tensegrity Archives - EverydayBricks

A Floating Island — A Lego Tensegrity Build

This Floating Island is a Lego Tensegrity Sculpture built by LaughingJelly. This scene would fit in perfectly with Ninjago. The floating island is carefully balanced over a serene lake. The optical effect is actually created with a system of tension. The three Lego ropes / strings are holding the island up. In order to get the length just right the designer has hidden a technic pin inside the rocks, and has coiled the center string until the effect works. It can hold a surprisingly large amount of bricks / weight, but any sort of horizontal pressure will cause everything to fall over. The sheer amount of grass and vegetation makes the scene look like a hidden garden. And, the whole thing has been built on top of a detailed base. A detail that a lot of designers skip over.

You can find more info about this Floating Island Lego MOC over here: https://www.reddit.com/r/lego/comments/haqug2/i_made_a_japanese_floating_island_it_took_weeks/

A lot more Lego Tensegrity builds can be found on EveryDayBricks over here: http://everydaybricks.com/tag/tensegrity/

Guard Duty At Tensegrity Tower

Guard duty at Tensegrity Tower requires a certain amount of courage. To save on construction costs a local wizard can be employed to help build your next tower. Saving at least 50% of material costs. Just be on the look out, as any type of lateral force could knock you over at any time. Tensegrity Tower is a Lego MOC created by David Roberts. This is a very clean build, focusing on keeping your attention on the tower. The scenery is just a few plants, a couple of trees, and a short stone path. The addition of a foundation gives this tower a certain plausibility, and creates a target to attract your eyes to the center. The yellow stonework of the tower is a nod to the original castle theme. With just three chains holding up the upper portion. There must be some sort of magical portal leading up to the top, otherwise the guard is going to have a hard time getting down.

You can find more information about Tensegrity Tower, and read some ad copy from the local wizard over here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/davidroberts01341/49802418702/

A lot more Lego Tensegrity sculptures can be found on EveryDayBricks over here: http://everydaybricks.com/tag/tensegrity/

Get Ready To Blast Off With This Lego Tensegrity Sculpture

This Lego space fighter is landing, or maybe taking off in this Tensegrity Sculpture built by Lego Mfr. The optical illusion is a popular new trend in Lego MOCs, and there are some surprising creations. Some of the best are the ones that emphasize the space between the two parts. In this build, that would be the rocky outcropping and the hovering space fighter. Lego ropes and chains have been the favorite pieces to use for the key tension based structure. The ropes blend into the scenery better, while the chains work best when they are supposed to be seen. This build is one of the taller tensegrity creations out there. It uses a lot of SNOT techniques, and the end result would look great on its own. A quick question though, did the space ships engines start a fire, or is the ship hovering over an open lava pit?

You can find more information about this “Space Tensegrity” creation over here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/148920425@N07/49867291291/

And, if you are looking for other creative Lego tensegrity sculptures you can find some on EveryDayBricks over here: http://everydaybricks.com/tag/tensegrity/

The 10-SGTY Racer — A Lego Tensegrity Build

This is the 10-SGTY Racer a Lego MOC created by lokiloki29. They built a Lego Tensegrity Sculpture to achieve the hovering spaceship effect. A building technique that has exploded in popularity in the last few weeks. Most of them use Lego chains to hold the weight and balance the floating parts. This creation uses Lego ropes / strings. It helps the spaceship look like it is tethered down, yet ready to depart at any moment. The hanger design is well detailed too. With SNOT techniques used to achieve a more detailed and cleaner base. The yellow boxes created out of Lego plates, and the extra grates on the big Lego grates are great details. The platform lift / gantry is what really helps pull everything together. The appearance of it being on wheels hides its real purpose of being the support structure that is holding up the starfighter. A quick climb up to the walkway and now our pilot is board!

You can find more details about the 10-SGTY Racer over here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/lokiloki29/49859835061/

And, you can find more Lego Tensegrity builds on EveryDayBricks over here: http://everydaybricks.com/tag/tensegrity/

A Lego City Tensegrity Sculpture

Lego Tensegrity builds have broken out of the basic shape and have been exploring just what is possible with the physics. The gravity defying trick is being refined at a fast pace. This Lego City Tensegrity Sculpture is created by Ken MA, who has been inspired by the film “Inception.” Here the city is both above and below. An interesting feature about this Lego MOC in particular is that of the three chains/supports, the center one is trying to disappear as much as possible. A few transparent bricks helps this effect. These are great Lego skyscrapers, and would fit right in with the official architecture theme. Except half of them are upside down.

A Lego City Tensegrity Sculpture Backside

Check out more photos and details about this Lego Tensegrity Sculpture over here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/157484888@N02/49850672581/

You can find more Tensegrity Lego stuff on EveryDayBricks over here: http://everydaybricks.com/tag/tensegrity/

Getting Lost In The Upside Down – A Lego Stranger Things Tensegrity Build

Lucas, Eleven, Dustin, and Mike are on a quest to save Will from the Demogorgon and the Upside Down. This Lego Stranger Things Tensegrity build is the creation of Richard Jones. The weightless appearance of the Upside Down fits perfectly, and it really looks like Will is in a place he cannot escape. They found the perfect theme for this optical illusion. Tensegrity builds are increasingly popular, and each new one shared is more elaborate than the last. The secret is that the Lego chains are under tension, and are holding up everything above the tree with physics. A delicate balance that can be knocked over at the slightest bump. This Lego Stranger Things MOC is so well done it almost looks like an official Lego release. And, it should be.

Getting Lost In The Upside Down - A Lego Stranger Things Tensegrity Build - Alternate

You can find other photos and information about this Lego Stranger Things Tensegrity Build over here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/gasdoc/49825919647/

Great Scott! A Lego Back To The Future Tensegrity Build

Emmet Brown would approve of combining Lego and Tensegrity Sculptures. The concept of a system of tension that can support itself, while not actually interacting with itself is a neat idea. They often create optical illusions where heavy things can appear to be floating. This Lego Delorean is perfectly balanced and is ultimately being help up by just three strings. There have been some basic versions of this trick, but lately they have been more and more complicated/themed. This Lego Back To The Future Tensegrity build is the creation of hachiroku24. The theming is great. The base depicts part of a road, and the unpaved shoulder on the side. With Marty on a brick built hoverboard. He is connected to one of the stings, which is a clever way to make him look like he is really hovering. In the end this is a perfect way to display a Lego Back to the Future 2 themed Delorean.

You can find this “Tensegrity Delorean” over here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/hachiroku24/49806179978/

A neat bonus is that hachiroku24 has provided video instructions on how to build this yourself. Showing how the support structure is built, and even showing how to balance everything at the end. Check out the video below, or over here: https://youtu.be/9HjtvKjwe0k