Answers.Body: <p>The Nexo Knights sets have a new piece, the <a href="http://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=22484#T=C" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Bar 1L with Towball</a>, which might work for putting a bunch of mixel joints in a small space:</p>
  
  <p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/XxEj0.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/XxEj0.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>
  
  <p>Also, if you could get your hands on the <a href="http://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=3614a#T=C" rel="nofollow noreferrer">maxifig hand</a>, it's great for connecting to mixel joints. It's a 1x1 round tile with a hole in the stud and a ball on the side: </p>
  
  <p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/MXvLQ.gif" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/MXvLQ.gif" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>
  
  <p>Either of these attached to the brick with 4 studs on the side could work.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2016-05-10T13:55:14.187Z
Answers.Text: Oh I like both of those! Didn't come across them in my searches but they sound great. Making a square out of 4 headlight bricks with a Nexo Knights' towball in each of them would be very close to perfect I'd think.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Phil B.
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2016-05-10T13:58:24.750Z
Answers.Text: @PhilB. They're both fairly rare as one is a new part for 2016 and one hasn't been made since c. 1980. But I happen to have some of the old hands and was so excited to find that the ball is the perfect fit for the mixel pieces.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Mr. Shiny and New 安宇
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2016-09-02T22:28:36.747Z
Answers.Text: After giving the answers some time to come in, I've decided that the bar with towball presents the most effective solution to my challenge, when combined with a [Technic Knob Wheel](http://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=32072#T=C).
Answers.UserDisplayName: Lepidolite Mica
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2016-05-09T18:39:11.823Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2016-05-09T18:39:11.823Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Mr. Shiny and New 安宇
Answers.Body: <p>After some experimenting, here is another solution that might fit your needs. It consists of 3 alternatives:</p>
  
  <p>Required:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>1x <a href="http://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=4733#T=C" rel="nofollow noreferrer">4733 Brick, Modified 1x1 with Studs on Four Sides</a></li>
  <li>4x <a href="http://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=6628" rel="nofollow noreferrer">6628 Technic, Pin with Friction Ridges Lengthwise and Towball</a></li>
  <li>4x <a href="http://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=4697b&amp;name=Pneumatic%20T%20Piece%20New%20Style%20%28T%20Bar%29&amp;category=[Pneumatic]#T=C" rel="nofollow noreferrer">4697b Pneumatic T Piece New Style (T Bar)</a> (Build 1&amp;2) <strong>OR</strong> <a href="http://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=4070#T=C" rel="nofollow noreferrer">4x 4070 Brick, Modified 1 x 1 with Headlight</a> (Build 3)</li>
  <li>1x <a href="http://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=2780#T=C" rel="nofollow noreferrer">2780 Technic, Pin with Friction Ridges Lengthwise WITH Center Slots</a></li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>I am not sure on the legality of Builds 1&amp;2 as the technic pins are sitting on the pneumatic T-piece instead of being inserted in a hole, but I know they have a strong grip.</p>
  
  <p><strong>Build 1:</strong> This way the height of the palm is 1 brick - but the fingers are about 4 studs apart. You might be able to get that a bit closer by replacing the pneumatic T-piece with either <a href="http://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=60849#T=C" rel="nofollow noreferrer">60849 Minifig, Utensil Hose Nozzle Elaborate</a> or the older <a href="http://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=194#T=C" rel="nofollow noreferrer">194 Minifig, Utensil Hose Nozzle Simple</a>.</p>
  
  <p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/spXs9.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/spXs9.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>
  
  <p><strong>Build 2:</strong> Compacter but with more room for movement than your current solution, but the height is 3 bricks:</p>
  
  <p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/Xjgkk.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/Xjgkk.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>
  
  <p><strong>Build 3:</strong> Similar to your original solution, but allows for better flexibility of the fingers, at the cost of a 2 brick height - and the towball pin is not fully locked in the headlight brick, there is a little play. This can be solved by sticking a <a href="http://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=33183#T=C" rel="nofollow noreferrer">33183 Carrot Top</a> through the bottom hole of the headlight brick for each brick:</p>
  
  <p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/Y7ZbS.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/Y7ZbS.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>
  
  <hr>
  
  <p>EDIT: Here is a fourth alternative - this one might fit the bill - the towballs sit a little further apart than on your original 24-tooth gear solution, so no rubbing. Still 2 bricks high though.</p>
  
