Lego Microscope

Re:Lego Microscope by tzs on Friday April 23, 2021 @10:53AM (#26915317)

> edit: I know nothing about woodworking or crafting any building materials, but I always wish I could perform those types of projects. And whenever some potential project comes up, I think to myself, "but I could build it with Legos."

I bought a case for the Raspberry Pi camera that has a LEGO-compatible back and a small LEGO set (10692) specifically for making things to hold the camera where I want it. It has worked great.

Question for LEGO geeks: my set only has one L-bracket, and it is quite small. Looking at other sets at local stores, they also only have one or two small L-brackets.

Is there some way other than L-brackets that people use when they want some LEGO assembly to connect perpendicularly to some other assembly?

Or should I just order an assortment of brackets from a third-party LEGO brick marketplace site, like this [1].

[1] https://www.bricklink.com/catalogList.asp?catType=P&catStrin...

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Re:Lego Microscope by blacksmith_tb on Friday April 23, 2021 @11:11AM (#26915519)

This pattern is what people call 'SNOT'[1]. As my 10yr old has moved up to more complex sets, the percentage of those increases, sicne they allow designers to achieve different effects. I would personally recommend the 1x2 or 1x4 blocks with studs on one side, those are fairly sturdy.

1: https://swooshable.com/snot

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Re:Lego Microscope by wongarsu on Friday April 23, 2021 @12:17PM (#26916271)

In addition to brackets also consider hinges [1], like the standard 1x2 hinge [2] or for higher load a combination of e.g. [3] and [4]. There are also various solutions using Technic parts.

I'd honestly just order what you need from bricklink. Alternatively get used Lego by weight from ebay. Around here you get a kilogram of unsorted, good quality Lego for €20.

1: https://www.bricklink.com/catalogList.asp?catType=P&catID=22

2: https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=3937...

3: https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=3036...

4: https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=3038...

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Re:Lego Microscope by bombcar on Friday April 23, 2021 @09:12PM (#26921243)

If you have a part you really like BrickLink is often he best way to get it cheaply (as you can buy just it) - but if you want to expand your collection I would use BrickLink’s tools to find sets that have as many of the parts as you can find and try to locate those on sale.

Or try the local Goodwill Auction site (if you drive to pickup you save on shipping and can outbid others).

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Re:Lego Microscope by pbhjpbhj on Friday April 23, 2021 @11:06AM (#26915456)

You can put a flat Lego piece perpendicular between two rows of studs. I don't think it's quite as secure as having an L-bracket though.

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Re:Lego Microscope by tzs on Friday April 23, 2021 @01:07PM (#26916811)

That's almost what I ended up doing, except rather than putting the flat piece between two rows of studs, I put it on top of the studs and had adjacent stacks to stabilize it.

Two flat pieces back to back are very very close to the width between the sides of two rows of bricks separated by one row of empty studs.

Here is a photo [1]. Here it is with the three top braces and the cable holder removed so you can see everything [2].

This the LEGO compatible case I'm using for the camera [3].

[1] https://imgur.com/a/ggNe5uM

[2] https://imgur.com/a/jz525N7

[3] https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01F19WI0O/

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Re:Lego Microscope by bombcar on Friday April 23, 2021 @09:13PM (#26921253)

If you want more options get some of the Technic sets - the pins and arms provide lots of freedom.

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Re:Lego Microscope by em-bee on Friday April 23, 2021 @12:11PM (#26916219)

it also stretches the studs apart a tad to much, so it's not recommended.

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