Lifting Bricks
June 10, 2016 3:55 PM Subscribe
The Liebherr LTM 11200-9.1 is the most powerful mobile crane in the world. Here is a 1:16 scale radio-controlled scale model, with 21 motors, weighing 25 kg - built entirely from Lego.
Huh, I passed one of its smaller siblings on the interstate the other week. Pretty impressive in person, and it only had like six axles or something.
posted by indubitable at 4:42 PM on June 10, 2016
posted by indubitable at 4:42 PM on June 10, 2016
I bet it can't lift 1:16 scale the weight. C'mon Lego, step up your game....
posted by Nanukthedog at 4:46 PM on June 10, 2016
posted by Nanukthedog at 4:46 PM on June 10, 2016
"I bet it can't lift 1:16 scale the weight."
Based on first principles, it ought to be able to beat that easily because the size scale is a linear relationship while weight varies by the cube. Of course the actual structural mechanics of the Lego model are much different than the real thing and it could be much more flimsy, relatively speaking. But, really, it's probably not because at 1:16 scale, the mass involved is much, much less and even just frictional adhesion on Lego blocks is probably, in relative terms, stronger than in the real thing.
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 5:01 PM on June 10, 2016 [3 favorites]
Based on first principles, it ought to be able to beat that easily because the size scale is a linear relationship while weight varies by the cube. Of course the actual structural mechanics of the Lego model are much different than the real thing and it could be much more flimsy, relatively speaking. But, really, it's probably not because at 1:16 scale, the mass involved is much, much less and even just frictional adhesion on Lego blocks is probably, in relative terms, stronger than in the real thing.
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 5:01 PM on June 10, 2016 [3 favorites]
I can't figure out how big anything in that video actually is. All of my scale and size cues are being defeated.
posted by clawsoon at 6:10 PM on June 10, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by clawsoon at 6:10 PM on June 10, 2016 [2 favorites]
The vegetation was freaking me out.
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 6:18 PM on June 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 6:18 PM on June 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
Based on first principles, it ought to be able to beat that easily because the size scale is a linear relationship while weight varies by the cube. Of course the actual structural mechanics of the Lego model are much different than the real thing and it could be much more flimsy, relatively speaking. But, really, it's probably not because at 1:16 scale, the mass involved is much, much less and even just frictional adhesion on Lego blocks is probably, in relative terms, stronger than in the real thing.
The actual crane can lift 1200t. If you scaled something that heavy down 1/16 in all three axes, that's still a quarter ton!
posted by aubilenon at 6:52 PM on June 10, 2016 [3 favorites]
The actual crane can lift 1200t. If you scaled something that heavy down 1/16 in all three axes, that's still a quarter ton!
posted by aubilenon at 6:52 PM on June 10, 2016 [3 favorites]
Bah, they forgot the cooler top on that Vestas model. Yes, I'm a wind turbine nerd.
It's a bit annoying when your crane mat contractor gets it a bit wrong and this happens. No-one was hurt, but that was one Manitowoc M-18000 that never went out again.
posted by scruss at 9:20 PM on June 10, 2016
It's a bit annoying when your crane mat contractor gets it a bit wrong and this happens. No-one was hurt, but that was one Manitowoc M-18000 that never went out again.
posted by scruss at 9:20 PM on June 10, 2016
Lie here does cool stuff, like having their cranes lift cranes lifting cranes.
posted by jeffamaphone at 11:39 PM on June 10, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by jeffamaphone at 11:39 PM on June 10, 2016 [2 favorites]
"The actual crane can lift 1200t. If you scaled something that heavy down 1/16 in all three axes, that's still a quarter ton!"
Huh, you're right: 16^3 is 4096 and 1/4096 of 1,200t tons is still a respectable 586 pounds. So those Legos couldn't lift that, depending upon their actual assembly. If you actually built a working 1:16 scale model in all details, it still should easily be able to lift that, though, because while it's 1/16th the linear size, it would only be doing 1/4096th the work in lifting a 1:16 scaled object.
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 12:14 AM on June 11, 2016
Huh, you're right: 16^3 is 4096 and 1/4096 of 1,200t tons is still a respectable 586 pounds. So those Legos couldn't lift that, depending upon their actual assembly. If you actually built a working 1:16 scale model in all details, it still should easily be able to lift that, though, because while it's 1/16th the linear size, it would only be doing 1/4096th the work in lifting a 1:16 scaled object.
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 12:14 AM on June 11, 2016
omg these are the cutest little trucks ever lookit them moving around together like little pixie trucks in a concrete fairyland squeee
posted by Dee Grim at 2:59 AM on June 11, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Dee Grim at 2:59 AM on June 11, 2016 [1 favorite]
Is it bad that I watched that and considered how much I'd pay for the set?
(I came to about $800, in case you're interested - I wouldn't be surpised to hear that they cost 5-10x that much)
posted by Nice Guy Mike at 6:57 AM on June 11, 2016
(I came to about $800, in case you're interested - I wouldn't be surpised to hear that they cost 5-10x that much)
posted by Nice Guy Mike at 6:57 AM on June 11, 2016
→ I'm guessing they 3D printed the wind turbine parts?
Looks that way, and the colour-perfect Vestas protection tarps are a nice touch.
I've business card-bombed every trade show stand that has model crane giveaways for best part of a decade. Never won one yet, dammit.
posted by scruss at 9:54 AM on June 11, 2016
Looks that way, and the colour-perfect Vestas protection tarps are a nice touch.
I've business card-bombed every trade show stand that has model crane giveaways for best part of a decade. Never won one yet, dammit.
posted by scruss at 9:54 AM on June 11, 2016
Nice Guy Mike, it's a 'MOC' - "My Own Creation." So it is not available as a set as such. The builder says "tens of thousands of bricks" - the average price of a brick in a set is about 10c, and individual bricks could be much more if ordered separately online (e.g. bricklink). So yeah it would probably be thousands of dollars minimum to put this together, without the motors and RC stuff.
posted by carter at 10:38 AM on June 11, 2016
posted by carter at 10:38 AM on June 11, 2016
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posted by thewalrus at 4:41 PM on June 10, 2016 [3 favorites]