Building an electric motor typically requires specialized parts, precise machining, and enough electrical knowledge to not accidentally create a fire hazard. Jamie from Jamie’s Brick Jams YouTube channel threw that conventional wisdom out the window, creating a self-timing electric motor using mostly standard LEGO bricks that spins at a verified 1,300 RPM. This isn’t your childhood LEGO Technic set—it’s legitimate engineering disguised as playtime.
The Genius is in the Self-Timing
No microcontroller or mechanical commutator needed—just clever electromagnetic principles.
The motor’s brilliance lies in its simplicity. Jamie mounted two 20x10mm neodymium magnets on a balanced rotor axle, surrounded by a hand-wound driving coil of roughly 150 turns of 27-gauge copper wire. Here’s where it gets clever: a separate sensor coil with 100 turns of finer wire detects the passing magnets and triggers a TIP31C transistor.
That transistor pulses the driving coil at precisely the right moment, creating continuous rotation without any complex timing mechanisms. One battery pulse starts the show, then physics takes over.
Real Performance vs. Clickbait Claims
The actual numbers are impressive enough without exaggeration.
The verified performance tells a realistic story that doesn’t need inflated claims. The base two-magnet version reaches 1,300 RPM—already impressive for a toy-brick motor. Jamie’s upgraded eight-magnet disc rotor trades speed for torque, dropping to 480 RPM but delivering smoother operation through more frequent magnetic pulses.
With a 3:1 gear reduction, this setup generates enough torque to power an actual LEGO car complete with steering and belt drive systems.
Making Engineering Accessible Goes Viral
Sometimes the best STEM education comes disguised as YouTube entertainment.
Jamie’s approach reflects a broader trend in maker culture—complex concepts become approachable when you can build them with familiar materials. This motor project joins his collection of LEGO-based DIY demonstrations, from solar-powered floating motors to brushless designs.
You don’t need an engineering degree to understand electromagnetic principles when they’re explained through toys that cost less than a decent dinner. That’s the kind of accessible STEM education that deserves to go viral.
