Metal Lego axles?

Hello jfmfit

If you need to replace the LEGO axles with metal, it would be advisable to get the metal axles made locally, perhaps even by a local model-maker, or model-maker club.

There are some deblistering references to machinery here:http://www.sepha.com/pr.htm

There are plenty more references on the Internet, where is appears several Makers of machiniery make deblisterers.

Google Search term: deblistering

Trust that assists you.

Kind Regards....

Hello Sparkstation,

I thank you for you post. I am aware of the Sepha Machine but, at £3000.00 it is a little out of my range.

I did not think about local model makers. Thanks for the suggestion.

jfmfit

If you need an accurate technical model or even a scientific model, you better go with Fisher Technic model kits. These are far superior to the Lego as they are designed for proper model making.

http://www.studica.com/Fischertechnik/?gclid=CKac4dWdnpMCFQfnlAod6GCRqw

Good luck.

Brings back memories as I had far more Fisher Technic than Lego in my days

Hello case491,

thank you for your help. I have not heard of Fischer Technic, so many thanks to you. I wish I had asked the question a few weeks ago before a bought I whole bunch of Lego stuff! ..........................Live and learn eh?

jfmfit

Hello case491,

unfortunately I had not heard of the Fischer Technic until I read it on this page. Why did you not tell me before I asked? LOL!

jfmfit

If the Lego axle is tubular, you may want to try gluing a solid aluminum rod inside the Lego axle. Epoxy should work.

Hello boman,

in answer, the Lego axles are a cross shape in cross section.

Thanks for the try though.

jfmfit

Hello jfmfit,

What is the diameter of the Lego 'black' axle? You should be able to purchase a variety of smooth or threaded steel dowels at your local building supply store.

#5 and #6:

The lego axles I know are not hollow and not round either. They are a cross figure extended down through the paper you draw it on. Sorry for the haphazzard way of explaining but I have worked all day and the brain can only think in units of beer right now.

Don't pay attention to the yellow arrow, it was already there.

Hello case491,

with ref' to your explanation.............. seems pretty concise and accurate, compared to my efforts! Still have not found any though.

As ba/ael (I think I got his name correct............said, I could use long threaded metal dowel. I could but I would not be able to use the Lego locking pieces which I want to do. However, I may have use dowels which are only part threaded anyway as I am getting nowhere. And forget the locking grommets Lego have.

I can try that with the Lego gears. But I may need gears with a wider tooth match. The Lego are about two or three mm thick. I could try some of the Fischer Technic to see how thick they are?

jfmfit

Hi case 491,

I just realised if I do not use Lego axles I can't use the gears either, as they are all designed to go on a Lego X shaped axle.

jfmfit

Could you adapt a round rod to fit the Lego gears by welding an end section to the rod ? The section would be shaped to fit the gears.

Hello ba/ael,

I think I will have to give up the idea of a Metal Lego axle. And, perhaps go a similar route, as you mention.

I wish I had found the Fischer Technic stuff before I spent 200 hundred pounds! I hope to get new gears which are a little thicker, and a rod perhaps as you explain that the gears will fit.

At the moment I am using large Lego gears pushed together to form a roller, and have wrapped the polyurethane non slip sheet round them. I think I will be getting an external and internal Micrometre to get a correct size for any axles to get a good fit when I do get a different axle and gears. It has not been as I thought with regard to finding someone to mill a length of axle. Which I could then cut to length as needed. I am a little sad but am still looking. Do you happen to know the thickness of the Fischer Technic axles? I wrote to them but have no reply so far.

I do not have any tools myself other than some basic hand tools. And I am not sure of where I will be moving re' type of building so, do not know if I can set up a workshop or not. I hope I can but, not certain.

My brother in law has a small Lathe but lives some distance away and may well be too bust to use the Lathe, if he still has it. Ideally I want to be totally independent. It just takes longer thats all!

