Basic Geometries
U = Unit
S = Stud (Unit of Width)
H = Brick Height (Unit of Height) (1)
P = Plate Height
1S 2u 6u 2u
2+u
12u 1H
4u 1P
10u 10u
Brick Plate
1S = 1 Stud Width= 5/6 Brick Height = 5/2 Plate Height = 10 units
1H = 6/5 Stud Width= 1 Brick Height = 3 Plate Height = 12 units
1P = 2/5 Stud Width= 1/3 BrickHeight = 1 Plate Height = 4 units
(1) I don’t use B for Brick Height because its too ambiguous I find That I confuse it with ‘Brick Width’ Which is also a term I use
as Synonymous with Stud.
Stud Width to Brick Height: Even
You can always find a ‘Brick Height’ equivalent for any even number of studs.
For example:
2 Studs = 2 Studs * (10 uints/Stud) = 20 units
= 20 units / ( 4 units/ Plate) = 5 Plates
= 1 Brick & 2 Plates
But, the top ‘Plate’ must really be a
tile, since the studs stick up an extra
2 units. Therefore, the equivalent of
2 studs, in brick heights is: 4u 4u 12u
20u
2 Studs = ! Brick, 1 Plate & 1 Tile
2 Studs
or
20 units
Stud Width to Brick Height: Odd
You can also find a near ‘Brick Height’ equivalent for any odd number of studs.
It is a snug fit and it leaves gaps due to the studs.
.
For example:
1 Studs = 1 Studs * (10 uints/Stud) = 10 units
= 10 units / ( 4 units/ Plate) = 2 Plates + 2 Units
The height of the studs are ~2.5
units. Therefore 2 plates, plus the
stud height of the top plate, make 4u 4u
about 10 units, or exactly Stud 2+u 10u
Width.
1 Stud
or
10 units
Brick Height to Stud Equvilances
Even Number of Studs Odd Number of Studs
2 Studs = 1 Brick, 1 Plate, 1 Tile 1 Studs = 2 Plates
4 Studs = 3 Bricks, 1 Tile 3 Studs = 2 Bricks, 1 Plate
6 Studs = 4 Bricks, 2 Plates, 1 Tile 5 Studs = 4 Bricks
8 Studs = 6 Bricks, 1 Plate, 1 Tile 7 Studs = 5 Bricks, 2 Plates
10 Studs = 8 Bricks, 1 Tile 9 Studs = 7 Bricks, 1 Plate
12 Studs = 9 Bricks , 2 Plates, 1 Tile- 11 Studs = 9 Bricks
Note that the top must always be a tile Note that the Studs are required for an
for an even number of studs. even height match for an odd number
of studs.
These equivalents allow flush
transitions between Stud-up and Stud- These equivalents are often useful
side construction. internally to provide a snug non-stud
connection.
Stud Width to Brick Height
Potential Uses
Even Stud Width, Even Stud Width,
Studs facing out Studs facing to side
Stud Width to Brick Height
Potential Uses
Odd Stud Width – Snug fit, but works
well for holding stud-to-side mounted
pieces on models
Rod & Clip
3u 3u 5u
10u 10u 10u 10u
5u 5u
Same Stud orientation, Change Stud orientation,
using Horizontal Clips using Vertical Clips
Technic Brick & Pin
Technic bricks used with stud-pins
5u provide flush mounting either on stud
allignment or with ½ stud offset.
7u
10u 10u 5u 5u
Half Stud Offset
Half stud offset pieces have a Plate
height, but when used, they move all
geometries to an odd number of
units.
10u 15u
Another good half stud offset piece is
the 1x4 plate with offsets. It has two 5u
studs that are offset by ½ stud in one
direction. All studs line up on stud
boundaries in the other direction.
10u 10u 10u
Fifth Stud Offset
8u 2u2u
5u
10u
7u
3u 2u
5u
Since a stud is 10 units across,
5u an offset of 2 units is a 1/5 stud
offset.
5u 5u Fifth stud offsets can be
obtained several ways. For
example, using the 1x1 brick
with a side stud or using the
1x2-1x4 plate bracket.
