Complicated Machines With Lego

Fully functional machine - replicate the Antikythera Mechanism.

Lego already known as one of the most important toys to inspires kids to develop their creativity. By building easy structures such as home, car, building, and many other objects they will begin to develop something more complicated such as machine prototype. Perhaps Lego not only important with kids for creativity but adult too. This is true for Andrew Carol.

Andrew Carol has passion for mechanical devices and re-invented it using Lego pieces. One of the most popular machine he constructed was Antikythera Mechanism based on the real machine found by divers in 1908 off the coast of Antikythera. It took us almost 100 years to know what exactly it is, until examination using X-Rays and CAT scans revealing the internal components inside it.

The original piece of Antikythera Mechanism.

The gears on Lego version created by Andrew Carol.

Gears functions on the machines explained in the video.

Back to Andrew Carol and his Lego hobbies; he also invented few more complicated machines using Lego pieces includes the 3^rd generation of Charles Babbage Difference Engine. More of his work and hobbies can be found here on this website. From the website he also shared more details about how those machines works complete with videos.

Well it tells us that it is still not too late for everyone to play with this wonderful toy. Maybe we can come out with more brilliant ideas if we work together with the whole family.

Lego The World's Most Famous Construction Games

Classic Lego pieces that can construct into various objects.

Lego is the world’s famous construction game because of its unique function. It was designed by a carpenter named Ole Kirk Christiansen (1891-1958) from Billund, Denmark in 1932. Almost all of today's generation recognized Lego though most of us have never played with the real Lego sets.

Lego favored because of its ability to function in producing various shapes according players’ creativity. Even today there are sets that can only be formed into certain models, original Lego pieces is still popular in forming objects without limits. Through various changes in business this game, Lego also opened its own theme parks. Up to now there are six theme parks around the world and one of which is in Nusajaya, Malaysia. Up to July 2015, about 600 billion Lego parts were produced. In February 2015 Lego also replace Ferrari as "the most famous brand in the world" by Brand Finance.

Lego is derived from wood which began its produced in 1932 using the original name "Automatic Binding Bricks" and patented in the United Kingdom in 1939 and first marketed in 1947. The design was later modified by sample generated for production using the 'injection molding' machine, which was later bought by Lego. Lego pieces are then produced using cellulose acetate.

Today Lego has various shapes.

Lego can build the replica of a city.

Lego has a very attractive motto "det bedste er ikke for godt", which means "only the best is the best" or can also mean "the good is not the best". This motto is still in use to this day was founded by Ole Kirk to encourage his employees to not reduce the quality of their goods. Until 1951, plastic toys account half of the material produced by Lego at the time of plastic items is considered as less suitable for children's toys materials.

By 1954, Lego management was taken over by the son of Christiansen, who’s named Godtfred and it is also the start of a Lego empire expansion to foreign markets. Some of the reforms done to make it easier to match Lego pieces (into forms that are more versatile). In 1958, Lego has a modern design but it takes about 5 years to Lego using better materials of ABS polymer (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene). The modern Lego patented later on January 28, 1958.

In addition Lego introduced Lego Duplo, in 1969 that was designed to be larger up to 2 times the size of the original Lego to target those children in early stage. Design of a little man was first introduced in 1978, which later became part of complementary sets of next Lego.

Rivendell from Lego.

Among the models of Lego.

Lego has known, because of its ability that allows children to explore the potential of their skills in field of constructions, creativity, cognitive and so on. Arguably most of us recognized Lego although many of us never touched it. Lego is not only for children to play but also beyond its original functions and become part of the world community pride.

In May 2011, Lego joined spacecraft Space Shuttle Endeavour, mission STS-134 with 13 sets of Lego to the International Space Station to study the effects of micro-gravity on the resulting model. Results of this study will then be shared with schools as one of educational program.

In May 2013 the biggest model produced using Lego on display in New York on 5 millions Lego pieces to produce real size 1: 1 model of the X-wing fighter. In addition Lego also produces 112 foot tower and railway tracks spans 4 km (2.5 mi.).

