Скачать или смотреть Technical LEGO: Wind-up biconic top starter

GAMESCIENCE® (http://www.gamesciencedice.com) sells this "BIG '50' TOPPER" as a 50-sided die for gaming purposes. But I see all the earmarks of a long-spinning "biconic top" here -- decent heft, favorable mass distribution, great aerodynamics, and a smooth, low-friction tip at each pole.

But starting it on a pole a bitch -- mainly for want of good way to get hold of it.

I happened to be testing a wind-up LEGO mug mixer for my morning coffee (coming soon) when my die order came in the mail. Dropping the mixer, I opened the package, and tried to spin them by hand without much success. Didn't take long to realize that a top (die) like this really needs a detachable stem along the lines of the ones I made for some LEGO clutch tops a while back (links below). Then I remembered the mixer.

Getting the right adapter for the mixer took some trial and error and using it takes a little practice, but the starter works surprisingly well with the 3-pronged rubber-tipped adapter shown. Successful high-speed starts demand keeping the die's polar axis aligned with the mixer shaft throughout spin-up.

The finished product inherited most of its features from the mug mixer:
1. TLG's latest and most powerful wind-up motor (12787c01, 6x5x3, introduced 2013). No shortage of torque and angular speed here!
2. An ergonomic handle and winder easily reconfigured for use with either hand.
3. A convenient winding ratchet with safety mechanism to prevent accidental release.

Video spin times on glass: 144 sec at 17.5 half-turns of the winder (full power), 134 sec at 12 half-turns, and 114 sec at 6 half-turns. Best spin time yet = 204 sec (3:24) on polished granite.

See also:
Complete write-up and many more photos @ http://www.moc-pages.com/moc.php/438782
LEGO mug mixer (coming soon)
LEGO clutch tops @    • Technical LEGO: Clutch tops with detaching...  ,    • Technical LEGO: Stemless clutch tops with ...  , and http://www.moc-pages.com/moc.php/425637
Large Znap-wheel tops spun by pull-back motor @    • Technical LEGO: Large Znap wheel top spun ...  

Music: The Jupiter Line, Seamus Black Quartet