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In lugnet.robotics, "Jonathan Perret" <jperret@cybercable.fr> writes:
> Recently there was a mention here of the problem with studs fitting
> into beam holes. Fred Martin's "The Art of LEGO Design" was quoted
> as saying that such a configuration was not intended and that the studs
> or holes could become damaged over time. I clearly remembered reading
> that.
> [...]
I don't think it's correct that such a configuration was unintended. In
fact, I think it most definitely *was* intended. All the classic LEGO
measurements are magic multiples of 1/5 the standard interstud spacing,
which also equals 1/6 the standard brick height (not counting the height
of the stud). Thus a 1x1 brick is 6 of these units tall (not counting the
stud) and 5 of these units wide. Both a stud a Technic peg are 3 of these
units in diameter, and a plate is 2 of these units thick (plus 1 more if you
count the height of the studs). There are also half-units of this unit which
show up along the peg-hole rims of beams and around the perimeters of holed
studs.
Here is what Fred Martin's paper[1] says on page 14...
"You will not see this configuration in LEGO's model plans, because the
top studs are _slightly_ too big for the axle holes, and a model left
in this state will gradually experience solid flow as the stressed
plastic expands. The official LEGO solution is to use the 'connector
peg with stud' parts (see Figure 22), but this method is actually
stronger (or at least until the LEGO parts deform)."
...so he doesn't actually make the claim that it wasn't intended. He just
warns that the plastic may deform if left like this for long periods of time.
I just checked the grip on several batches of Technic beams laying around
at home and none of them gripped studs any tighther than the tubes on the
bottom of bricks grip studs or the square holes on the back of 1x1 bricks
with recessed side studs[2] or 1x2x2 standing control units with 3 studs[3]
do.
So if, in practice, studs actually become deformed from long sittings in
such configurations, then it must be due to manufacturing errors rather than
design errors in the parts. LEGO wouldn't've goofed something like this up
in the design stage, and wouldn't've made the diameter of a peg exactly the
same diameter as a stud if it wasn't intended to work this way.
--Todd
[1] http://fredm.www.media.mit.edu/people/fredm/
[2] http://www.lugnet.com/cad/ldraw/parts/ref/images/4070.gif
[3] http://www.lugnet.com/cad/ldraw/parts/ref/images/2342.gif
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Message is in Reply To:
 | | More studs in holes...
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| Hi, Recently there was a mention here of the problem with studs fitting into beam holes. Fred Martin's "The Art of LEGO Design" was quoted as saying that such a configuration was not intended and that the studs or holes could become damaged over (...) (25 years ago, 15-Dec-99, to lugnet.robotics)
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