fischertechnik

Fischertechnik is a construction kit system for children, for school education, technical training and education, and research and development. The kits consist of basic building blocks of plastics and a variety of components such as axles, gears, motors, structural parts, gears or sensors. The range is divided into six rows and includes 41 construction kits and supplementary sets.

The construction kits are designed, manufactured and sold by the fischertechnik GmbH. fischertechnik is one of the last companies in the toy industry that manufactures exclusively in Germany. fischertechnik is a division of fischer group of companies.

Construction of the system

The fischertechnik system is based on a block that can be grown on all six sides to the. It has at one end to a pin which can be pushed into the grooves at the sides and at the opposite side of the pin. This patented Anbaubarkeit on all six sides and the ability to move the modules as desired in the grooves of the longitudinal sides against each other, the system is also very flexible about the basic grid of 15 millimeters beyond.

The system is to playfully technical issues. Lange was primarily the function of the models at the center. The basic building blocks as well as the structural parts are made of gray, special devices such as angle bricks and boards of red granules. Beginning of the 80s were added blue and yellow components. 1989, a new color scheme was introduced: The basic building blocks are now black ( since 2006 in modular ADVANCED automobiles red and since 2009 the kit Big bulldozer yellow) and the static parts yellow (some models since the turn of the millennium also black or red). Red parts were red. Since 1983 there is also some kits to 75 cm long aluminum profiles, which are more stable than a series of plastic building blocks.

The blocks are usually offered in thematically oriented construction kits. Since the 15 - millimeter grid of all components remained unchanged, the building blocks of all kits are largely compatible.

As system components are or were available:

• Modules: basic building blocks, fasteners, wheels
• Drive technology: engines, gear sets, gears, drive screws, racks
• Static blocks: angular and U-beams and struts for the wind bracing
• Electromechanical: Switches, lamps, solenoids
• Electronics: photo or touch sensors, differential amplifiers, switching circuits, logic devices
• Optics: lenses, optical fibers, mirrors ( to the 1980s )
• Pneumatic compressor, valves, pistons
• Computing: controller, software, sensors

History of the system

1965-1969

Fischertechnik 1964 was originally designed as a Christmas gift for the children of business partners. Due to the good response, the decision was taken in 1965 to offer this invention as a modular system on the market. The first 1000 kits donated the inventor Artur Fischer at Christmas 1965, the action problem child.

In the spring of 1966 fischertechnik was introduced on the market. In addition to three basic sets of five supplementary sets were offered. The basic color of the packaging was blue, the fischertechnik lettering on white and red. On the boxes playing children were depicted. These first boxes were relatively large, the individual building blocks were in a thermoformed plastic insert, which boxes the nickname " Chocolate Package " earned. The new modular system received the award in France Meilleur Jouet 1966 ( " best toy "). Furthermore fischertechnik also received France 's highest award which is awarded for toys, the "Oscar du Jouet ", this after 1966 and 1967 the award " Diplôme du meilleur Jouet " were awarded füe the products already in the years.

In 1967 the first prospectus in which the entire fischertechnik range has been demonstrated. The modular system has been extended to the engine and transmission, first with battery box, a little later with a power supply. A smaller base box allowed a cheaper entry. New additional boxes provided an opportunity nachzukaufen other elements such as tires, axles, gears etc.. 1968 was added in a modular Electromechanical and in the following year an electronics kit.

1968, the fischertechnik Fan Club was founded, in which the members of the club magazine on innovations and all sorts of interesting facts were kept up to date.

In 1969 the program was extended by the first electric kit. This includes an electronic switching bar, which allows using the supplied light stones, perforated screens, lenses and mirrors the structure of optical circuits and tests.

1970-1980

The static kits of 1970 enabled the construction of larger models such as cranes, towers or bridges. With the new product line hobby Adults should be addressed as a new target group. The boxes were largely identical with the series of kits for schools. 1972 appeared precursor boxes for children in kindergarten with smaller wheels, which could be plugged into the boards easy and cladding panels, which could be easily clipped to the normal building blocks. The 1974 launched hobby worldwide box enabled the processing of expanded polystyrene ( styrofoam ). In order for the fischertechnik models could be integrated or disguised in landscapes. In the same year a screw jack, which replicated the function of hydraulic cylinders appeared.

In 1976, under the name 2bis6 (later referred to as 3bis6 ) kits for preschoolers presents. This is the first yellow and blue blocks and action figures came into the program. For Fan Club members there is a new membership card in the form of a key fob. 1977 came two new kits on the market, with which the basic knowledge of electronics and digital technology are taught. From 1978, the program was supplemented by topics boxes.

1981-1984

1981 fischertechnik presented uniformly red / blue on all packages with the words " fischertechnik " in the colors. From 1981, the models changed by red, yellow and blue components their appearance. In the same year the supplement box appeared pneumatics. By means of pneumatic cylinders and manually operated valves models could now be controlled with compressed air. For the production of compressed air were a motorized small compressor and a hand pump to choose from. Later compressors were added from fischertechnik elements. In the following year appeared can be filled with water cylinders nachbildeten as hydraulic functions. To distinguish the blue pneumatic cylinders, hydraulic cylinders were green.

