Alectric Labs

LEGO Tube

This page describes a tubular structure that I designed and built out of LEGO® bricks. The structure is built from 208 LEGO® pieces with 16 identical beams and 13 pieces per beam. Below are pictures of the tube and building instructions.

Physical Properties of the Tube:

• Length: 24cm (9.4375 inches)
• Outer Diameter: 13.8cm (5.4375 inches)
• Inner Diameter: 10.5cm (4.125 inches)
• Mass: 435.8 grams

Building Instructions

• (96) 2x10 plates
• (48) 2x2 bricks
• (32) 2x4 bricks
• (32) 1x2 hinge bricks

1. You will need the following pieces for each of the 16 beams:
   • (6) 2x10 plates
   • (3) 2x2 bricks
   • (2) 2x4 bricks
   • (2) 1x2 fork and stub hinge bricks
   
2. Put three 2x10 plates side by side so that the plates make contact on the two studded sides.
3. Connect the three plates together by using two 2x4 bricks centered over each connection.
4. Attach the three 2x2 bricks to the plates so that each one is at the center of a 2x10 plate.
5. Put the two hinge bricks facing the same direction onto the plates next to the outer edges of the outer 2x2 bricks.
6. Attach the remaining three 2x10 plates so that they are lined up with the first three plates.
7. Make 15 more beams identical to the first one. Attach the beams together using the stubs and forks on the hinge connectors.
8. Stand up the connected set of 16 beams and evenly bend the hinges (one notch per hinge) so that the two unconnected ends meet up. Connect the hinges of these two beams together to finish the tube.