I think it is feasible to do as you say and used threaded and or smooth bar for axles, and there is a place called Hertz Fasteners or similar just a mile from me. They have all kinds of fittings including hinges, bars, screws, nuts bolts and connector pieces to build and strengthen anything built. They do not usually do model stuff, but we also have a profusion of Model shops quite close, so my next move when I get time is to check out these shops.

Thanks for your help and suggestions. Please don't forget me.

jfmfit (John)

Hello ba/ael,

the diameter is approximately: 5 mm. I do not have a micrometre so cannot be more accurate, sorry. And the axles are cross shaped in section. The central core is very very approximately 3 mm with 1 mm bits that appear to radiate from the core in a cross shape.

I admit I did not think of using other items as axles. I wanted to still be able to use the lockable widgets Lego have in their sets.

jfmfit (John)

Hello ba/ael,

I recall why I wanted metal Lego axles now. It is because I am about to move so there is no way I can set up a workshop as my Dad did. He died last October and in his last four years both he and I were too ill to think of mending his workshop roof. It was sad but Dad knew nothing of it as he had Alzheimer's. It hurt me because I thought his tools were at my Sisters house. Unfortunately they were still there getting soaked and rusting hard.

I was hoping I could put enough of a machine together to see if it was practicable. Unfortunately I ordered a whole lot of Lego bricks before that, which arrived at the same time as I realised the Lego axles were not going to work when put under the pressure of driving the top roller covered in non-slip polyurethane, which must be pushed tight against the bottom strippers which help support the foil and plastic tablet pack, allowing the roller to push the tabs out.

I am annoyed with myself I did not search and get to know other, perhaps more appropriate kinds of building 'toys'. The Fischer Technic seems it could have been a better choice than Lego.

To finally to answer the question of why want to use metal Lego axles. Because I thought I could maybe build it all on my knee, including continuing to use Lego's own lock nuts which just slide along the axles.

Take care,

jfmfit (John)

wil we still see you on herre if you are moving were you going

ragards diz

Hello guest,

this is my favourite place, so there is no way I wont be on here!

As it happens, I hope to stay in the same town, just a different building.

You may not have wanted to know, but I will tell you anyway..............

My Brother who will not talk to his two Sisters or me, and beat both my Dad and me up then was forced out of the house by pressure from one of my Sisters, took just about everything that was not to big or nailed down with him, no matter if it was his to take!

That was in September 2002 and a week after I had a huge heart attack, I think it was the worry of him possibly coming back to finish my Dad off as well as me. Dad had Alzheimer's and as I was trying to pull my Brother off my Dad he started beating me, then Dad was trying to get my Brother off me. It went back and forth for twenty minutes or so, and, as I tried to ring the Police my mobile was smashed against our front door and, the land line wires were ripped out. I ended up crawling round next door with no shoes or trousers on to phone from there.

Well, the house has to be sold, and we had a solicitor sorting things out from just after Dad died. Me and my two Sisters that is, as we knew not where My Brother was. Last Saturday 10th May, I came home to find he had hand delivered a letter threatening to evict me and, to sue me only, not my Sisters, for any loss of interest on 'his portfolio'. 'His portfolio', at the moment he left here was a £100 which he got free from a Bank which was sold. He has given me two weeks to get out before he 'might' evict. Our solicitor for the probate, not mine personally, has also put tremendous pressure on me to get out but, as I reply to him each time, I have to find a place to live first! I have found an adviser who though she usually charges, is helping me for free. We are going to see a solicitor and trying to find a place for me to live next Tuesday 20th May 08. I have said over and again the house will be sold, but I must find somewhere first. I think the pressure is the reason I am fitting so often now. Hopefully it should calm a little soon.

Take care.........

jfmfit

u sound bitter can you not move on it was over 5 years ago maybe u can get on with life maybe your bro has

myabe he won the lotto or maybe if hes got a gf or wife they got money left to them to or maybe they have just made money can b done you know

Hello,

I am not bitter at all. And I do not want to say anything against a man!

