 with Technic Hole" or something like that. There's no more information about it from "Cupishalfempty" on this Flickr webpage. However, there is a Flickr Galaxy Squad group set that has this webpage for the new 6019987 part (which comes with the upcoming 70700 Space Swarmer set): This Lego Galaxy Squad webpage on Brickset shows all of the sets for this new theme coming in 2013. I'm trying to think of how this new part would be useful for Technic constructions....