Train Track Tool for LEGO Train Tracks

thingiverse

I work with extremely bright kids a lot. As they are advanced way beyond their age, they hit snags in most unexpected places. For example LEGO® train tracks need a pinching force of about 25N (5lbf) to connect straight. A three-year old kid can pinch with only about 10N (2lbf) of force, 15N if pinching very, very hard. This means often the tracks don't snap straight in, but one side snaps in first and then the other one. This rocks up the whole track layout and often breaks a connection elsewhere. This is, to say the least, frustrating for the kids, so here's a tool to help with connecting LEGO track segments. The activation force is only 5-8N (1-1.5lbf) and the tool is not only self-aligning, but it also makes sure the track is aligned right before joining. It is pretty fool proof and made so, that you can hardly pinch yourself (the jaws don't close all the way). Here's a short demo made by the end-user :-) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kN7G8AEKf8 You will need a pin ∅3mm 30-32mm long (a machinist's DIN standard ground pin 3mm x 30mm is perfect here) and a spring ∅7mm by 10mm (boxed sets of springs sold on Amazon and eBay contain this size usually, but you can also salvage a spring from a clicky pen - a half of it should do). The spring seat is made so as to accommodate springs of less-than perfect size, as long as it's roughly in the ballpark it will do.