In 1983 a 4- channel remote control. This was extended by a second receiver to eight channels. Thus, the remote control of large-scale models was made possible.

Seven of the then total of 14 new fischertechnik construction sets themed motorsports. The program included three race cars, fire trucks, police cars, trolleys, boxing stand, rescue helicopters and ambulances. 1984, the largest kits came on the market, the large tower crane and container crane.

1985-1988

With computing, training robot and Plotter Scanner fischertechnik, was the first modular manufacturers in the computer age. Interfaces for all then current home computers appeared, including Apple II, Commodore 64 and Acorn, later for Schneider, Atari ST and IBM PC. Programming languages ​​for driving the models have included GW- BASIC, Turbo Pascal and later kits (1991 ) also the in-house programming tool Lucky Logic.

In 1987, the fischertechnik Fan Club is revived, it has after a break since 1980. The new magazine for club members the name Fan Club News and appears for the first time in 1987.

1989-1995

Fischertechnik renewed the whole program and brings to the master kit series is a new concept, which is based on the master basic modular and can be extended by the Master Plus extension sets.

For this new modular program also many new components have been developed and there is a colorful color scheme, the basic building blocks in black and the structural components are manufactured in yellow.

With the professional building sets a new modular series is for all those interested in technology fischertechnik users in the trade, these kits bring with very interesting models, the application of technology in everyday life closer.

Also, the computing area is renewed and the new software for Windows LLWin it also runs under the much popular operating system Windows. With these innovations is fischertechnik even after 25 years a contemporary and quality gaming and design system.

1989-2003

With the new kits and the Junior Master Series, the color of the blocks has been changed: The basic building blocks were now black, the static parts yellow, angular stones were red. The electro- mechanical components such as lamps and motors were revised and modernized the power supply ( battery boxes and transformers). As the successor of hobby- program, the pro - boxes used in children over twelve years. They lifted by a black color scheme of the packaging clearly from the rest of the program from.

With the kit I'm walking 1994 bionics was taken. Unlike the Bionic Robots, the 2001 version, the six beetles dominated but only straight-line stability. In 1997 there were solar components in the kit SOLAR SET. This contained the following components: motor, solar panel and a double-layer capacitor for temporarily storing the energy. With the Modular Mobile Robots computer controlled fischertechnik models learned for the first time running. The following year, the remote control IR CONTROL SET, who worked on the basis of infrared light appeared. Thus, three engines were controlled.

2004 to today

In 2004, the modular system in the six rows JUNIOR (five years), BASIC and ADVANCED was partitioned ( aged seven years), PROFI, COMPUTING and PLUS. As before, the latest technical developments are highlighted as themes for the kits, for example, in the set PROFI Eco Tech (2009 ), which focuses on the renewable power generation, among others, with a fuel cell and into the building blocks of COMPUTING series ( 2009), in which the robot models with the graphical software Robo Pro, and other languages ​​can be programmed.

Secondary lines

In the 1970s there were several construction and experimental sets in the areas of electromechanics and electronics, although carried out in the brochures and catalogs, but presuppose no other building blocks of the fischertechnik program. Modern Fischertechniksets are usually completely and put forward no other boxes, but are always combined with other parts of other boxes of the system.

• Under the name fischer form a variety of articles for young children became available in 1980. From baby toys for the crib wooden puzzles and " PerlBlocks " ( rattling because ball-filled plastic blocks ) to the actual fischer shape, a modular system for children from 4 years.

• Under the name of Classic Line fischertechnik put on two special models of steam engines: The steamroller to 1920 (1995) and mobile steam engine ( 2000). State boards of solid wood and a black and red color scheme lent the models a high-quality, impressive look.

Education

Fischertechnik from its beginning had also an educational claim. Now, even the fischertechnik - school program from which developed the hobby Line was created in the 1960s. In the hobby literature accompanying the reader were explained in detail technical and physical relationships using fischertechnik models.

Fischertechnik kits are also now used in the classroom, from other manufacturers, there are themed kits and models as complementary offer for technical and scientific subjects. Also for technical training at universities and in industry offers fischertechnik industry models, such as assembly lines, punching machines or conveyor belts, here are party extensions available.

Awards

Fischertechnik has won several awards:

• 2007 The Federation of toy retailing and the Top 10 Toys jury nominated the modular ADVANCED Ships More than 10 Top Toys.
• 2008 The set PROFI da Vinci Machines was in Belgium toy of the year. In Germany, the building blocks for the Golden Rocking Horse has been nominated.
• 2009, the set PROFI Eco Tech in category " Game and Technology" was awarded the Golden rocking horse.

Fan clubs

• The supported fischertechnik GmbH fischertechnik Fan Club has over 30,000 members according to the company. Members receive twice a year the fan club news and information about promotions and trade shows. Once a year fischertechnik fans to the fischertechnik Fan Club day into a Waldachtal.
• The fischertechnikclub Nederland was founded in 1991. It has 300 (2008) brings members, two annual editions of his Clubblad ( with translation into German ) out, and meets three to five exhibitions a year.
• The fischertechnik community, an online community, founded in 2001, the once (since 2009 in Erbes- Büdesheim ) meets in an "official Convention " and their models on the Internet documented .. Since March 2011 she is the free quarterly journal ft: pedia out.