One toy construction set to rule them all -- Engino 50 Model Engineering Set

The Engino building system features these really cool multi-faceted rods that allow connections on up to 6 sides simultaneously. The rods permit both dense and open construction techniques allowing you to build simple or complex models quickly with a smaller number of different components.

With the Engino 50 Models Engineering Set you can create impressive structures such as a tower, a suspension bridge, and a truss bridge. It also has plans for making a motorized Ferris wheel, a carousel, and a windmill. A few of the other models include a functional weight-scales, a jet plane, a helicopter, and a bi-plane. Printed instructions are included for 12 models and more can be downloaded from the Engino's website.

The set includes the engino 3 volt geared motor to power up either the featured models or your own creations.

Here is where you can get the Engino 50 Models Engineering Set.

Be sure to check out the full line Engino mechanical toys too!

---

5 categories of mechanical toy deals for the holiday season

As you all know, the holidays are upon us. I did some looking around on Amazon to find out where good deals could be found on mechanical toys for young and old. Here's a quick look.

Deal List 1 - Metal Construction Sets

While supplies last, you can save up to 40% on certain Erector Sets. Here is a link to the Erector Sets on sale now. Here is a bigger list of Metal Construction Sets including additional brands.

Deal List 2 - RC Figures & Robots

There are 444 different radio-controlled and robot toys on sale now, including the Battroborgs boxing robots. They look like they are a blast! Here is a link to the RC Figures & Robots on sale.

Deal List 3 - Toys with Gears

You want gears? They've got them! I found over 500 different toys listed in this section. Check out the Gear-themed toys

Deal List 4 - Hobby Tools and Hardware

Want to make something? You'll need the tools and supplies. I found a link to all of the Hobby Building Tools & Hardware currently on sale and it's an impressive list!

Deal List 5 - Quad Copters

I found 160 multi-rotor remote controlled toys for sale! These this have (ahem...) taken off, so to speak. Check out the wild assortment of Quad Copters on sale now. This AR.Drone 2.0 Quadricopter is not on sale, but man does it look awesome.

---

Unique design of colorful cubes allows you to create marble maze sculptures

December is in full swing now, and I had better start making more recommendations for mechanical toy gifts. Here's an interesting one that's come to my attention recently. Basically, it is a toy that allows you to make a customized marble run. The pieces are a bit like LEGOs, so you can easily reconfigure them into any shape your imagination can come up with. This starter set includes 72 cubes in five different colors and 20 steel balls.

From the product description:

Q-Ba-Maze 2.0 is a unique system of colorful cubes that interlock to form a marble run. The big difference? You can create marble maze sculptures in the form of animals, geometric shapes or any other design! Configurations are unlimited, allowing for unpredictable action when steel balls travel the various routes. It's a live demonstration of probability, physics and art, all in one!

So far, the MindWare Q-Ba-Maze Marble Run Starter Set has gotten great reviews by users on Amazon. That's always a good sign! Here is where you can get the MindWare Q-Ba-Maze Marble Run Maze: 72 Piece Set. Here's a page I put together with a assortment of different marble track toys.

---

Engino multidimensional construction system teaches about screws and other simple machines

The Engino Toy System uses a variety of uniquely designed multifaceted rods and connectors that may be connected on up to 6 sides at the same time. I've posts in the past about their educational sets focusing on gears, cams, linkages and pulleys. The one shown here teaches all about screws including how worm gears are used to greatly lower rotational speed, and how screws can convert circular to linear motion while greatly increasing torque. Valuable lessons indeed for anyone trying to get their head around simple machines.

The 40 page instruction/activity book show you how to build 5 working models including a screw press, a lift platform, two types of crane, and a vice -- all examples of the screw in everyday use. The activity book also includes explanations of various technical and scientific principles and how they apply to the screw.

Here is where you can get the Engino Mechanical Science's boxed lesson set on Screws.

---

Elaborate 1920s machine shop built with vintage Erector sets

Randy Sauder built this model of a 1920s era machine shop from Erector set parts from scratch. The project spanned some 2 1/2 years, taking about 900 hours total. Sauder encourages others to build with these sets. He explains why this way:

It is relaxing fun, better than TV and your grandkids will love them. Erector sets are a great learning tool for children. In this country, most engineers over the age of 50 cut their teeth with erector sets. My father gave me his boyhood set in the late 1950's. Building principles using model erector parts are the same as with a real life size projects. For example, parts must be built square to one another, in proper alignment and using standard engineering concepts. Thousands of real world projects such as the George Washington Bridge, Disney World rides etc were first built as model erector projects.

Of course, Erector Sets are still made today in a variety of configurations. Classic Erector sets like the type used in this model can easily be found on eBay.

For additional information or to see more models visit the A. C. Gilbert Heritage Society web site.

[ Thanks Warren and Christoph!]

