Subject:
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Re: The Making of LEGO bricks, ?s
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.general
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Date:
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Tue, 13 Jun 2000 15:14:58 GMT
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Viewed:
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764 times
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Scott E. Sanburn wrote:
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jeff Johnston" <sakura@mediaone.net>
> To: <lugnet.general@lugnet.com>
> Sent: Monday, June 12, 2000 11:26 AM
> Subject: The Making of LEGO bricks, ?s
>
> > I was thinking about LEGO direct, and production runs, and how the
> > modeling team gets bricks in whatever colors they want, and I started to
> > wonder:
> >
> > Anyone know anything about the procedure they use to make LEGO bricks?
> > Specifically, what happens when they change colors? Do they have to
> > thoroughly clean the molds/injectors/machinery/etc, or do they just dump
> > the new color in and throw away the first batch of bricks with "mixed"
> > colors?
> >
> > What would happen if you mixed the plastic pellets of two different
> > colors - say, black and white. Would you get a uniform grey, or would you
> > get a "marbled"/swirl effect? I think that'd be pretty cool.
>
> Well, depending on the plastic, you could get either. If they use a
> concentrate (for color), and a blank type of plastic, then they would just
> need to change the concentrate feeder. If they use pre-colored plastic, then
> they would need to clean both the hopper, the concentrate, and the injection
> mold machine as well. To get uniform color, you usually get the pre colored
> stuff, which is more expensive but better in terms of running production
> smoothly.
I'm pretty sure from what I've read that they use pre-colored pellets. I
wouldn't be surprised if most of the machines run the same color for
long periods of time, such that changing colors would only require
normal maintenance cleaning of the molds. Of course they don't have 41
or whatever machines, so there probably is a cleaning cycle necessary
for the uncommon colors.
Hmm, just came up with a crazy theory on why the tilt hinges are almost
always in two colors... They run the two parts at the same time, which
means they have to be run in different colors.
I also wouldn't be surprised if there are multiple types of machines
being used, with more than one mold type/size (it seems like it would be
worth having a higher capacity machine for basic bricks and other large
parts which takes larger molds).
--
Frank Filz
-----------------------------
Work: mailto:ffilz@us.ibm.com (business only please)
Home: mailto:ffilz@mindspring.com
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Message has 1 Reply:
 | | Re: The Making of LEGO bricks, ?s
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| They DEFINITELY use colored ABS pellets, as you can see them in use all over the LLC and other parks as detail bits, and the Imagination truck actually had a display showing the pellets and a mold. (...) -- Tom Stangl ***(URL) Visual FAQ home (...) (24 years ago, 13-Jun-00, to lugnet.general)
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Message is in Reply To:
| | Re: The Making of LEGO bricks, ?s
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| ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jeff Johnston" <sakura@mediaone.net> To: <lugnet.general@lugnet.com> Sent: Monday, June 12, 2000 11:26 AM Subject: The Making of LEGO bricks, ?s (...) Well, depending on the plastic, you could get either. If they (...) (24 years ago, 12-Jun-00, to lugnet.general)
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