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Lego Technic.

Technic is a line of Lego interconnecting plastic rods and parts. The purpose of this series is to create more advanced models with more complex movable parts, such as machines with wheels, in addition to the simpler brick-building properties of normal Lego. The concept was introduced as the Expert Builder series in 1977 and was renamed Technic in 1984.

Technic sets are often characterized by the presence of special pieces, such as gears, axles, pins, and beams. Some sets also come with pneumatic pieces or electric motors. In recent years, technic pieces have begun filtering down into other Lego sets as well, most notably the Bionicle sets (some of which were sold as part of the Technic line), as well as a great many others.

The style of Technic sets has been changing over time. Technic sets produced since the year 2000 use a different construction methodology, described as "studless construction" (Studs are the small circular knobs which appear on traditional LEGO bricks). This method utilizes beams and pins rather than technic bricks.

Mindstorms, a Lego line of robotic products, also uses a large number of Technic pieces, although it is sold as a separate line of products. The next generation of the Mindstorms range, the Mindstorms NXT range (released Aug 2006), is based on the studless construction method.

Many fans of Lego find the change to studless to be controversial, because of the popular notion that Lego pieces should keep with tradition and maintain the iconic studs. However, studless construction offers a number of new construction methods that were previously unavailable. The primary benefit is that the new studless beams are exactly 1 unit in height. The studded Lego bricks are taller and could only be divided into thirds using plates (three plates are the same height as one brick), which is somewhat awkward when designing structures vertically. The studless system allows designers to build more complex models. The studless beams are compatible with the studded, and they existed long before the studded beams were removed from Technic sets.

As of 2006, Lego has begun to re-incorporate studded bricks back into the Technic line, which can be seen in set 8421, The Mobile Crane. Both studded bricks and studless beams are combined so that the best features of both building techniques are utilized.

LEGO Technic system expands on the normal LEGO bricks with a whole range of new bricks that offer new functionality and building styles. The most significant change from normal LEGO is that single-stud wide bricks ('beams') have circular holes through their vertical face, positioned in-between the studs. These holes can accommodate pins, which enable two beams to be held securely together, either side-by-side, or at an angle.

Lego Technic system has always included a variety of different electric motors. Broadly, these divide into those powered by batteries, held in a connected battery box, or by mains electricity, via a transformer. Battery-power is the most common.

Early motors were either 9 volt or 4.5 volt, and consisted of a large brick with a small protruding axle that would rotate when the motor was powered. The motor was not hugely geared-down, resulting in high-RPM, low-torque output.

Recent motors (such as the Mindstorms NXT motor), contain a hole into which an axle should be inserted, enabling axles of different lengths to be used.

Main article: Lego pneumatics

Gears have been included within Lego Technic sets as a way of transferring rotary power, and of gearing-up or down the speed. Gears come in several sizes: 8 tooth, 16 tooth, 24 tooth and 40 tooth. In addition to standard gears, some kits include a flattened "brick" gears, and even worm gears and differential gears.

Chain links were also introduced as an additional way of connecting gears.

• Lego Pneumatics
• Lego Mindstorms

• Lego Technic information at Lego website