What is a drive train?

The chain of parts that carries power from the motor to the wheels. The motor spins, gears pass the spin along, axles carry it to the wheels. All of that together is the drive train. Every gear in the chain changes the speed and the strength a little bit.

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Complete MightyCog booklet collection: 82 PDF booklets for $12.99. Instructions only; individual booklets remain free.

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Try it yourself

Follow the power with your finger: motor → gear → gear → axle → wheel.

Build it: 11 builds that teach drive train

  • 🔗 Driveshaft 4×4 Pusher: Turn one wheel and ALL FOUR wheels turn — a spinning driveshaft joins the axles! (level 2 of 5, about 20 minutes, 15 steps)
  • 🔀 Differential Demo Cart: Push it round a corner and watch: the outside wheel spins faster than the inside one! (level 2 of 5, about 22 minutes, 10 steps)
  • 🔋 Motor Buggy: Your first car that drives by itself — with a forwards/backwards switch and headlights! (level 3 of 5, about 30 minutes, 20 steps)
  • 🎛️ One Motor, Knob Steering: The motor drives, YOU steer — turn the knob as you walk beside it. (level 3 of 5, about 40 minutes, 21 steps)
  • 🦾 XL Power Crane: The strongest motor plus a worm gear: 24 times slower and super strong. (level 4 of 5, about 35 minutes, 27 steps)
  • 🪖 RC Tank: Two motors, two tracks, one remote. Spin on the spot and climb over anything! (level 4 of 5, about 60 minutes, 27 steps)
  • 🎮 First RC Car (Servo): Your first remote-control car: one dial drives, the other dial steers. (level 4 of 5, about 50 minutes, 27 steps)
  • 🛵 Front-Drive Servo Trike: One front wheel does everything: its own motor drives it and the Servo swings it round. (level 4 of 5, about 50 minutes, 21 steps)
  • 🚜 Skid-Steer Loader: No steering at all: left motor, right motor — spin it round on the spot! (level 4 of 5, about 65 minutes, 25 steps)
  • 🕷️ Klann Walking Spider: A robot that WALKS instead of rolling — beams and pins turn a spinning crank into steps. (level 4 of 5, about 60 minutes, 17 steps)
  • 🏆 RC Racer: A real remote-control car: motor drive, differential, servo steering and headlights. (level 5 of 5, about 75 minutes, 38 steps)

In the classroom

Common engineering questions

How can I try drive train at home?

Follow the power with your finger: motor → gear → gear → axle → wheel.

Which builds teach drive train?

11 MightyCog builds teach it: Driveshaft 4×4 Pusher, Differential Demo Cart, Motor Buggy, One Motor, Knob Steering and XL Power Crane and more. Start with Driveshaft 4×4 Pusher: 15 steps, about 20 minutes.

Ideas that go with it