Now you can connect littleBits to LEGO®! With the Brick Adapter and motorMate, we’ve made it easy for you to integrate the two systems. > With brick strip studs, your littleBits’ modules will defy gravity! Simply snap strip underneath your LEGO® bricks and press the feet of your littleBits’ modules into place. > With sockets, you can mount your littleBits’ modules on top of LEGO® bricks. Simply snap the brick strip on your LEGO® bricks, and press the feet of your littleBits’ modules into place. For this set of tips & tricks, we collaborated with two LEGO® superstars, Philip Verbeek and Arthur Sacek. We also drew inspiration from Community Pro, Hitoshi Takagaki. Philip, Arthur, and Hitoshi have built amazing projects that combine littleBits and LEGO®. As experts, they’ve shared their insider techniques for working with the two systems. You will also find some of these tips & tricks on Philip’s Building with littleBits and LEGO page. Be sure to check out Philip’s PCB Pinball Machine, Arthur’s Spinning Replicator, and Hitoshi’s sound machines for more inspiration.
If you want your littleBits to sit vertically in a project, you can build a pillar out of LEGO® parts that will hold the brick adapter perpendicularly. Philip discovered that 2 hole-beams separated by 4 normal LEGO® blocks fit the brick adapter perfectly. You could also use 2 thin LEGO® Bricks as spacers in between. Provide Extra Support for littleBits that Experience Force When working with the DC motor, it takes a considerable amount of force to turn an LEGO® axle or system of gears. If the motor isn’t flanked on both sides by other modules, you may notice that your DC motor (or even heavier modules like the speaker) lift up on one side. In order to strengthen the connection and hold them in place better, you can use the bitsnap on one side of a wire module. You can remove the wire part by gently disconnecting the JST connection. Another option is to just add a bitsnap connector. Working with LEGO® Axles and Gears littleBits and LEGO® work well together with the help of the brick adapter and motorMate, but the two systems aren’t based on the same grid [hence the adapter :)].
Because of this, connecting with LEGO® gears and wheels is not always exact. However, you have a few options to ensure smooth a smooth rotation. Arthur suggests connecting a universal joint to the axle in the motorMate to allow for some flexibility in the movement translated from DC motor. He was able to power the whole gearing system for his spinning replicator this way. Another option is to use LEGO® bricks to center the axle and provide support. Use LEGO® to Activate lnput Modules Make an exterior button out of LEGO® that presses the littleBits button module of on the inside of your project. Activate a roller switch by turning gearing mechanisms. Control your synth modules with LEGO® mechanisms to create the sound of waves crashing like Hitoshi did in his project, surfin. Turns out that the LEGO® hole fits perfectly on the slider part of the slide dimmer module. This allows you to create all sorts of mechanisms to control the voltage coming out of the slide dimmer module.
Check out a few of Philip’s setups where he plays with angles and pressure. Use LEGO® to Focus the Light Sensor Make a “LEGO® hood” to minimize the area the light sensor picks up at a given time. In Arthur’s project, he needed the light sensor to pick up only a very small area of light on a piece of paper, so he used a LEGO® connector peg to limit the area that the light sensor reads. Activate Mechanisms with the Servo Make a small encasement that holds both ends of the servo arm and is able to rotate. Then you can use the movement of the servo to activate LEGO® mechanisms. See steps 282-287 to see how Arthur did it. Use the holes in LEGO® parts to position the long LED and hold it in place. This is especially helpful when you are trying to focus the light on a light sensor. Semi translucent LEGO® bricks diffuse light quite nicely. They also happen to fit around the top of the long LED. The synth speaker box (when detached from the board, but still tethered) fits perfectly in a 4×4 LEGO® grid.
See how Philip embedded speakers in his pinball contraption. If you are short of socket-side Brick Adapters, but have some extra stud-side Brick Adapters laying around, Philip has a trick for you to convert studs to sockets. Hint: He uses LEGO® :). LEGO was founded in 1932 in the Danish town of Billund by the master carpenter Ole Kirk Christiansen. The name of the company is derived from the Danish words “leg godt”, meaning “play well”. LEGO bricks, which have since achieved worldwide fame, were first introduced in 1949, and twenty years later the company launched a variation on the same theme – the LEGO Duplo System. For decades, LEGO has been synonymous with high-quality toys and is still in private family ownership. Duplo Starter Brick Box Duplo Girl’s Brick Box Duplo fire brigade headquarter Duplo Train Super Set Duplo Train Starter Set Classic base plate sandy LEGO – perfect for stimulating creativity and imagination LEGO is the perfect toy if you want to stimulate your offspring’s imagination and creativity.
LEGO bricks provide endless pleasure. Just when you think a LEGO toy is about to get boring, it can be used to create something new. What was once a family house, for instance, can be converted into a farmhouse or Cinderella’s fairytale castle by simply rearranging it and adding a few new pieces. The possibilities are only limited by the type and number of LEGO bricks available and the imaginative powers of your child, which continue to grow through play and building activities. This means LEGO is equally suitable for girls and boys. Rapid success in building has a motivating effect and fosters enthusiasm for experimentation. LEGO Duplo – the ideal introduction to the world of LEGO. In 1969, LEGO introduced the Duplo system. Duplo bricks are twice as big as conventional LEGO bricks, as suggested by the name – “duplo” being the Latin word for “double”. The main reason for the increased size was and still is child safety. This prevents young children from swallowing bricks accidentally.
The size also makes them easier to handle and helps children become accustomed with the LEGO principle. Duplo bricks are suitable for junior explorers from the age of 18 months and compatible with conventional LEGO bricks. LEGO and Duplo – safe and sustainable LEGO and Duplo bricks have to withstand considerable wear and tear, which is why LEGO places great emphasis on high product quality geared towards child safety. However, LEGO products are not only being continually improved in terms of product safety, but also with respect to the use of sustainable materials. This fits in well with the product concept, as LEGO bricks are among the most sustainable toys ever invented thanks to their diversity, durability and versatility. online shop, you’ll find a wide range of high-quality LEGO products for your child. These include not only loose building bricks, but also fascinating theme sets, such as the zoo, fire station or swimming pool, all waiting to be discovered by your little one.