---

Engino's mechanical toy system teaches the physics of pulleys

I've done short posts in the past about the Engino Toy System. The system uses a variety of cool multi-faceted rods and connectors that are designed to be connected on up to 6 sides at the same time.

Previous posts include educational sets focusing on gears, cams, and linkages. These seemed like good choices because they are indispensable to automata making. The set shown here focuses on pulleys -- another very hand mechanical device for automata making!

From the product description:

Learn how pulleys can be used to transfer force with reduced friction and how to increase force or speed at amazing levels. Build 5 working models including an oil drill, a stationary bike, cranes, bridges and a machine blender.

A 40 page book is included with the set providing experiment ideas and detailed explanations of the different technological principles involved in pulleys.

Here's where you can get Engino Mechanical Science: Pulleys.

---

Universal adapter set allows you to connect 10 different toy construction systems together

The Free Universal Construction Kit is a set of 80 adapter bricks that allows you to connect ten completely different popular children's construction toy systems. This is a groundbreaking creation.

From the product web site:

By allowing any piece to join to any other, the Kit encourages totally new forms of intercourse between otherwise closed systems—enabling radically hybrid constructive play, the creation of previously impossible designs, and ultimately, more creative opportunities for kids. As with other grassroots interoperability remedies, the Free Universal Construction Kit implements proprietary protocols in order to provide a public service unmet—or unmeetable—by corporate interests.

The Free Universal Construction Kit has adapters that connect Lego, Duplo, Fischertechnik, Gears! Gears! Gears!, K'Nex, Krinkles (Bristle Blocks), Lincoln Logs, Tinkertoys, Zometool, and Zoob! Simply incredible.

While the set cannot be ordered directly, the adapters can be downloaded from Thingiverse.com as a set of 3D models in .STL format. These can then be reproduced by personal manufacturing devices like the Makerbot 3D printer. The production of physical sets may be arranged through a personal fabrication service bureau such as Ponoko.com. You might also try a makerspace in your area. You may also find a 3D printer in the architecture, industrial design, or mechanical engineering departments of a local university. Ask nicely.

---

How to build simple machines with paper clips

Wanting to come up with a simple and inexpensive project teachers could use to teach their students some aspect of technology, Instructables user biochemtronics came up with this hand-cranked paper clip machine.

From the creator's comments:

For educators this project is a great way to teach students the physics of mechanical machines including cranks, levers, fulcrum points, rotary and linear motion all while stirring their curiosity and developing their mechanical aptitude.

What he has really done is conceive of an inexpensive platform for building machines that requires some scraps of wood, paperclips, pliers, and a small drill. The result is not only educational but beautiful as well. Ingenious.

Here is the Instructable the hand-cranked paper clip machine system.

[ Thanks Aaron and Ron! ]

---

Engino mechanical science toy series: Linkages

Here is another toy in Engino's series of toys that teach mechanical principles. These are the folks that created the set on cams and cranks. The Engino toy system is a construction toy made up of of multi-faceted rods and connectors that can be connected on up to 6 sides at the same time. The design allows dense or open construction methods, simple or complex models, and the need for a smaller number of different components than other three dimensional building systems. Linkages seem like an idea application.

From the toy description:

Engino Mechanical Science: Linkages. This Engino set introduces young engineers and physicists the concept of linking levers to connect to moving parts for complex motion. Build 6 working models including a mechanical, extendable arm, a lifting platform, a pantograph, a folding ladder, a parallel weighing scale and a moving toy. A 40 page activity book is included with innovative experiments and detailed explanations of various technical and scientific principles and how they are applied.

Here is where you can get the linkages experiment set.

---

Build your own remote control machines kit

Thames & Kosmos, the folks that make those nifty physics sets we were so excited about a while back, also make the mechanical toy shown here: a remote control machines construction set.

The contains everything you need to build 10 different remote control devices and machines including a crane, race car, bulldozer, robotic arm, plow and an antique-style car.

Included in set are three motors, 182 snap-together pieces, an easy-to-operate infrared remote, and a 48 page instruction book illustrating how to make each of the different models. You can, of course, also invent your own contraptions with the set. The possibilities are intriguing and numerous. You have to love toys that can be made into lots of other toys.

Check out a larger image, and some good reviews for Thames & Kosmos Remote Control Machines Set.

---

Eitech’s product line of steel construction sets

Eitech is a German company that makes steel construction toys along the lines of the classic Erector sets. The Eitech product line was new to me, so I decided to do a quick search on Amazon.com to see how much they offer. As it turns out, they have an entire store dedicated to Eitech toys!
Eitech makes a range of sets to accommodate different skill levels. The largest of their sets can have up to a 1,000 pieces. Shown here is their massive Deluxe Motorized Crane Construction Set.

The also sell an assortment of different accessory packs featuring spare parts, motors, gears, and solar panels. These could be useful in their own right for making prototypes or gizmos of your own. And...if you are into construction toys, this looks like quality stuff.

Here a link to the dedicated Eitech store.

---