FIND MORE PRODUCTS LIKE THIS Sign up or log in to customize your list. Here's how it works: Anybody can ask a question The best answers are voted up and rise to the top I was going over LEGO Power Functions train motors, and I was not satisfied with the speed. Speed seven is fast enough to derail the train on the curve, but not fast enough realistically. I am thinking that if I open the motor and put in bigger cog wheels, it will hopefully make my train go fast enough (I'm trying to get at least 10 mph.) Where can I get bigger cog wheels? Mathematically, the largest driver wheel you can buy for LEGO is Big Ben's XL driver, with a diameter of 36.8mm. To reach 10 mph, that wheel will have to spin: 36.8 mm diameter -> 115.6 mm circumference -> 7.2 x 10^-5 mi/revolution -> 2320 RPM (!!) This means that you have to gear up a motor to run at 2320 RPM. An XL PF motor with no load spins at about 220 RPM. I just don't think that's going to happen. And if your goal is to use the smaller wheels, there's no way to accomplish what you want with LEGO.
Don't forget, the TGV (and other high speed trains) are incredibly complex and well engineered machines. It requires a specific track layout, curve radius, rail width tolerance, surface roughness tolerance, and we haven't even reached the train itself. Honestly, accomplishing a scale-equivalent speed using only LEGO bricks would lead to a revolution in transportation design, because if you can do it with LEGO at L-gauge without blowing up, you could easily do it with steel, plastics, and composites at people-scale. 10 mph (16km/h) is a crazy speed at that scale [citation needed]. Chances are quite high that your car will derail even on straight lines. Now, is it possible to reach that speed using lego motors and lego pieces ? I'd say no, but I think you can get quite fast, in the magnitude of 10-12 km/h (6-7.5mph). As stated in another answer, using the bigger train wheels available, you need to reach 1740RPM loaded (for a 7.5mph target). The torque is quite high, the rotation speed is crazy, but:
it'll totally unwind in about 8-10 meters, going freewheel it'll probably slip at startup The second option is using the PF train motor, which rotate at ~1900RPM unloaded. You can get extra power (up to 1.9W) by powering it with 12V batteries (at your own risks). Changing the gearing on this one won't get you far. Sure you'll get higher unloaded RPM, but your performances loaded will be really poor. I've seen cars using 2 of those reach 12km/h, so why not trains ? Still not fast enough ? You will have to gear it up a bit (unloaded RPM is 1700), probably at 2x. You might even have to power-it up to 10.5V, but I've seen technic cars reaching 12km/h using this motor, so why not trains ? But it's already time to slow down, you're approaching the first curve. Aside from the mechanical enhancement, you could also apply more electrical power to the motor. Some LUGs achieve record-breaking train speed by doing just that, although they usually use custom rails as well as transformers.
Of course, overpowering motors isn't usually recommended; and for a PF one you'll have the issue of embedding a larger battery; but considering the PF motor isn't very expensive and may be able to sustain excessive power quite gracefully, it might be worth a try. Other than that, yes, using other motors than the train one might be a good solution. Even with regular trains, you can build a mock motor which can then be driven by another PF motor in the cabin. Not sure it would sustain high speeds though. If the original train motor is not fast enough, you could build your own engine using normal PF motors and use gearing that is suitable for your needs. Then drive your train via stand-alone train wheels: Sign up or log in Sign up using Google Sign up using Email and Password Post as a guest By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service. Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged trains motors or ask your own question.
I understand that the M motor has an adequate amount of speed, and the XL motor is best known for its torque. But is the XL motor really faster than the M motor? Or is it the other way around? I am asking this question because I recently saw the L motor, and one reviewer said "It has the speed of the M motor but the torque of an XL motor." I am assuming this means that the M motor is faster...? It delivers a maximum torque of 90,4 mNm (600 mA). Without load its rotation speed is around 220 rotations per minute. It delivers a maximum torque of 45,4 mNm (450 mA). Without load its rotation speed is around 380 rotations per minute. It delivers a maximum torque of 40 mNm (300 mA). Theoretically, in terms of power (speed • torque), the XL Motor is faster than the L Motor and M Motor. The reason being, you can gear up the XL Motor 2:1 and have the following output: running torque of ~7 N.cm & rotational speed of ~290 RPM. However, a small amount of these measures will be lost due to friction and decreased efficiency (by transferring drive through gears).
Regardless, comparing these measures to the normal output of the M Motor — running torque of ~3.63 N.cm & rotational speed of ~275 RPM; and the L Motor: running torque of ~6.4 N.cm & rotational speed of ~272 RPM — and we have a clear winner, as far as running torque performance goes. Also, it is worth mentioning that the XL Motor has significantly higher efficiency than both the L Motor or the M Motor. RPM measurements listed here are the loaded characteristics, not no-load. This is why the RPM numbers listed here are lower than what others have said.Browse other questions tagged motors power-functions or ask your own question.Technic may also refer to Technique. Early example of LEGO Technic. Lego Technic is a line of Lego interconnecting plastic rods and parts. The purpose of this series is to create more advanced models with more complex movable arms, such as machines with wheels, in addition to the simpler brick-building properties of normal LEGO. The concept was introduced as the Expert Builder series and originally Technical Sets in 1977,[1] and was renamed Technic in 1984.