Lego is constantly producing new releases in accordance with the passage of time. Even Lego has a strict quality control in which the high quality produces piece of Lego only has the tolerance of ± 10 micrometers. This is to ensure that each piece can be perfectly matched and can also be removed again.

The development Lego is due to continuous efforts of improvements not only in producing high quality goods but always producing new competitive designs. It is also not underestimate the ability of its competitors. Lego has a design staff of 120 people located in several areas such as the UK, Spain, Germany and Japan.

X-wing fighter produced using Lego.

One of the 6 Legolands in the world.

Apart from the production of the game and active in the promotion of the production of the largest models and so on. Lego also have movies, video games, board games and many more areas that make it always be remembered. Even today Lego also opening their "theme park" in number of areas, namely the first in Billund, Denmark; the second of which is located in Windsor, England; the third built in Günzburg, Germany; the fourth is in Carlsbad, California; the fifth is in Winter Haven, Florida; and the sixth is located in Nusajaya, Malaysia.

That such a little story about the unique history of the most famous games in the world of Lego, for those who can afford it, may make Lego as part of the game for their kids or a part of family activities. It is one game that proved to provide many benefits to children in forming a positive development.

Lego Permainan Pembinaan Paling Terkenal di Dunia

Kepingan-kepingan asas Lego yang membentuk pelbagai objek.

Lego merupakan permainan pembinaan yang paling terkenal di dunia kerana keunikannya berfungsi. Ia direka oleh seorang tukang kayu bernama Ole Kirk Christiansen (1891–1958) dari Billund, Denmark pada tahun 1932. Boleh dikatakan semua generasi hari ini mengenali Lego walaupun kebanyakan kita tidak pernah bermain dengan Lego yang sebenar.

Lego diminati oleh kerana keupayaannya berfungsi untuk menghasilkan pelbagai bentuk mengikut krativiti pemain. Walaupun hari ini terdapat keluaran yang hanya boleh membentuk model-model tertentu, kepingan lego asal, masih diminati dalam membentuk objek-objek tanpa had. Melalui pelbagai perubahan dalam bidang perniagaan permainan ini, Lego turut membuka taman temanya sendiri. Sehingga kini terdapat 6 taman tema di serata dunia dan satu daripadanya adalah di Nusajaya, Malaysia. Sehingga July 2015, kira-kira 600 billion bahagian Lego telah dihasilkan. Pada Februari 2015 juga Lego menggantikan Ferrari sebagai “jenama paling terkenal di dunia” oleh Brand Finance.

Lego berasal daripada permainan kayu yang mula dihasilkanpada tahun 1932 yang menggunakan nama asal  "Automatic Binding Bricks" dan di patentkan di United Kingdom pada tahun 1939 dan mula dipasarkan pada tahun 1947. Rekabentuk ini kemudiannya diubahsuai mengikut sample yang dihasilkan oleh pengeluaran menggunakan mesin ‘injection-molding’, yang kemudiannya dibeli oleh Lego. Kepingan Lego kemudiannya dihasilkan menggunakan ‘cellulose acetate’.

Hari ini Lego mempunyai bentuk yang pelbagai.

Lego boleh membentuk sebuah replika bandar.

Lego mempunyai moto yang amat menarik iaitu “det bedste er ikke for godt”, yang bermaksud “hanya yang terbaik adalah terbaik” atau boleh juga membawa maksud “yang terbaik masih belum terlalu baik”. Moto yang masih lagi digunakan sehingga ke hari ini diasaskan oleh Ole Kirk untuk menggalakkan para pekerjanya supaya tidak mengurangkan kualiti barangan mereka. Sehingga tahun 1951, barangan permainan plastik merupakan separuh daripada bahan yang dihasilkan oleh Lego yang pada masa itu barangan plastik dikira sebagai barangan yang kurang sesuai untuk peralatan permainan kanak-kanak.

Menjelang 1954, pengurusan Lego mula diambil alih oleh anak kepada  Christiansen iaitu  Godtfred yang juga merupakan bermulanya pengembangan empayar Lego ke pasaran luar. Beberapa pembaharuan dilakukan bagi menjadikan Lego lebih mudah untuk dipadankan (menjadi bentuk-bentuk yang lebih versatile). Pada tahun 1958, Lego mempunyai bentuk modennya namun ianya mengambil masa kira-kira 5 tahun lagi untuk Lego menggunakan material yang lebih baik iaitu polimer ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene). Lego moden kemudiannya dipatentkan pada 28 Januari 1958.

