Using VEX GO Beams and Plates – VEX Library

The VEX GO build system is an easy and fun way to allow students in grades 3-5 to build many educational projects. Its flexibility and function can also be used in higher grades.

Image showing various components and configurations of the VEX GO Kit, illustrating its versatility for building and programming educational robotics projects.

This article will introduce you to the parts which will allow you to build VEX GO projects.

Beams

Diagram showing all beam types included in the VEX GO Kit, illustrating various lengths and configurations for building projects.

Beams are plastic parts that are one hole wide. Their length is identified by their color and they come in 10 different lengths.

A yellow beam component from the VEX GO Kit, showcasing its design and structure, used for educational robotics projects.

Each of the beams has a center hole that allows them to have a connector placed directly in their center. Center holes provide a great deal of flexibility when building a project.

Example of a pink beam from the VEX GO Kit, illustrating its design and structure for educational robotics projects.

Beams are very useful building parts. For example, in the Adaptation Claw project they are used for a number of things. A Pink Beam is used as the pull handle to close the claw.

Angle Beams

Diagram of angle beams from the VEX GO Kit, illustrating their structure and connection points for building educational robotics projects.

Angle Beams are beams that are one hole wide and have an angle. There are four angled beams, including:

a Yellow Angle Beam which has an angle of 45 degrees
a Red Angle Beam which has an angle of 60 degrees on each end
a smaller Green Angle Beam which has an angle of 90 degrees
a larger Orange Angle Beam which has an angle of 90 degrees

Diagram showing a red angle beam with callouts indicating its dimensions and connection points, used in the context of the VEX GO Kit for educational robotics.

Angle Beams allow projects to have structures placed at an angle. This is very useful, whether your project needs to have a major part placed at an angle or an interesting addition. For example with the Crawler project, a Red Angle Beam makes a fun mouth for the robot.

Large Beams

A large white beam from the VEX GO Kit, designed for building and robotics projects, showcasing its structure and dimensions against a plain background.

Large Beams have a very useful pattern of holes. There are two outside rows of holes that are lined up with each other. There is a center row of holes that is located halfway between each of the outside holes. This pattern allows for many different ways that Large Beams can be attached to other parts.

A collection of various large beams from the VEX GO Kit, showcasing different shapes and sizes, used for building and construction in robotics projects.

Large Beam lengths are identified by their color and they come in nine different lengths.

Red Square Beam

A large red beam from the VEX GO Kit, used for building and constructing various robotic projects.

The Red Square Beam is a special large beam. It is two holes wide and two holes long, making it a square part. The special feature of the Red Square Beam is its center hole. The center hole is a square hole.

The square hole allows for a square Pin or a Shaft to be inserted into the hole. The Red Square Beam will be forced to spin whenever the square Pin/Shaft is forced to spin.

Illustration of a gray large beam with callouts, demonstrating its features and connections, used in the context of the VEX GO Kit for educational robotics.

Large Beams are used as major parts in many projects. For example, two Gray Large Beams are used in the Clock project as the handle for the clock.

Plates

A white plate with various colored building blocks arranged on it, showcasing components from the VEX GO Kit, illustrating the kit's usage in educational activities.

Plates are the widest of the plastic parts and come in widths of three-hole wide and four-hole wide. Plates use the same hole pattern as Large Beams.

Diagram showing all plates included in the VEX GO Kit, illustrating their shapes and sizes for educational robotics projects.

Plates come in five different lengths. Their different lengths are identified by a color.

Diagram of dark gray plates from the VEX GO Kit, illustrating their dimensions and connection points for assembly in robotics projects.

Plates are very useful in building projects because they provide many holes to connect other parts. For example, in the Robot Arm project two Dark Gray Plates provide many holes to attach the other parts.

Beams, Angle Beams, Large Beams, and Plates are the parts in the VEX GO system that will allow you to bring your project from the imagination into reality.