  <p><strong>Build 4</strong>:</p>
  
  <p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/L7L12.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/L7L12.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2016-05-09T04:17:33.040Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2016-05-09T16:21:25.217Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2016-05-09T16:21:25.217Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Phil B.
Answers.Body: <p>Since you do not give a desired size of the palm, I'd like to propose the following solution, consisting of 1x <a href="http://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=6222" rel="nofollow noreferrer">6222 - Brick, Round 4 x 4 with 4 Side Pin Holes and Center Axle Hole</a> and 4x <a href="http://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=6628" rel="nofollow noreferrer">6628 - Technic, Pin with Friction Ridges Lengthwise and Towball</a>, arranged like so:</p>
  
  <p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/qIpPo.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/qIpPo.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>
  
  <p>You might need to work on the size of the fingers to make this work with "grip" - but it meets your challenge criteria.</p>
  
  <p>There is also part <a href="https://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=x872&amp;name=Technic,%20Steering%20Arm%20with%204%20Ball%20Joints&amp;category=[Technic,%20Steering]" rel="nofollow noreferrer">x872 - Technic, Steering Arm with 4 Ball Joints</a> which would be more compact, however, this part is extremely hard to find (there are no sellers on BrickLink currently).</p>
  
  <p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/CHkoI.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/CHkoI.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2016-04-25T19:43:43.867Z
Answers.Text: Thanks for the input, but you've revealed an issue in my question to me which, when fixed, will make this answer invalid. I did, in some sense, give a desired palm size, but it was only present when I said the Helicopter Rotor Holder was nearly too large. I'll go ahead and put the size constraints in the actual challenge section now.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Lepidolite Mica
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2016-04-22T04:15:50.283Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2016-04-22T11:37:35.047Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2016-04-22T11:37:35.047Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Phil B.
Answers.Body: <p>Have you considered Nanoblocks? Their ball &amp; sockets stay in position when Lego tow ball &amp; sockets are loose. Stagasorus includes a few.
  <a href="https://i.sstatic.net/xmmWK.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/xmmWK.jpg" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
  <p>Attach to Lego, 10% 40% possible with 2×2 under.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2023-06-16T09:20:36.230Z
Answers.Text: Are the parts LEGO-compatible?
Answers.UserDisplayName: zovits
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2023-06-20T08:22:34.107Z
Answers.Text: Sounds interesting :) Although I have a hard time imagining the resulting build, could you please whip together a proof of concept and share a photo of it?
Answers.UserDisplayName: zovits
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2023-06-15T08:22:49.417Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2023-06-23T19:00:19.170Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2023-06-23T19:00:19.170Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Andrew Hodson
Body: <p>I'm trying to design a hand for a MOC using the (not so) new Mixels ball joints, in line with a concept that I've had rattling around in my head for a while. The current palm design I'm trying uses the <a href="https://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=3648#T=C" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Technic Gear, 24 Tooth</a> with four of the <a href="https://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=6628#T=C" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Pin with Towball</a> in its four holes, on which the <a href="https://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=14418#T=C" rel="nofollow noreferrer">longer Mixels ball joint cups</a> are attached. The result is shown in the picture below.
  <a href="https://i.sstatic.net/jrjcs.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/jrjcs.jpg" alt="Picture of current hand assembly."></a></p>
  
  <p>This hand works well for the most part, but the ball joint cups tend to run into each other when splayed out as pictured. This makes poseability a good deal harder in terms of  fine finger movements (gripping seems, thankfully, unaffected). There is also the issue of this hand being two studs thick, due to the towball pins being positioned outward from the palm. I've looked around for alternate builds or pieces that could improve this design, but nothing quite fits. For instance, the <a href="https://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=15460#T=C" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Compact Steering Arm</a> is almost perfect, but is missing a fourth ball joint. The old <a href="https://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=2908#T=C" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Helicopter Rotor Holder</a> is very nearly too wide for the design, and doesn't seem to allow friction in its connection.</p>
  
  <p>My challenge is this: design a palm with towball attachments for four fingers, either at the four compass points from the center or capable of being placed in these positions, and a central attachment point with either an <a href="https://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=32062#T=C" rel="nofollow noreferrer">axle</a> hole to prevent turning at all or a pin hole that can accept a <a href="https://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=43093#T=C" rel="nofollow noreferrer">friction-creating pin</a>. The towballs should be far enough apart that the ball joint cups don't run into each other. The towballs must also be no more than two studs apart (measured from the center between towballs on the same edge of the hand), or else the finger design I'm using will not properly close across the palm. A one-stud thickness would also be a plus, but might not be possible with the previous specifications.</p>
  
