Custom LEGO Machine Crushes Metal Without Breaking a Sweat Using Forty-Two Cylinders of Air Force

Jamie at Brick Jams became interested in pneumatic cylinders and ended up developing a machine capable of squashing everyday objects with ease under over 300 pounds of pressure. He put together 42 LEGO pneumatic cylinders and built a unique air compressor system.The resulting machine is rock solid on a reinforced frame and produces a steady, controlled pressure every time you open the valve.

Jamie started low-key, testing one cylinder at a time and discovering that with a continuous flow of air, one cylinder could push out approximately 3.4 kg. When he inserted a second one, the force almost instantaneously doubled. The machine moved without hesitation despite the fact that four cylinders weighed 12 kg and eight weighed 24. As the numbers increased, he could see how each extra cylinder simply added to the force without throwing the entire system out of whack.

Then things got heavy, and Jamie had to start strengthening the entire thing. He used metal raise arms from metal Technic parts to crisscross the foundation, walls, and roof. He also included some long metal axles to keep everything in place and some bushings to prevent the whole thing from slipping under load. He ran a few preliminary tests with the press plate and lower platform, each hauling twice a person’s body weight, and was thrilled to discover that they flexed zero.

He also needed to undertake some careful engineering with the air supply. Jamie connected 24 little compressors to one large unit and geared them down to get a consistent flow. He bought two motors and some battery boxes to speed up the process when the main system began to run low on air. A simple valve allowed him to open and close all of the cylinders with a single flick. He even included an external air tank option so he could conduct extremely exact tests. The configuration generated enough pressure to keep the cylinders running smoothly with no lag or stall.

The next stage was to assemble the machine, as Jamie arranged the 42 cylinders on the roof in a tight grid. To ensure that the pressure was evenly distributed, he routed the tubing from the compressor to each cylinder using splitters. The strengthened cage encloses the crushing area and directs all force to the plate. A few final inspections to ensure everything was rock solid and that the press plate was perfectly aligned with the platform underneath.

Finally, crush testing began, and everything was ready to go. A small orange LEGO piece was squeezed under the plate in just a few seconds. A metal axle from a Hot Wheels car broke cleanly in two. An empty soda can was flattened into a disc with sharp edges pushed out to the sides. Apples and strawberries burst open, and light bulbs popped with a flash. Even a full canister gave it a good shot, leaving the platform a little untidy but mostly complete. Every object received the same treatment and yielded without surprise from the machine itself.