Answers.Body: <p>This can definitely be accomplished, although it will be difficult to create a differential as small as the dedicated piece that you mentioned.</p>
  
  <p>Some builders create their own differentials for use in larger models because of the inherent torque limits and slippage that the traditional differential and single bevel gears introduce. Here's one example (<a href="http://www.technicbricks.com/2009/11/week-techvideo-2009-49-heavy-duty.html" rel="noreferrer">source</a>) of a differential that can be created using fairly common elements:</p>
  
  <p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/OJYee.jpg" alt="heavy duty differential"></p>
  
  <p>The key is to build the frame containing the three gears and then attach a fixed gear to the frame. The tricky part is finding a gear that can pass an axle through the center without being fixed on it. In the example above, half of a turntable was used, but there are a few other parts that could work as well. Here's the turntable (48452):</p>
  
  <p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/8QIdq.jpg" alt="turntable 48452"></p>
  
  <p>If you are comfortable with modifying your parts, you could also drill out the center of a gear to allow it to turn freely.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-04-04T15:35:55.877Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2014-04-04T15:42:05.540Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2014-04-04T15:42:05.540Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: jncraton
Answers.Body: <p>Yes - in fact, you can even improve upon the basic design, to create a limited-slip differential.</p>
  <p>Here's one by Rob Stehlik, via <a href="http://individual.utoronto.ca/stehlik/torsen.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://individual.utoronto.ca/stehlik/torsen.html</a> (found via <a href="https://www.planetdiecast.com/index.php?option=com_zoo&amp;task=item&amp;item_id=29846" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.planetdiecast.com/index.php?option=com_zoo&amp;task=item&amp;item_id=29846</a>)</p>
  <p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/kRY1U.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/kRY1U.jpg" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
  <p>The key here, which other answers don't note, is that the rotating part of the axle does not have to pass through the <em>center</em> of the cog. Instead, here it is offset through the outer holes.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2018-08-14T14:36:37.600Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2023-09-13T20:11:26.677Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2023-09-13T20:11:26.677Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Dewi Morgan
Answers.Body: <p>The delicate problem in a brick-built differential is to create the frame. It must have a gear to drive the differential and this gear must let the axle rotate freely. Without parts modification, the only possibility is to use a turntable, either the <a href="http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=48452cx1" rel="nofollow">big one</a> or the <a href="http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=99010" rel="nofollow">small one</a>. Anyway, the solution is bulky and not economical (the differential parts are cheap!). The big version can be interesting nonetheless in large vehicules that require a lot of torque, see <a href="http://www.technicbricks.com/2009/11/week-techvideo-2009-49-heavy-duty.html" rel="nofollow">here</a>.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-04-04T13:44:24.990Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2014-04-04T13:44:24.990Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Philo
Body: <p>I have numerous gears, axles and other elements from different Lego Technic sets.
  I wonder if using them I can make a kind of differential like this?</p>
  <p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/V6UN1.jpg" alt="this" /></p>
  <p>If not, how can I implement similar functionality in case I have two motorized wheels on one axis that can be steered and connected to motor(s) via cardans/u-joints like this:</p>
  <p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/u8sCd.gif" alt="enter image description here" /></p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2024-07-07T22:23:56.963Z
Comments.Text: If you do end up getting the custom parts, all you need to do to make it limited slip is take the center gear (the spider gear) and place two layers of paper under it before putting it in.
Comments.UserDisplayName: William O'Byrne
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2024-07-08T14:37:26.573Z
Comments.Text: Do you mean to replace it friction pin in the middle of the custom diff? Does this create more friction?
Comments.UserDisplayName: LKBricks
Tags: <technic><building>
Title: Is it possible to create a custom differential if I don't have it as a ready-to-use element?
UserDisplayName: Sergei Basharov
ThreadText: # Is it possible to create a custom differential if I don't have it as a ready-to-use element?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2014-04-04)
  
  I have numerous gears, axles and other elements from different Lego Technic sets.
  I wonder if using them I can make a kind of differential like this?
  
  ![this](https://i.sstatic.net/V6UN1.jpg)
  
  If not, how can I implement similar functionality in case I have two motorized wheels on one axis that can be steered and connected to motor(s) via cardans/u-joints like this:
  
  ![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/u8sCd.gif)
  
  **Tags:** technic, building
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: If you do end up getting the custom parts, all you need to do to make it limited slip is take the center gear (the spider gear) and place two layers of paper under it before putting it in.  
  > **username_2**: Do you mean to replace it friction pin in the middle of the custom diff? Does this create more friction?  
  
  ---
  
  ## 3 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_3 on 2014-04-04. Score: 9
  
  This can definitely be accomplished, although it will be difficult to create a differential as small as the dedicated piece that you mentioned.
  
  Some builders create their own differentials for use in larger models because of the inherent torque limits and slippage that the traditional differential and single bevel gears introduce. Here's one example ([source](http://www.technicbricks.com/2009/11/week-techvideo-2009-49-heavy-duty.html)) of a differential that can be created using fairly common elements:
  
  ![heavy duty differential](https://i.sstatic.net/OJYee.jpg)
  
  The key is to build the frame containing the three gears and then attach a fixed gear to the frame. The tricky part is finding a gear that can pass an axle through the center without being fixed on it. In the example above, half of a turntable was used, but there are a few other parts that could work as well. Here's the turntable (48452):
  
  ![turntable 48452](https://i.sstatic.net/8QIdq.jpg)
  
  If you are comfortable with modifying your parts, you could also drill out the center of a gear to allow it to turn freely.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_4 on 2018-08-14. Score: 7
  
  Yes - in fact, you can even improve upon the basic design, to create a limited-slip differential.
  
  Here's one by Rob Stehlik, via <http://individual.utoronto.ca/stehlik/torsen.html> (found via <https://www.planetdiecast.com/index.php?option=com_zoo&task=item&item_id=29846>)
  
  [![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/kRY1U.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/kRY1U.jpg)
  
  The key here, which other answers don't note, is that the rotating part of the axle does not have to pass through the *center* of the cog. Instead, here it is offset through the outer holes.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_5 on 2014-04-04. Score: 1
  
  The delicate problem in a brick-built differential is to create the frame. It must have a gear to drive the differential and this gear must let the axle rotate freely. Without parts modification, the only possibility is to use a turntable, either the [big one](http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=48452cx1) or the [small one](http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=99010). Anyway, the solution is bulky and not economical (the differential parts are cheap!). The big version can be interesting nonetheless in large vehicules that require a lot of torque, see [here](http://www.technicbricks.com/2009/11/week-techvideo-2009-49-heavy-duty.html).
  
  
  ---
  
  