  <p>Thanks to Caleb Woodman for pioneering the challenge tag mere minutes before I came to the site to ask this. I probably would have spent a lot longer searching the tag list if I hadn't seen that on the front page.</p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2016-04-22T03:55:48.093Z
Comments.Text: I don't have the parts around to try this out, but would the "fingers" fit on this piece [Part 32072 - Technic Knob Wheel](http://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=32072) ?
Comments.UserDisplayName: Phil B.
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2016-09-02T22:26:33.657Z
Comments.Text: @PhilB. No, but the holes in those knobs are large enough to take a rod, which the [Bar 1L with Towball](http://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=22484#T=C) has in just the right size.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Lepidolite Mica
Tags: <design><piece-usage><challenge>
Title: Challenge: Specialized Palm Build
UserDisplayName: Lepidolite Mica
ThreadText: # Challenge: Specialized Palm Build
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2016-04-21)
  
  I'm trying to design a hand for a MOC using the (not so) new Mixels ball joints, in line with a concept that I've had rattling around in my head for a while. The current palm design I'm trying uses the [Technic Gear, 24 Tooth](https://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=3648#T=C) with four of the [Pin with Towball](https://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=6628#T=C) in its four holes, on which the [longer Mixels ball joint cups](https://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=14418#T=C) are attached. The result is shown in the picture below.
  [![Picture of current hand assembly.](https://i.sstatic.net/jrjcs.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/jrjcs.jpg)
  
  This hand works well for the most part, but the ball joint cups tend to run into each other when splayed out as pictured. This makes poseability a good deal harder in terms of fine finger movements (gripping seems, thankfully, unaffected). There is also the issue of this hand being two studs thick, due to the towball pins being positioned outward from the palm. I've looked around for alternate builds or pieces that could improve this design, but nothing quite fits. For instance, the [Compact Steering Arm](https://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=15460#T=C) is almost perfect, but is missing a fourth ball joint. The old [Helicopter Rotor Holder](https://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=2908#T=C) is very nearly too wide for the design, and doesn't seem to allow friction in its connection.
  
  My challenge is this: design a palm with towball attachments for four fingers, either at the four compass points from the center or capable of being placed in these positions, and a central attachment point with either an [axle](https://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=32062#T=C) hole to prevent turning at all or a pin hole that can accept a [friction-creating pin](https://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=43093#T=C). The towballs should be far enough apart that the ball joint cups don't run into each other. The towballs must also be no more than two studs apart (measured from the center between towballs on the same edge of the hand), or else the finger design I'm using will not properly close across the palm. A one-stud thickness would also be a plus, but might not be possible with the previous specifications.
  
  Thanks to Caleb Woodman for pioneering the challenge tag mere minutes before I came to the site to ask this. I probably would have spent a lot longer searching the tag list if I hadn't seen that on the front page.
  
  **Tags:** design, piece-usage, challenge
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: I don't have the parts around to try this out, but would the "fingers" fit on this piece [Part 32072 - Technic Knob Wheel](http://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=32072) ?  
  > **username_0**: @PhilB. No, but the holes in those knobs are large enough to take a rod, which the [Bar 1L with Towball](http://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=22484#T=C) has in just the right size.  
  
  ---
  
  ## 4 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_2 on 2016-05-09. Score: 4 | Accepted answer
  
  The Nexo Knights sets have a new piece, the [Bar 1L with Towball](http://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=22484#T=C), which might work for putting a bunch of mixel joints in a small space:
  
  [![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/XxEj0.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/XxEj0.jpg)
  
  Also, if you could get your hands on the [maxifig hand](http://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=3614a#T=C), it's great for connecting to mixel joints. It's a 1x1 round tile with a hole in the stud and a ball on the side:
  
  [![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/MXvLQ.gif)](https://i.sstatic.net/MXvLQ.gif)
  
