Lego Technic
From Free net encyclopedia
Image:Lego technic.jpg Image:Lego Technik Auto.jpg Technic is a line of Lego interconnecting plastic bricks. The purpose of this series is to create more advanced models with more complex movable parts, 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 in 1977 and was renamed Technic in 1986.
Technic sets are often characterized by the presence of special pieces, such as gears, axles, pins, and beams. 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, most notably the Bionicle sets (some of which were sold as part of the Technic line), as well as a great many others.
The style of Technic sets has been changing over time. Technic sets produced since the year 2000 use a different construction methodology, described as 'studless construction'. This method utilises beams and pins rather than technic bricks.
Mindstorms, Lego line of robotic products, also uses a large number of technic pieces, although it is sold as a separate line of products. The next iteration of the Mindstorms range, the Mindstorms NXT range (due Aug 2006), is depicted in the promotional material as being based on the 'studless' construction method.
Many fans of Lego find the change to studless to be controversial, because of the popular notion that Lego pieces should keep with tradition and maintain the iconic studs. However, studless construction offers a number of new construction methods that were previously unavailable. The primary benefit is that the new studless beams are exactly 1 stud in height. The studded Lego bricks are taller and could only be divided into thirds using plates (three plates are the same height as one brick), which is somewhat awkward when designing structures vertically. The studless system allows designers to build more complex models.
As of 2006, Lego has begun to re-incorporate studded bricks back into the Technic line, which can be seen in set 8421, The Mobile Crane. Both studded bricks and studless beams are combined so that the best features of both buildting techniques are utilized.