The LEGO Technic Idea Book: Simple Machines

Back in March, I mentioned a series of books about LEGO machines. I took a closer look at one of them, The LEGO Technic Idea Book: Simple Machines. This the first in a three-book series on using the LEGO Technic building sets to learn about and create mechanisms and machines.

Among the topics covered in detail are:

• Gears
• Shafts and connectors
• Gear combinations
• Gears in a turntable
• gears in series
• Angled gears
• Worm drives
• Chains and treads
• Rack-and-pinion gears
• Motors and gears
• Reciprocating motion
• Changing the direction of motion
• Chains, belts, and shafts
• Building techniques
• Pulley systems

There are hundreds of projects, each carefully photographed from several angles. The projects are meant to give the reader an understanding of mechanisms and to encourage you to experiment on your own. It's a great concept, well-executed. Here's one simple machine you'll get to tinker with:

The one challenge that seems to accompany this and the two companion books is that the author, Yoshihito Isogawa, must have access to a great supply of specialized LEGO parts. To makes things a bit easier, he has published an illustrated list of parts that are used in the books. He has also offered his expert opinion on which LEGO Technic building sets come with the best parts for exploring mechanisms. Here are his top picks:

• LEGO TECHNIC Motorized Excavator 8043
  
• LEGO TECHNIC Mobile Crane 8053
  
• LEGO Technic Power Function 8293 (for motors)
  

Here is where you can order The LEGO Technic Idea Book: Simple Machines.

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