I thank you for caring, OK.

jfmfit

A few solutions.

Cut the plastic axle (yea they're plastic, so no welding), drill and tap the center so you can screw in a metal rod to extend the axle.

Cut 2 slots (x cut to outside of rod) at the end of metal rod to fit the axle in. You can do it by hand and make it a tight fit.

You can probably make a wood or alum axle with a wood edge router.

Use section of round tube fit tight outside axle to strengthen the axle. Fit the tubes on section beside your gears.

Make support for the axle with thin metal or plastic. you can drill a hole for the axle to pass through or just a slot to support the direction you need.

Feel free to add your ideas.

Hello Pineapple,

thanks for your post and advice. You have put a lot of thought into your reply haven't you?

The problem is, I cannot use the Lego plastic as any part of the axle, as it is so soft even a cm can twist too much. I also need to have a stiff roller that runs tight in some bottom strippers which support the tablet packs as they are wound though, with the top roller pushing down, it also has to be solid. Any part of the axle and the tablet packs just push the top roller up, as the axle is effectively made of rubber.

I think I will stick with Lego for the construction until I can set a workshop up at my new home. I may go for the suggestion of ba/ael and get a threaded or smooth axle.

Take care

jfmfit

Hi Pineapple:,

only me, I have thought of a router. But, I am Epileptic and routers are not the best thing to be using when I have a fit! I did try when working in the workshop with my Dad but, a 'straight' edge I was cutting looked more of a zig-zag when I had done!! LOL!

If you have one how about trying yourself?

There is a real good pic of a close-up of a Lego axle on these posts. If you look closely, to can make out a central 3 mm core with four opposing 1 mm lines of plastic going along the core. Which gives the final outer dia as 5 mm.

Keep in touch ok?

jfmfit

jfmfit

Why not buy a length of 5mm dia metal, then just file off the triangles where a gear needs to be?

Where you have the row of gears, are they all needed to be keyed, or just some and then fix them all together through the intermediate holes, or by strips along the teeth.

Hello GM1964:,

I have actually done as you say and file off any threaded bit before when I was at work. I have the gears ratio 2-1 in a row on the outside of the little machine I am making. Other than the axle proper, the other two or three gears (depending on how the gears actually line up) are in a straight line along the same row of bricks.

Problem with the Lego gears, they are not really thick enough. At 3 mm, I really need gears at about a cm at least as there is a lot of force and with thin gears they could easily strip.

I did think about a wooden axle but, one so thin is bound to bend and then I wont have the pressure maintained to squeeze the tablets through the foil.

Thank for your ideas!

jfmfit

Hello again, jfmfit

An idea would be to contact LEGO direct, explain that the plastic axles are not really what you need, and explain why.

Ask whether they make, or are prepared to make metal shafts to fit LEGO.

You have nothing to lose by asking, and they may be interested by your request.

Kind Regards....

Lego used to also have a technically minded set of parts. Don't they have the metal shafts? I cannot remember but the more work and time you stick in the Lego, the closer you get to spending what Fisher Technic would cost you

Hello case491,

I think I will stick to Lego to start with. Then when and if I can set up a workshop, even if it is in part of a flat or something, I will make a wooden or metal machine.

I know where to go locally (if they are still there!) to get bearing, gears, rod plate etc. There is a couple of Engineering supplies not five miles away I can try as well,

I just need to get some tools. What I envisage can be made with basic hand tools, I just have not got any at the moment. I have a nice strong table I can cover with ply and use it as a bench. Just laying the ply on so I can still use it as a dining table, you know? I may join a local schools tutor group who teach metalwork and woodwork. If I do I can turn a roller/spindle down to be large enough in the centre but, small enough at each end to fit the Lego bricks.

