MightyCog: build it, watch it, learn how it works
MightyCog is a free building resource for beginners, hobby builders and engineering enthusiasts. It has 136 step-by-step animated building guides for Technic-style parts (beams, pins, axles, gears and motors), printable PDF booklets, 49 engineering ideas explained for builders, and 168 classroom STEM lessons. No account is required; progress stays on your device. Kit links are disclosed Amazon affiliate referrals.
Complete MightyCog booklet collection: 136 PDF booklets for $12.99. Instructions only; individual booklets remain free.
Explore the printable packStart here
🚗 Tiny Roller: Your very first rolling car — only 13 pieces! (level 1 of 5, about 5 minutes, 6 steps)- ⚙️ Gear Friends: Three gears holding hands — spin one and they all dance. (level 1 of 5, about 8 minutes, 6 steps)
- 🌀 Propeller Push Car: Push the car and the propellers on its back spin three times faster than the wheels! (level 1 of 5, about 12 minutes, 8 steps)
- 🔢 Odometer Cart: Five turns of the wheels make the flag go round just once — a cart that counts! (level 1 of 5, about 15 minutes, 9 steps)
- 🎠 Idler Parade Car: A parade of gears rides on top — each one spins the opposite way to its neighbour! (level 1 of 5, about 20 minutes, 13 steps)
- ⏱️ Pendulum Metronome: Give it a nudge: tick… tock… tick. Move the wheel to another hole and count again! (level 1 of 5, about 10 minutes, 10 steps)
Find a build
- 🚀 Easy Technic-style builds for beginners
- ⏱️ Quick builds you can finish in 20 minutes
- ✋ Builds without a motor
- 🔙 Pull-back car builds
- 🔌 Motorised builds
- 📡 Remote control builds
- 🏎️ Car and vehicle builds
- 🎡 Machine and gadget builds
- ⚙️ Builds that teach gears and gear ratios
- ↔️ Builds with working steering
- ✈️ Technic-style airplane builds: 40 aircraft from 21 countries
- 🛩️ Fighter jet builds: F-16, Rafale, Gripen, SR-71 and more
- 🛫 Propeller plane builds: warbirds, bush planes and pioneers
- 🛬 Airliner and cargo plane builds: 747, A380, Concorde and more
Learn how machines work
- What is a Technic beam, and why does it have holes?
- What is the difference between black and grey Technic pins?
- What is an axle, and why is it cross-shaped?
- How do wheels and axles make things easier to move?
- What does a bush do on an axle?
- What is a Technic frame used for?
- How do gears work?
- What does an idler gear do?
- What is a gear ratio?
- Why are triangles so strong?
- What is centre of gravity?
- How does a pendulum work?
More ideas:
all engineering ideas explained for buildersFor educators and building groups
Blueprint Lab has 28 missions of 6 lessons each from foundation through intermediate to advanced, with fair tests, rubrics and printable plans.