Selain daripada itu Lego juga memperkenalkan Lego Duplo pada tahun 1969 iaitu dengan rekaan yang lebih besar sehingga 2 kali ganda saiz Lego asal untuk menyasarkan kepada golongan kanak-kanak yang masih kecil. Rekabentuk manusia kecil pula mula diperkenalkan pada tahun 1978 yang kemudiannya terus menjadi sebahagian daripada pelengkap kepada set-set Lego yang berikutnya.

Rivendell daripada Lego.

Antara model-model besar daripada Lego.

Lego dikenali kerana permainan ini membolehkan kanak-kanak menerokai potensi kemahiran mereka dalam bidang pembinaan, kreativiti, kognitif dan sebagainya. Boleh dikatakan kebanyakan dari kita mengenali Lego (walaupun ramai juga yang tidak pernah menyentuhnya). Lego bukan sahaja menjadi permainan kanak-kanak malah ia juga melangkaui fungsi asalnya dan menjadi sebahagian daripada kebanggaan masyarakat dunia.

Pada May 2011, Lego menyertai kapal angkasa  Space Shuttle Endeavour, misi STS-134 bersama 13 set Lego menuju ke International Space Station dalam mengkaji kesan mikro-graviti ke atas model yang dihasilkan. Keputusan kajian ini kemudiannya akan dikongsikan bersama dengan sekolah-sekolah sebagai salah sau program pendidikan.

Pada May 2013 pula model terbesar yang dihasilkan menggunakan Lego di pamerkan di New York menggunakan 5 juta Lego untuk menghasilkan saiz sebenar 1:1 model kapal  X-wing fighter. Selain daripada itu Lego juga pernah menghasilkan menara 112 kaki dan landasan keretapi sejauh 4 km (2.5 mi.).

Lego sentiasa menghasilkan keluaran-keluaran terbaru bersesuaian dengan peredaran masa. Malah Lego mempunyai kawalan mutu yang ketat di mana mesin yang menghasilkan kepingan-kepingan Lego hanya mempunyai kadar tolerans sebanyak ± 10 mikrometer sahaja. Ini adalah untuk memastikan setiap kepingan dapat dicantumkan dengan sempurna dan boleh pula ditanggalkan semula.

Perkembangan permainan Lego ini adalah kerana usaha berterusan Lego yang bukan sahaja menghasilkan kualiti barangan yang bermutu malah sentiasa menghasilkan barangan baru yang berdaya saing. Ia juga tidak memandang rendah kemampuan pesaing-pesaingnya. Lego mempunyai kakitangan rekabentuk seramai 120 orang yang terletak di beberapa kawasan seperti di UK, Spain, German dan Japan.

X wing figther yang dihasilkan menggunakan Lego.

Satu daripada 6 Legoland di dunia.

Selain daripada penghasilan permainan dan aktif dalam promosi penghasilan model-model terbesar dan sebagainya. Lego juga mempunyai filem-filem, video games, board games dan pelbagai lagi bidang yang menjadikan ia sentiasa dikenang. Malah hari ini Lego turut menghasilkan “theme park” nya sendiri di beberapa kawasan iaitu yang pertamanya di  Billund, Denmark; yang keduanya terletak di  Windsor, England; yang ketiga dibina di Günzburg, Germany; yang ke-empat adalah di Carlsbad, California; yang kelima pula adalah di  Winter Haven, Florida; dan yang ke-enam terletak di Nusajaya, Malaysia.

Begitulah seba sedikit mengenai keunikan sejarah mengenai permainan yang paling terkenal di dunia iaitu Lego. Bagi mereka yang mampu, bolehlah menjadikan Lego sebagai sebahagian permainan untuk anak-anak mereka atau sebahagian daripada aktiviti keluarga. Ia merupakan antara permainan yang terbukti memberikan banyak kebaikan kepada kanak-kanak dalam membentuk perkembangan yang positif.