This, as I have hinted, is about 'now'. Just to get some sort of 'machine' 'model' to strip the tablets from the foil I use, and, of course, the finished machine will be hand operated only, at least to start. I may end up using a light sensor which could turn a small motor on and wind the foil/plastic packet through to strip the tablets.

how are you?..............You are right of course, the more I put into Lego etc ...........

Unfortunately I have 'invested' quite a bit already.

I did get a set of what you call "technically minded set of parts". They use the same axles as any other Lego sets. As you would have seen from other posts from other peeps, I was advised to use metal shafts of various kinds. And I think it is the way I will have to go. Either that or some 5 mm hard-wood dowel. If I go that route I will have to get different gears with 5 mm holes and, some means of holding the gears and/or, the centre part of the roller which has the polyurethane wrapped round it to grip and squeeze the tablet packs and to push the tablets through.

Please keep thinking and posting as some posts have put my thought in several different directions and all posts have pretty much been helpful and have taken care when replying to stay on topic and just be friendly!

Take care and keep thinking............

jfmfit

Cheapest solution I can see is to get 5mm threaded rod and use that as shaft. Drill the holes in the gears out to match and once you know where the gears are sitting, glue them on with araldite or use a nut with a counter nut and some of those serated washers.

No outside engineering needed that way. Make sure you check the nuts periodically as the plastic will yield to the pressure of the nut in time and the gear will loosen a bit.

Sorry about the hardship, I only realised you where in a pickle when I read some of your replies to guest. Hope it will work out ok for you.

Hello case491,

hope you are well.

Do you know where I can look at a list of Fischer Technic parts please?

In particular I want to know how long their axles are and how thick. I also want to check out the drive systems. I went to a site that was listed in one of these posts but it was listed and sort of linked to a software site as well. I have not found a Fischer Technic site per se'.

jfmfit

http://www.fischertechnik.de/de/

http://www.studica.com/Fischertechnik/?gclid=CJbX_uPOq5MCFQLolAodTi5qog

Some links on either page so you should find something. Good luck.

Hello again Sparkstation,

that is a good idea. And also the first thing I did before coming onto CR4.

They could not or, were not going to give me any leads or links either.

In reality, all the sets and model anyone make have no 'resistance' other than to turn the wheels. Also I suppose if they did make lengths of metal axles theres a chance fingers, hair etc could be trapped. With the pretty flexible nylon type axles, they would bend or twist before any damage is done?

However, I am really surprised specialist 'adult' Lego building clubs have not got or found links to a place with metal axles. There is a club in the UK called 'Brickish' who are adult Lego enthusiasts, but they use only the usually available Lego parts.

I still have other searches to do for English/UK Toy modelers.

But my question still stands, if anyone can make or knows of a place where I can get metal Lego axles please get in touch. I will place another request on this site using those words.

Many thanks for your help so far though Sparkstation, very much appreciated.

jfmfit

Hi jfmfit,

Remember the old wringer washers with hand crank? Two rubber rollers fit tight together and water was squeezed out of the clothes when they were fed between the rollers.

Something like that might work but you would need to replace a chunk of the lower roller with steel washers which could be adjusted to fit between individual pills in the blister pack.

Anybody know where to buy an old wringer washer?

Hello ba/ael,

that is basically the design of my machine! Though the top roller is made of softer polyurethane. And in the very small 'prototype' I have used lolly sticks, as that is all I have, for the supports at the bottom.

But the wringer type action is the arrangement I have.

Take care, jfmfit

Hello guest

and, guest, knows this post is directed to the 'guest'. It is nice you care so much you have scanned all these 'Metal Axle' posts for me! I hope you are fine and wish you well.

Mind, I wonder why you are searching this lot of posts looking. May be you are looking for Metal Lego Axles as well. Isn't that a coincidence!.

Take care,

Hello! I'm a newbie. Nice place here!

Five years after opening this thread it should be far too late for a reply, however, this might help:

http://www.photosensibel.de/hobby/