Fifth Stud Offset
Once face of this brick is set back by
1/5 of a stud.
If you put a plate on the front, the stud
is protruding by 1/5 of a stud width.
Flush stud 1/5 stud
receiver offset stud
connection connection
on this side If you rotate the brick 90 degrees and
on this side use the square hole on the back to
connect to a stud, you can use the
bottom of the brick to provide a 1/5 stud
offset stud receiver on one side, or a
1/5 stud
flush stud connection on the other side.
offset stud
Flush stud Placing a plate on the top of the brick
receiver
connection makes it come out to an even brick
connection
on this side height.
on this side
Fifth Stud Offset
10u
2u
Tenth Stud Offset
One way to accomplish Tenth stud offset is to combine the ½ stud offset
techniques with 1/5 stud offset technique.
3u 4u 4u
The surface of the second plate
is 1/10 of a stud from the edge of
the lower plate.
1u
5u 5u
More Fun with Lego and Math
Fun with Rods & Clips
Rod & Clip is one of my favorite techniques because it allows such a wide variety of
non-orthogonal angles to be incorporated in a Lego design.
Example: An octagonal tower roof for a cathedral.
Basic design: Eight sloping wedges come to a peak. Use studs-to-side orientation
in order to have a more gradual stepping for the tapering of the tower. Use 2x2
plate w/ octagonal rod to support tapering sides.
Design calls for a tower roof that is 14 studs
across at the base and about 46 bricks high.
Problem: Where do you place the clips, so that
the sides of the octagonal roof come together
properly at an even rate?
In profile, This piece is the same as the 1x2
plate with the horizontal rod.
I used the 1x1 plate with the vertical clip to
change the stud orientation.
15u
Fun with Rods & Clips (cont)
Slope: To determine the slope, look at where
the base starts and where the peak ends. I left
a ½ stud clearance around the base of the
tower, leaving 13 studs for the tower.
We have 528u to go up, for a horizontal travel of
65 units.
552u/65u = 8.4
46H
or Since the minimum horizontal change is 1 plate
552u (4u) this means that the rise for 1 plate change
would be ~34u or just under 3.5 studs. Since it
is difficult to do a 3.5 stud run, I selected to
extend that to a 4 stud run. Thus, the slope
turnd out to be 4 studs (40u) per plate (4u), or:
rise/run = 40u/4u = 10
6.5S or 65u
Fun with Rods & Clips (cont)
Create formula to determine the position
of the center of the clip for various X = 65u – 5 – L*cos(A1) – C*cos(A2)
positions along the tower peak. We
need X to be 15 units or as close as Y = 4 + L*sin(A1) – C*sin(A2) - 3
possible to that, so that the clip matches
up with the rod. And Y needs to be an L = (number of studs)*10 – 5
even multiple of 4 units so that we can
adjust the height of the octagonal rod A2 = 90 – A1 C = (number of studs) * 10
plate using bricks and plates, to match
up with the clip.