  Either of these attached to the brick with 4 studs on the side could work.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: Oh I like both of those! Didn't come across them in my searches but they sound great. Making a square out of 4 headlight bricks with a Nexo Knights' towball in each of them would be very close to perfect I'd think.  
  > **username_2**: @PhilB. They're both fairly rare as one is a new part for 2016 and one hasn't been made since c. 1980. But I happen to have some of the old hands and was so excited to find that the ball is the perfect fit for the mixel pieces.  
  > **username_0**: After giving the answers some time to come in, I've decided that the bar with towball presents the most effective solution to my challenge, when combined with a [Technic Knob Wheel](http://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=32072#T=C).  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2016-05-09. Score: 3
  
  After some experimenting, here is another solution that might fit your needs. It consists of 3 alternatives:
  
  Required:
  
  * 1x [4733 Brick, Modified 1x1 with Studs on Four Sides](http://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=4733#T=C)
  * 4x [6628 Technic, Pin with Friction Ridges Lengthwise and Towball](http://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=6628)
  * 4x [4697b Pneumatic T Piece New Style (T Bar)](http://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=4697b&name=Pneumatic%20T%20Piece%20New%20Style%20%28T%20Bar%29&category=[Pneumatic]#T=C) (Build 1&2) **OR** [4x 4070 Brick, Modified 1 x 1 with Headlight](http://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=4070#T=C) (Build 3)
  * 1x [2780 Technic, Pin with Friction Ridges Lengthwise WITH Center Slots](http://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=2780#T=C)
  
  I am not sure on the legality of Builds 1&2 as the technic pins are sitting on the pneumatic T-piece instead of being inserted in a hole, but I know they have a strong grip.
  
  **Build 1:** This way the height of the palm is 1 brick - but the fingers are about 4 studs apart. You might be able to get that a bit closer by replacing the pneumatic T-piece with either [60849 Minifig, Utensil Hose Nozzle Elaborate](http://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=60849#T=C) or the older [194 Minifig, Utensil Hose Nozzle Simple](http://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=194#T=C).
  
  [![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/spXs9.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/spXs9.png)
  
  **Build 2:** Compacter but with more room for movement than your current solution, but the height is 3 bricks:
  
  [![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/Xjgkk.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/Xjgkk.png)
  
  **Build 3:** Similar to your original solution, but allows for better flexibility of the fingers, at the cost of a 2 brick height - and the towball pin is not fully locked in the headlight brick, there is a little play. This can be solved by sticking a [33183 Carrot Top](http://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=33183#T=C) through the bottom hole of the headlight brick for each brick:
  
  [![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/Y7ZbS.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/Y7ZbS.png)
  
  ---
  
  EDIT: Here is a fourth alternative - this one might fit the bill - the towballs sit a little further apart than on your original 24-tooth gear solution, so no rubbing. Still 2 bricks high though.
  
  **Build 4**:
  
  [![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/L7L12.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/L7L12.png)
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2016-04-22. Score: 2
  
  Since you do not give a desired size of the palm, I'd like to propose the following solution, consisting of 1x [6222 - Brick, Round 4 x 4 with 4 Side Pin Holes and Center Axle Hole](http://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=6222) and 4x [6628 - Technic, Pin with Friction Ridges Lengthwise and Towball](http://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=6628), arranged like so:
  
  [![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/qIpPo.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/qIpPo.png)
  
  You might need to work on the size of the fingers to make this work with "grip" - but it meets your challenge criteria.
  
  There is also part [x872 - Technic, Steering Arm with 4 Ball Joints](https://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=x872&name=Technic,%20Steering%20Arm%20with%204%20Ball%20Joints&category=[Technic,%20Steering]) which would be more compact, however, this part is extremely hard to find (there are no sellers on BrickLink currently).
  
  [![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/CHkoI.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/CHkoI.jpg)
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_0**: Thanks for the input, but you've revealed an issue in my question to me which, when fixed, will make this answer invalid. I did, in some sense, give a desired palm size, but it was only present when I said the Helicopter Rotor Holder was nearly too large. I'll go ahead and put the size constraints in the actual challenge section now.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_3 on 2023-06-15. Score: 1
  
  Have you considered Nanoblocks? Their ball & sockets stay in position when Lego tow ball & sockets are loose. Stagasorus includes a few.
  [![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/xmmWK.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/xmmWK.jpg)
  
  Attach to Lego, 10% 40% possible with 2×2 under.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_4**: Are the parts LEGO-compatible?  
  > **username_4**: Sounds interesting :) Although I have a hard time imagining the resulting build, could you please whip together a proof of concept and share a photo of it?  
  
  ---
  
  