In General
Pins
Beams
Cross Axles / Shafts
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This page covers Lego parts that are part of their TECHNIC collection.
There are parts to do just about anything imaginable - things that can't be assembled by using the standard "block and plate" approach like buildings. Together, when you add the "regular" line of elements into the mix, the possibilities are endless.
Technic kits are for things like cars, cranes, bulldozers, other construction equipment, and anything else that can't be built using the standard Lego style brick, or element.
For most kits, you won't see a whole lot of the standard bricks mixed in, but there are places where they come in especially handy if you're building (for instance), a crane, and you need tiles to cover portions of the frame. Standard parts are also used to build things like the doors and seats of vehicles.
I know a lot of people reading my non-Lego pages my take issue with me supporting the use of non-Lego manufacturers and parts. Keep in mind that Lego produces a very limited range of kits, while the (mostly) Chinese designers and manufacturers have no bounds, and are not limited by the restriction Lego places on what they will release. It took many years for Lego to release a Star Wars kit, due to the fact that Lego preferred not to promote any "war" related products (including things like guns and tanks). Back in the early 80's, their decision to start offering Star Wars products literally saved them from going chapter 11. With that said, I have encountered very few problems in building non-Lego kits made by outfits such as Mould King, Jiestar, Reobrix, and smaller no-name manufacturers. The biggest problem I have encountered is with the assembly directions, where they usually don't go to the same efforts that Lego does to help the assembly of your kit.
Websites and other additional information sources of interest:
https://www.lego.com/en-us
https://www.brickhello.com/post/2019/05/07/identifying-fake-lego-technic-parts-guide Identifying non-Lego ("fake") parts
Pins Beams Cross Axles / Shafts Other
Pins are to Technic pieces as studs are to the regular elements - they hold
the pieces together. Due to the wide variety of connecting situations,
there is a large number of pins used for various configurations. There
are even Technic elements that feature "built-in" pins.
Figure 1 shows the "standard" connector pin. The usual color for this
pin is black, and provides a fairly snug fit. It is used to connect
two standard width pieces together.
Figure 2 shows a pin used to connect a standard width piece to a half width
piece. Popular colors for this pin are light gray and a light tan.
Figure 3 shows the pins that are used to hold (mostly) tiles to the side of
something. Light gray is a popular color for these.
Cross axles help with assembly by holding pieces together, like a series of
couplings; supporting things like wheels and gears; or transmitting power.
Standard lengths are from 2L to 16L. You will see these parts in
mostly gray, light gray, black, or in the case of the short 2L's, mostly in
red.
Figure 31 shows the relative sizes from 2L to 10L and their lengths in
millimeters.
Some kits offer a composite axle for transmitting a bigger load or
supporting bigger wheels.
There are special versions of these axles, that include stops and stud ends.
Disclaimers:
New format 10/26/23: Please check out my disclaimer page for my standard dribble and contact info
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