Sets for Technic contraptions

Addicted2Oxygen

I would like to get into building technic, but I have no real interest in building vehicles. What I want to do is build technic contraptions (think jk brickworks), and also integrate with system Lego. 

What sets that are available at the moment would make good parts packs? I.e. Lots of different gears, beams, shafts, bars, motors, worm screws, etc. 

A lot of sets seem to have large body work panels or parts that are very specific to that set such as scoops, which puts me off. Ideally I would love a big tub of gears, shafts and beams: a creator basic tub, but full of technic. 

Cyberdragon

They have parts packs...but warning, they aren't cheap though.

Here's a huge one:
https://shop.lego.com/en-US/LEGO-SERIOUS-PLAY-Connections-Kit-2000431?CMP=KAC-SAHCSEU8&HQS=2000431&ef_id=WfetqwAABAR7vjCG:20171030225435:s&s_kwcid=AL!790!3!224095015099!!!g!293946777986!

And here's one for techic machines:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001NETDSM/ref=asc_df_B001NETDSM5241197/?tag=hyprod-20&creative=395033&creativeASIN=B001NETDSM&linkCode=df0&hvadid=198096686041&hvpos=1o4&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5653436891301018334&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9008093&hvtargid=pla-318319606766

Huw

The Bucket Wheel Excavator is probably the best set to buy if you want studless beams and thousands of other Technic parts without loads of wheels contributing to the cost of the set.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01CCT2ZIG/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=bargainwatch-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B01CCT2ZIG

It's currently 30% off. I have five of them which I use for building GBCs.

SirBen

Take a look at PV-Productions.com for inspiration. They have some nice pieces built from #42042 

Addicted2Oxygen

@Cyberdragon thanks. I am wary of the educational sets, as I have not seen people using them to get an understanding of what parts you get and what you can do with them. Get worried that you are able to make 30 copies of something simple for a class but not good for general mocs. also the price is rather off putting. But they are closest to a technic parts box.

@Huw Thanks, that is good to know. will have a closer look at it. Hopefully I won't feel need for 5! Also what is a GBC? From googling I am guessing a Great Ball Contraption.

@SirBen thanks. the site looks interesting. will have more of a look soon.

Huw

Yes, great ball contraptions. I started building them in the summer and displayed some at Swindon in October. They are great fun and quite addictive. I enjoy the engineering challenge of coming up with a mechanism for shifting balls that doesn't 'leak' them :-)

Paperballpark

Hmm, I might end up buying another BWE just for the parts.

I'm planning to make some GBC modules myself for shows next year. My first was rather ambitious (a loop-the-loop using the BWE large gears), but it leaks rather more than I was expecting. I'm hoping that I should be able to fix it so that it doesn't leak quite as much.

Huw

I look forward to seeing it :)

datsunrobbie

The "Crazy Action Contraptions" book set is a nice intoduction to technic building.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1591743419/ref=sr_ob_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1509452373&sr=8-1

Paperballpark

Huw said:

I look forward to seeing it :)

If I can get it to stop leaking balls! I suspect I'll be able to minimise losses, but not stop them altogether.

thedoctor46

@Addicted2Oxygen sorry to hijack the thread, but I’m selling a disassembled Technic Volvo L350F set number #42030 if this interests you at all, for parts. Based in the UK.

CCC

datsunrobbie said:

The "Crazy Action Contraptions" book set is a nice intoduction to technic building.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1591743419/ref=sr_ob_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1509452373&sr=8-1

I second this if you can get hold of a copy. It is a good starter at small, quick projects.

I also recommend one of:

book 1
https://www.amazon.co.uk/LEGO-Technic-Idea-Simple-Machines/dp/1593272774

or
book 3
https://www.amazon.co.uk/LEGO-Technic-Idea-Book-Contraptions/dp/1593272790

(Book 2 is more wheel based!)

or

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Unofficial-LEGO-Technic-Builders-Guide/dp/1593274343

Addicted2Oxygen

@datsunrobbie @CCC thanks for the book suggestions. Added to my wishlist. Made me remember I have some technic lego books from last years humble lego book bundle. must look through them!

@thedoctor46 no worries. I may actually be interested. Will PM you.

@HUW @Paperballpark not seen GBCs before. They look very fun to make. And now I am thinking about getting 3 BWE in a 342 sale..... oh dear.....

CCC

I have an electronic copy of the first Yoshihito Isogawa book. I guess that must have been through a Humble Bundle.

Addicted2Oxygen

@CCC yup, that is the one i have from that bundle

allthenamesaretaken

I found the The Unofficial LEGO Technic Builder's Guide by Pawel "Sariel" Kmiec to be a very interesting and thorough book about building mechanisms in technic.
There is the origional and updated versions.

https://www.amazon.ca/Unofficial-LEGO-Technic-Builders-Guide/dp/1593277601/ref=dp_ob_title_bk

alaskaguy

Thanks guys. You just cost me over $100 on Amazon buying all those books and related materials.

Cyberdragon

Just wait till you start buying all of the parts for your creations.

alaskaguy

Well, they won't be MY creations...but yeah....I need to put together a huge parts list, based on what I find in these books - and order it all and get some kits put together so they're ready when the kid is ready.

Here is what I ordered today:

2 of LEGO Technic Power Functions Motor Set 8293

The LEGO Technic Idea Book: Fantastic Contraptions

The LEGO Technic Idea Book: Simple Machines

The LEGO Technic Idea Book: Wheeled Wonders

The LEGO Power Functions Idea Book, Vol. 2: Cars and Contraptions

The LEGO Power Functions Idea Book, Volume 1: Machines and Mechanisms

Lego Crazy Action Contraptions (Klutz)

The Unofficial LEGO Technic Builder's Guide, 2nd Edition

Thanks again (:

Paperballpark

Paperballpark said:

Huw said:

I look forward to seeing it :)

If I can get it to stop leaking balls! I suspect I'll be able to minimise losses, but not stop them altogether.

I extended the side-walls of the loop to try to stop the balls flying out, and it has actually really worked. I tried about 13 balls last night, and only two dropped out. 11 made it to the output hopper, which is a far far better ratio than did previously.

Now to work out why they do occasionally drop out.

I also need to add some kind of single-ball release, because when I put 6 in at the same time, it processed them all in about a second (seriously), but only one of them made it to the output hopper! Oh dear.

Cyberdragon

GBCs are always going to be messy. It's just a matter of preventing frequent ball drops. If they fall out occasionally, as long as you keep them picked up people won't notice to bad. Just make sure you don't end up with the piles of basketballs and soccer balls all over the table like you see on Youtube.

Paperballpark

Hmmm, I tried it again tonight, and could barely get one through it, for some reason.

I suspect the firing of the ball is putting 'spin' on it, and that's preventing it from properly rolling. I'm going to try re-building the firing mechanism to stop the spin, and hopefully that might fix the issue.

Addicted2Oxygen

@Paperballpark would love to see pics of your contraption even if not complete/fully working

Huw

Cyberdragon said:

GBCs are always going to be messy. 

Not if designed properly.

tallblocktoo

@Huw perhaps a front page article about GBC's.  Don't think I have seen one.  Maybe there is not enough interest but I for one would be.  

Addicted2Oxygen

I built #75532 this week. It is becoming one of my favourite sets. This is what I would love to see more of with Technic, rather than more variations on cars and diggers.  #8002 is one of my top sets, I want more of this. There are so many Star Wars, and scifi in general, things that could be done.

stlux

Saw an awesome GBC at last week's Brick Mania in Antwerp (BE):



Yes, it did go all the way round those tables!

More compact ones are nice too of course ;)