K'nex Ball Machine Tartarus by Alocke
video K'nex Ball Machine Tartarus

Here it is after a year and a half!  My largest k'nex project to date; Tartarus!  It has over 31,000 pieces and touches my ceiling.  I started building in October 2010, and the final piece went in in January 2012.  I hope you enjoy!  Feel free to ask any questions you may have!
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dickheijboer says: May 8, 2013. 7:33 AM
Nice! So big! What are you building now?
Alocke (author) says: May 8, 2013. 9:42 AM
I finished a much smaller project - but I'm not sure if I'm going to post it or not. We'll see :)

Otherwise, I have plans for another large project this summer, with a few restrictions that should make it really interesting. Similar to Metropolis, but obviously with different paths etc.
dickheijboer says: May 15, 2013. 11:16 AM
What is the "much smaller project"? Ball machine?
www139 says: Dec 8, 2012. 6:15 AM
that little box thing where the ball only exits on the corner?
HOW DID YOU GET THAT TO WORK????????
Alocke (author) says: Dec 8, 2012. 9:04 AM
Are you asking about that mechanism that runs it?
www139 says: Dec 8, 2012. 4:35 PM
yes!!
:D
Alocke (author) says: Dec 8, 2012. 5:58 PM
It's actually pretty simple. The axle coming through the center is offset by an orange connector width. There are two axles that run perpendicular to the main axle that have wheels connected to them. These wheels run on small tracks which stop the whole table from spinning.
will1010 says: Sep 30, 2012. 1:15 PM
how do you make the maze thing tilt at 6:55
Alocke (author) says: Dec 8, 2012. 9:03 AM
Whaoh, sorry this reply took so long! It's basically 4 offset axles, with each offset 90 degrees from the others. Go check out the circle ball machine someone else posted; it's basically an adaptation of that :)
www139 says: Dec 8, 2012. 6:13 AM
really cool ball machine!
KneXtreme says: Feb 29, 2012. 7:13 AM
Amazing! I tried to make something like your elevator lift, but I could never get it to work. Great job :)
Alocke (author) says: Feb 29, 2012. 9:17 AM
The elevator was one of the first things I built, but I didn't get it to work until about a week before the video was taken! I had a backup plan the entire time in case it never worked haha. But one day I just spent the day working on it and got it to work that night, so it's in the machine :)

And thank you! I'm really glad you like it!
Sorunome says: Mar 9, 2012. 2:28 PM
What was the backup-plan? ;)
Alocke (author) says: Aug 4, 2012. 12:40 PM
Just a chain lift hahahaha
Sorunome says: Aug 4, 2012. 12:45 PM
Oh, lol xD
knexpert#10829476 says: Mar 28, 2012. 8:06 AM
31,000 pieces??!! That is all my pieces combined! You're amazing!
Alocke (author) says: Aug 4, 2012. 12:40 PM
Thank you! I want more hahah
sandroknexmaster says: May 1, 2012. 12:44 PM
Incredible!!!!! So many pieces!
Alocke (author) says: Aug 4, 2012. 12:39 PM
Thanks! :)
RNB says: Mar 20, 2012. 10:31 AM
Do you have pictures from the elevator lift for me, so I can update the Official Guide to Ball Machine Elements?
Sorunome says: Apr 4, 2012. 11:06 AM
*Lifts. The Elements one is dead :P
Alocke (author) says: Mar 20, 2012. 11:50 AM
I don't have instruction pictures for it, but I can find some pictures of it in the machine if you'd like?
RNB says: Mar 20, 2012. 12:08 PM
If you have them, that's great! Instructions are not needed for the Guide, however it might be handy to have a picture showing the lift :P
Sorunome says: Apr 4, 2012. 11:07 AM
screenie of the vid.....I could do it, to me it's just a matter of a few min
jameshond says: Mar 22, 2012. 12:18 PM
this is so nice !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! cooooool
Shadowman39 says: Mar 18, 2012. 6:36 PM
This is an awesome ball machine! Great work on this one. I'm looking forward to your next project as well. ;-)
ironstallion12 says: Mar 4, 2012. 5:38 AM
Holy. Your fingers must be sore. Nice work though it really payed off.
toeti says: Feb 29, 2012. 5:04 AM
i can't stop watching it xd it's soooo cool ;)
Sorunome says: Feb 28, 2012. 11:22 AM
Why isn't this featured?
Alocke (author) says: Feb 28, 2012. 9:02 PM
Probably because I don't have pictures :/
Sorunome says: Feb 29, 2012. 2:46 AM
but some other videos are also featured...
Tornado96 says: Feb 26, 2012. 12:37 PM
Once again, Amazing mate! A lot of people are gonna use this one for inspiration!
Sorunome says: Feb 27, 2012. 7:50 AM
Me for example xD
sathothy says: Feb 27, 2012. 3:32 AM
I subscribed. Can you tell me? :p
Alocke (author) says: Feb 27, 2012. 7:26 AM
Nope! :D
But on the plus side, this project shouldn't take me nearly as long to complete. The only thing really holding me back from it is I can't start it for another four weeks, due to some stuff, and I'm a junior in engineering school, so my life will get crazy here in a month and a half or so. However, once summer starts it shouldn't take more than a few weeks to make this thing :D
mikeasaurus says: Feb 26, 2012. 8:17 PM
Cool build! What do you have planned next?
Alocke (author) says: Feb 26, 2012. 9:17 PM
You'll just have to subscribe and find out! :D
DJ Radio says: Feb 26, 2012. 6:37 PM
This is amazing. Possibly better than cataclysm?
Alocke (author) says: Feb 26, 2012. 6:35 PM
Wow thank you! Cataclysm and Wipe Out were the machines that inspired me to actually do this, so to have someone compare it to those is such an honor!
sathothy says: Feb 26, 2012. 1:11 PM
Thats just to awesome! Like I said in the video I love that switch!
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