Construction set

This article is about toys and building systems. For video games, see level editor.

Lego bricks encourage learning through play.

1970s No. 2 Meccano set

Zometool model of the Great grand stellated 120-cell

A construction set is a set of standardized pieces that allow for the construction of a variety of different models. The pieces avoid the lead time of manufacturing custom pieces, and of requiring special training or design time to construct complex systems. This makes them suitable for temporary structures, or for use as children's toys.

Categories

Construction sets can be categorized according to their connection method and geometry:

• Struts of varying length that are connected by nodes are good for building space frames, and often have components that allow full rotational freedom.
  • D_8h (*228) nodes are used for K'Nex, Tinkertoys, Playskool Pipeworks
  • O_h (*432) nodes are used for Mero produced by Mero-Schmidlin
  • I_h (*532) nodes are used for Zometool

• Panels of varying sizes and shapes
  • Panels of varying sizes and shapes are connected by pins or screws perpendicular to the panels, which are good for building linkages such as an Erector Set, Meccano, Merkur, Steel Tec, Lego Technic, Trix, FAC-System and Überstix
  • Panels of varying sizes and shapes with flexible panels or hinges between panels such as Tog'l, Jovo.

• Building components with various methods of connection include:
  • No connection: toy blocks, Anchor Stone Blocks, and Kapla
  • Studs: Lego, Coco, Rasti, Tente, Mega Bloks, fischertechnik, Playmobil, Loc Blocs, Cobi blocks, and Oxford
  • Notches: Lincoln Logs, GIK, and Stickle bricks
  • Sleeves: Capsela