Originally published at: http://boingboing.net/2017/08/01/catastrophic-lego-engine-failu.html
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Catastrophic Lego engine failure
All those Lego engines are going to require lots of Lego oil, which will lead to Lego Climate Change
Well plus the fact that Legos themselves are made from a petroleum derived ABS plastic.
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acrylonitrile_butadiene_styrene…
ABS is derived from acrylonitrile, butadiene, and styrene. Acrylonitrile is a synthetic monomer produced from propylene and ammonia; butadiene is a petroleum hydrocarbon obtained from the C4 fraction of steam cracking; styrene monomer is made by dehydrogenation of ethyl benzene — a hydrocarbon obtained in the reaction of ethylene and benzene.
It looks to me like they’re using the wires in a saline solution, and moving the wires farther apart to make the engine go slower (more resistance) and closer to make it go faster. I’m not totally sure though, we don’t see it long.
I think they are doing it to screw with us! They have electrical equipment, but no pots around. Really!
I’m falling on the side of this is purposefully messing with us!!!
Probably could have gone to higher RPMs if they’d sanded down the pistons slightly, and put some graphite on the pistons and crankshaft. Friction is likely the killer here.
I think it’s more likely that the impact force of the pistons at the higher RPMs was to high for the lego connections, thus causing the engines to come apart.
I was anticipating close-ups of melted and/or broken pieces in the end. In the absence of such spectacular results, impact forces and vibration do seem likely culprits.
Seriously. Do you know what kind of plastic bucks Lego mechanic’s labor is? Many, many tiny brown treasure chests’ worth, I tell you.