Everything You Want To Know About LEGO Gears

LEGO gears have evolved significantly since their introduction in 1965. The article explores the history and technical aspects of LEGO gears, from the early designs to the modern involute gears used in Technic sets.

The first LEGO gears, introduced in a Samsonite set in 1965, were simple round plates with no axles, featuring long, thin teeth. Five years later, the Expert Builder gears were introduced, which were similar but included axles. These early gears were designed to work side by side and around corners, but the two families are not compatible because they have different sized teeth. The article then delves into the technical aspects of gears, explaining terms like root diameter, tip diameter, and pitch diameter, and how they relate to the size and number of teeth. The Radial Pitch is calculated by dividing the number of teeth by the radius.

In 1977, LEGO launched the Technic system with a new gear design: involute gears. The initial set of gears included 8, 24, and 40-tooth gears, with a Radial Pitch of 16. The 16-tooth gear was added in 1979, but it couldn't easily mesh with the other gears due to the lack of half-stud offsets at the time. This meant the 16-tooth gears were primarily used in pairs, with chains, or for rack and pinion steering.

For LEGO enthusiasts interested in building complex Technic models, understanding the different types and sizes of gears is crucial. Consider getting a LEGO Technic set to experiment with different gear combinations and mechanisms.