Technic sets are often characterised by the presence of special pieces, such as gears, axles, and pins. Other special pieces include beams and plates with holes in them, through which the axles could be installed.[2] Some sets also come with pneumatic pieces or electric motors. In recent years, Technic pieces have begun filtering down into other Lego sets as well, the power miners, and others, but mostly notably the BIONICLE sets (which were once sold as part of the Technic line), as well as a great many others. The style of Lego Technic sets has been changing over time. Technic sets produced since the year 2000 use a different construction method, described as "studless construction". (Studs are the small circular knobs which appear on traditional Lego bricks.) This method utilises beams and pins rather than Technic bricks. Mindstorms, a Lego line of robotic products, also uses a large number of Technic pieces, although it is sold as a separate line of products. The latest generation of the Mindstorms range, the Mindstorms EV3 range (released September 2013), as well as the Mindstorms NXT sets (released August 2006), are based on the studless construction method.
A construction using the old pieces with studs. Although studless beams (studs are the bumps traditionally associated with Lego parts) have been present in Technic sets for many years, the change from primarily studded to primarily studless construction represented a major paradigm shift and has been quite controversial. A vehicle using the new pieces without studs. The primary advantage of studless construction is the addition of new construction methods that were previously unavailable. The new studless beams are exactly 1 unit width high, in contrast to studded beams, which are a non-integer multiple of one unit. It can be awkward to use studded beams in vertical structures because it is necessary to insert plates between the studded beams in order to get the holes to line up. Studless beams allow greater flexibility when building in multiple dimensions, while remaining compatible with "classic" studded beams. Some builders also believe that models constructed with studless beams look nicer than their studded counterparts.
However, studless construction also introduces disadvantages. Studless construction is not immediately intuitive, requiring the builder to think five or six steps ahead.[4] While studded construction follows the classic bottom-to-top building pattern, studless construction requires building inside-to-outside. As of 2005, Lego has begun to re-incorporate studded bricks back into the Technic line, which can be seen in sets such as 8421 (found on Peeron), Mobile Crane. However, studded bricks are used primarily as to mount front grills in vehicles while transparent plates are used for lights. Lego Technic system expands on the normal LEGO bricks with a whole range of new bricks that offer new function and building styles. The most significant change from normal LEGO is that single-stud wide bricks ('beams') have circular holes through their vertical face, positioned in-between the studs. These holes can accommodate pins, which enable two beams to be held securely together, either side-by-side, or at an angle.
LEGO Technic system has always included a variety of different electric motors. Broadly, these divide into those powered by batteries, held in a connected battery box, or by mains electricity, via a transformer. Battery-power is the most common. The very earliest motors (p/n x469b) were 4.5 Volt, and consisted of a modified "Electric Train Motor" (p/n x469) and along with the 4 driven bushes for wheels added an axle hole enabling axles of different lengths to be used. While these were released in kits with Technic parts they were not sold as Technic motors. The first dedicated Technic motor was a 4.5 Volt rounded brick (p/n 6216m) released in 1977 as part of the Expert Builder Power Pack (960-1) and Supplementary Set (870-1), this output via a small protruding axle that would rotate when the motor was powered. The motor was not geared, resulting in high-RPM, low-torque output. Gearboxes and a square casing were available. A 12 Volt motor of the same physical dimensions as the 4.5 Volt motor was also available in set 880-1.
The 12 Volt version is visually distinguishable by being black, rather than grey. The 4.5 Volt motor was replaced by a similar but square 9 Volt motor in 1990. Recent motors contain an axle hole enabling axles of different lengths to be used. LEGO Technic Crane Truck (Power Functions) In late 2007, a new motor system was released called Power Functions; it was included within Lego set 8275 Motorized Bulldozer. It comprised a set of motors, two IR receivers, remote control and a battery box, thus resulting in a remote-control model. With these sets it is possible to build or convert manually-operated mechanical movement to motorized using electric motors which are controlled via switches or IR remote control. Future plans for this set include more parts which will add even more function/control possibilities.Lego has already started to design and sell Lego Technic models (sets) which can be easily retrofitted with Power Functions blocks. For example models like the 8294 Excavator, 8295 Telescopic Handler or 7645 MT-61 Crystal Reaper are sold like classic Lego Technic models with manual motorization but are designed with free space for the Power Functions components with factory instructions on how to perform the conversion to an electrically operated model.
The Power Functions line-up also includes a Linear Actuator currently not sold separately, but already used in many models like the 8294 Excavator and the 8043 Motorised Excavator. Gears have been included within Lego Technic sets as a way of transferring rotary power, and of gearing-up or down the speed. Gears come in several sizes: 8 tooth, 16 tooth, 24 tooth and 40 tooth spur gears; 12 tooth, 20 tooth and 36 tooth double bevel gears; and 12 tooth and 20 tooth single bevel gears. The double bevel gears are cut so they can also be meshed as spur gears. There is also a 16 tooth clutch gear, and a 24 tooth friction gear that slips when a certain amount of torque is put on it to prevent motors from damaging any parts or burning themselves out. In addition to standard gears, some kits include a rack, a clutch and even worm gears and differential gears. The original differential had a 28 tooth bevel gear, designed to be meshed with the 14 tooth bevel gears (replaced by the 12 tooth gears) to give 2:1 reduction.
They can also be meshed with the newer double bevel gears. It was replaced by a newer design incorporating 16 tooth and 24 tooth gears on opposite sides of the casing. The casing holds three 12 tooth bevel gears inside. As of 2008, an updated version of the original differential has been released, optimised for studless construction. Chain links were also introduced as an additional way of connecting gears. Tension (resulting from the correct number of chain-link parts used), along with the combination of gearwheel-sizes used, is critical to reliable operation. 8-tooth gears are not recommended for this purpose. TECHNIC Figures are figures that appeared in TECHNIC sets, especially from the CyberSlam/Competition line. They were first introduced in 1986 in the Arctic Action line. They are much larger and have several more joints than the standard minifigure, including bendable elbow and knee-joints. Each figure comes already assembled and is not meant to come apart, but parts can be popped off by pulling too hard.