Knex Alternator Lift

Hello everyone! This is an Instructable of a new ball machine lift, the Alternator Lift!

This is a lift I made and worked on for a month. Here's how it works: a tower in the middle of the main tower (called the lifter) has ball grabbers on it. There are ball holders built into the front of the tower. When the lifter goes up and down, the balls are alternated from one side to the other, which is why I named it the Alternator Lift!
This lift does not fit balls from Motorized Madness, Big Air Ball Tower, or Loopin' Lizard.

Fun fact: this Instructable has over 211 pictures.

So, if you want to build it, move on to Step 1!  :-D

I hope you like it!

Video of the lift in action:

Step 1: Parts List

These are all the parts you'll need to build the Alternator Lift.

 

Rods: 617

• green-200
• white-123
• blue-200
• yellow-76
• red-10
• gray-6
• tan rigid-2

Connectors: 457

• dark gray-34
• light gray-25
• red-66
• green-27
• yellow-101
• white-21
• orange-33
• blue-58
• purple-92

Other: 145

• blue spacer-67
• silver spacer-38
• red gear-1
• blue/tan gear-1
• ball joint-2
• ball socket-1
• black/light green hinge-1
• tan clip-6
• blue clip-2
• Y clip-17
• small wheel-4
• rubber band-3
• 1 strand of string, 40 inches (102 cm) long
• battery-powered motor-1

Total: 1219

And, of course, you'll need original Knex balls.

If you have all these pieces, then move on to the next step! If you don't, then...  buy some more. :-P

Comments

[Knex5678]

hey shadowman do i need that motoror can i use a different one? and also whats a ball joint piece and ball socket piece?

[Shadowman39]

You can use a different motor. The ball joint and socket pieces are the pieces that are in Knexmen.

Ball socket

Ball joint

[Knex1235]

do you need the wheels

[Shadowman39]

Yes

[KNEX-pert]

Awesome! Great job!

[Shadowman39]

Thanks!

[CassisDude98]

(removed by author or community request)

[Shadowman39]

Lol, I'm glad you built it!

[albydesign]

Do you mind if I use this in my ball machine? Brilliant! 5* =D

[Shadowman39]

You can use it, and thanks!

[albydesign]

=D

[albydesign]

Also, whats the blue clip?

[Shadowman39]

Here's a link:
http://knex.com/building_toys/stard_metallic_blue_clip_connector.php?partType=standard

[albydesign]

Ok cool, thanks! I was just checking, 'cause I didn't want to start building this and find that i didn't have them! =D

[kevkillerke]

i made this lift for a school project, and i am now making paths, Thank you so much!

[Shadowman39]

Cool, thanks! Does it work well?

[kevkillerke]

i changed some minor things, but it worked well!!
i didn't had those ball sochets etc

[fuzi]

how high does it take the ball

[Shadowman39]

You can make this as high as you want. This one takes it about 3 red rods up.

[DELETED_Blue Mullet]

(removed by author or community request)

[Shadowman39]

Thanks! Of course you can use it in a ball machine, since that's what the instructions are meant for. :-)

[slipdiddy101]

thats a lot of steps. nice! you used this on cataclysum (or however its spelled)

[Shadowman39]

Thanks, it does have a lot of steps. :-) But they're easy steps.

[RNB]

On that parts picture, you see that Ring Lift :-) (what's that large tower right of it?

[Shadowman39]

The tower was for a contest on Knex Forum.

[Tinribs]

very good idea

[Shadowman39]

Thanks!

[BalintRules]

and there's 999 views now XD

[BalintRules]

did u put this into ur catacalysm ball machine? oh and guys u have to see that ball machine

[The Jamalam]

This is going on Project Quatro, obviously modded, because I don't have enough chain links to make a tall lift :) How's cataclysm?

[Shadowman39]

Good, I'm taking a break on it this weekend, but I'm in the fourth path.

[shoobygooby]

awesome 5*

[Shadowman39]

Thanks!

[Orangeprofessor]

do you you have a video of the inverter lift  and did you make the ball machine twister and sorry for asking so many questions

[Shadowman39]

No, I_am_Canadian made Twister. I don't have a video of an inverter lift.

[Orangeprofessor]

did i_am_ canadian ever tell you how long and how tall Twister is

[Shadowman39]

No.

[Orangeprofessor]

ok thanks ( :

[Orangeprofessor]

okay just asking

[Orangeprofessor]

so you like ball grabers don't you