Arm
X Clip
C
10u L
A2
3u
15u A1
Y 65u
4u
(Offset to allow for
(Offset from centerline to 5u lower edge and for
edge of brick - approx) studs clearance)
Fun with Rods & Clips (cont)
C= 2 C= 3 C= 4
n L X Y ModXModY Y(h) +Y(p) X Y ModXModY Y(h) +Y(p) X Y ModXModY Y(h) +Y(p)
1 5 24.6 4.99 4.6 0.99 0 1.25 14.7 3.99 4.65 0.01 0 1 4.7 3 4.7 1 0 0.75
2 15 23.6 14.9 3.61 1.06 1 0.73 13.7 13.9 3.66 1.94 1 0.49 3.71 12.9 3.71 0.95 1 0.24
3 25 22.6 24.9 2.61 0.89 2 0.22 12.7 23.9 2.66 0.11 1 2.97 2.71 22.9 2.71 1.1 1 2.72
4 35 21.6 34.8 1.62 1.16 2 2.71 11.7 33.8 1.67 1.84 2 2.46 1.72 32.8 1.72 0.85 2 2.21
5 45 20.6 44.8 0.62 0.79 3 2.2 10.7 43.8 0.67 0.21 3 1.95 0.72 42.8 0.72 1.2 3 1.7
6 55 19.6 54.7 0.37 1.26 4 1.68 9.68 53.7 0.32 1.74 4 1.44 -0.3 52.7 0.27 0.75 4 1.19
7 65 18.6 64.7 1.37 0.69 5 1.17 8.68 63.7 1.32 0.31 5 0.92 -1.3 62.7 1.27 1.3 5 0.67
8 75 17.6 74.6 2.36 1.36 6 0.66 7.69 73.6 2.31 1.64 6 0.41 -2.3 72.6 2.26 0.65 6 0.16
9 85 16.6 84.6 3.36 0.59 7 0.15 6.69 83.6 3.31 0.41 6 2.9 -3.3 82.6 3.26 1.4 6 2.65
10 95 15.6 94.5 4.35 1.46 7 2.63 5.7 93.5 4.3 1.54 7 2.39 -4.3 92.5 4.25 0.55 7 2.14
11 105 14.7 104 4.65 0.49 8 2.12 4.7 103 4.7 0.51 8 1.87 -5.2 102 4.75 1.5 8 1.62
12 115 13.7 114 3.66 1.56 9 1.61 3.71 113 3.71 1.44 9 1.36 -6.2 112 3.76 0.45 9 1.11
13 125 12.7 124 2.66 0.39 10 1.1 2.71 123 2.71 0.61 10 0.85 -7.2 122 2.76 1.6 10 0.6
14 135 11.7 134 1.67 1.66 11 0.58 1.72 133 1.72 1.34 11 0.34 -8.2 132 1.77 0.35 11 0.09
15 145 10.7 144 0.67 0.29 12 0.07 0.72 143 0.72 0.7 11 2.82 -9.2 142 0.77 1.7 11 2.58
16 155 9.68 154 0.32 1.76 12 2.56 -0.3 153 0.27 1.25 12 2.31 -10 152 0.22 0.25 12 2.06
17 165 8.68 164 1.32 0.19 13 2.05 -1.3 163 1.27 0.8 13 1.8 -11 162 1.22 1.8 13 1.55
18 175 7.69 174 2.31 1.86 14 1.54 -2.3 173 2.26 1.15 14 1.29 -12 172 2.21 0.15 14 1.04
19 185 6.69 184 3.31 0.09 15 1.02 -3.3 183 3.26 0.9 15 0.77 -13 182 3.21 1.9 15 0.53
20 195 5.7 194 4.3 1.96 16 0.51 -4.3 193 4.25 1.05 16 0.26 -14 192 4.2 0.05 16 0.01
21 205 4.7 204 4.7 0.01 16 3 -5.2 203 4.75 1 16 2.75 -15 202 4.8 2 16 2.5
22 215 3.71 214 3.71 1.94 17 2.49 -6.2 213 3.76 0.95 17 2.24 -16 212 3.81 0.05 17 1.99
23 225 2.71 224 2.71 0.11 18 1.97 -7.2 223 2.76 1.1 18 1.72 -17 222 2.81 1.9 18 1.48
24 235 1.72 234 1.72 1.84 19 1.46 -8.2 233 1.77 0.85 19 1.21 -18 232 1.82 0.15 19 0.96
25 245 0.72 244 0.72 0.21 20 0.95 -9.2 243 0.77 1.2 20 0.7 -19 242 0.82 1.8 20 0.45
26 255 -0.3 254 0.27 1.74 21 0.44 -10 253 0.22 0.75 21 0.19 -20 252 0.17 0.25 20 2.94
27 265 -1.3 264 1.27 0.31 21 2.92 -11 263 1.22 1.3 21 2.67 -21 262 1.17 1.7 21 2.43
28 275 -2.3 274 2.26 1.65 22 2.41 -12 273 2.21 0.65 22 2.16 -22 272 2.17 0.34 22 1.91
Spread sheet to calculate X & Y Clip positions
Leftover pieces
Simple Relationships
1S 1u 3u 1u
2u
12u 1H
4u 1P
S = Stud (Unit of Width)
H = Brick Height (Unit of Height) (1)
10u 10u
Brick Plate