Measuring Gearbox Efficiency
This video describes a method for measuring the efficiency of a gearbox using the Lego Technic Powered Up hub. Gearbox efficiency is defined as the ratio of the output power to the input power and here I show how to measure each of these values to allow you to calculate the overall efficiency.
Gearbox losses are due to friction within gears and axles rubbing on the liftarms. By measuring these losses gearbox designs can be improved.
Efficiency values are calculated and shown for several gearing combinations and for an automatic gearbox design.
More to explore
New Flat 12/20 Gear Friction
The Lego Technic set 42140 App-Controlled Transformation Vehicle introduces two new gears - a flat version of the 12 tooth bevel gear and a flat version of the 20 tooth bevel gear. These gears are designed to have less friction.
In this video I measure the difference in gearing efficiency...read more
How to measure a Lego Technic Crane's Efficiency. The results surprised me!
Here I demonstrate how to measure the efficiency of a Lego Technic MOC crane using basic physics. Efficiency is the ratio of the useful energy output (the potential energy put added to the weight) the to the input energy (power source power). The efficiency curve is interesting and does not look ...read more
Lego Technic New 12/20 Gear High Speed Friction Test
The Lego Technic set 42140 App-Controlled Transformation Vehicle introduces two new gears - a flat version of the 12 tooth bevel gear and a flat version of the 20 tooth bevel gear. These gears are designed to have less friction.
In this follow up video I measure the high speed difference ...read more
Lego Technic Gearing Ratio Calculator Tool
Here I present my new Lego Technic Gearing Ratio Calculator tool. This tool allows you to upload your Lego Technic .ldr (Lego Draw) file and it will simulate the gearing system and visualize it as well as showing the gearing ratios relative to the input component.
The tool can be accessed...read more
Gearing Ratio Calculator Tool Help
Lego Technic Gearing Ratio Tool Update
This video presents updates to the Technic Brick Power Lego Technic Gearing Ratio Calculator tool specifically on underconstrained differential systems. These are systems in which the differentials are not fully constrained and therefore have 1 or more degrees of freedom within them.
The ...read more
Lego Technic PU 2 Speed Automatic Gearbox
This video presents a lego technic two speed automatic gearbox using two motors and the Powered Up (PU) lego technic control system. Each motor uses a pivoting gear to either connect to it's gear to the left when rotating in the forward direction or to the gear to the right when reversing. Th...read more
Lego Technic Powerful 2 Speed Auto Gearbox
Here I present my design for a compact and powerful Lego Technic 2 speed automatic gearbox.
The gearbox uses the Lego Technic Powered Up functions to detect speed and deduce torque from that to make gear switching decisions. The gearbox switches between a high gear of 1 to 4, to a low gea...read more
Lego Technic Pi Day Machine
Here I present a Pi Day special Lego Technic machine that produces a gearing ratio of Pi/8 using a 56mm wheel driving a 13x13 square wheel.
The correctness of the ratio is confirmed by matching it with output of a 2 differential gearing system that produces a ratio of 355/9...read more
Lego Technic Powered Up Tutorial 2 - Speed Control
This is my second Lego Technic Powered Up Tutorial that focusses on Lego Technic motor speed control using the Powered Up hub and Powered Up programming interface. The Lego Powered Up App is run on a Samsung Android tablet. I demonstrate how to set and control the power level applied to a motor.<...read more