Answers.Body: <p>Use math.</p>
  
  <p>Here is a simple example... Suppose we want to line up two 8 tooth gears. Start by placing two axles and one of the gears...</p>
  
  <p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/fajUM.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/fajUM.png" alt="unaligned"></a></p>
  
  <p>Since there are 8 teeth on the gear, we can figure out that the teeth are 360° / 8 = <strong>45°</strong> apart. So, to put the next gear on, the space between the teeth of the second gear needs to line up with the tooth of the first gear. This space is half way between the teeth, so we need to rotate the axle 45° / 2 = <strong>22.5°</strong> to make them line up. Select the hinge tool, then select the axle that does not have a gear yet. Notice that the hinge tool allows you to enter numeric values directly....</p>
  
  <p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/Co143.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/Co143.png" alt="hinge tool"></a></p>
  
  <p>The axle is already at -180°, so we need to rotate it +/- 22.5° from there. Let's say, we want to rotate it clockwise. In mathematics, counterclockwise is positive, but apparently in LDD, clockwise is positive, so we need to add. We simply type in -180° + 22.5° = <strong>-157.5°</strong>...</p>
  
  <p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/DVVBm.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/DVVBm.png" alt="hinge tool again"></a></p>
  
  <p>Now, the axle is exactly where it needs to be to add another 8 tooth gear...</p>
  
  <p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/a2wxv.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/a2wxv.png" alt="gear and axle aligned"></a></p>
  
  <p>There are no collisions preventing the gear from being placed...</p>
  
  <p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/Ee8Ei.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/Ee8Ei.png" alt="two gears aligned"></a></p>
  
  <p>Now, the second gear is precisely aligned, making it easy to place additional gears.</p>
  
  <p><strong>Tip:</strong> All (modern) LEGO gears come with multiples of 4 teeth, so adding a gears at right angles will line up the same as gears in a straight line.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2017-11-01T17:58:29.710Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2017-11-02T16:52:30.090Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2017-11-02T16:52:30.090Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: David Lechner
Body: <p>I'm trying to create the 42052 (Heavy Lift Helicopter), and other Technic sets. Aligning gears' teeth is relatively difficult, and the 'Hinge Align' tool rarely works. Please help!</p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2017-07-05T13:38:02.050Z
Comments.Text: Welcome to Bricks.  LDD isn't receiving updates from LEGO anymore.  You might find better luck with tools that are still evolving.  https://bricks.stackexchange.com/questions/1867/lego-digital-designer-alternatives
Comments.UserDisplayName: chicks
Tags: <technic><gears><ldd>
Title: Any tips for aligning gears in LDD?
UserDisplayName: LenTheSpaceWolf
ThreadText: # Any tips for aligning gears in LDD?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2017-07-04)
  
  I'm trying to create the 42052 (Heavy Lift Helicopter), and other Technic sets. Aligning gears' teeth is relatively difficult, and the 'Hinge Align' tool rarely works. Please help!
  
  **Tags:** technic, gears, ldd
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: Welcome to Bricks.  LDD isn't receiving updates from LEGO anymore.  You might find better luck with tools that are still evolving.  https://bricks.stackexchange.com/questions/1867/lego-digital-designer-alternatives  
  
  ---
  
  ## 1 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_2 on 2017-11-01. Score: 4
  
  Use math.
  
  Here is a simple example... Suppose we want to line up two 8 tooth gears. Start by placing two axles and one of the gears...
  
  [![unaligned](https://i.sstatic.net/fajUM.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/fajUM.png)
  
  Since there are 8 teeth on the gear, we can figure out that the teeth are 360° / 8 = **45°** apart. So, to put the next gear on, the space between the teeth of the second gear needs to line up with the tooth of the first gear. This space is half way between the teeth, so we need to rotate the axle 45° / 2 = **22.5°** to make them line up. Select the hinge tool, then select the axle that does not have a gear yet. Notice that the hinge tool allows you to enter numeric values directly....
  
  [![hinge tool](https://i.sstatic.net/Co143.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/Co143.png)
  
  The axle is already at -180°, so we need to rotate it +/- 22.5° from there. Let's say, we want to rotate it clockwise. In mathematics, counterclockwise is positive, but apparently in LDD, clockwise is positive, so we need to add. We simply type in -180° + 22.5° = **-157.5°**...
  
  [![hinge tool again](https://i.sstatic.net/DVVBm.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/DVVBm.png)
  
  Now, the axle is exactly where it needs to be to add another 8 tooth gear...
  
  [![gear and axle aligned](https://i.sstatic.net/a2wxv.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/a2wxv.png)
  
  There are no collisions preventing the gear from being placed...
  
  [![two gears aligned](https://i.sstatic.net/Ee8Ei.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/Ee8Ei.png)
  
  Now, the second gear is precisely aligned, making it easy to place additional gears.
  
  **Tip:** All (modern) LEGO gears come with multiples of 4 teeth, so adding a gears at right angles will line up the same as gears in a straight line.
  
  
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