Hey y'all! This is my entry into the Kinetic Sculpture Contest.

This is a kinetic sculpture that catapults ping pong balls into the air, into a basket, and back to the catapult. It runs for as long as you want it to with a motor, and a rubber band powers the catapult. A mechanism at the end allows each ball to load into the catapult one by one. It's a useless machine, but fun to watch. :-)

This machine is made to use 38mm ping pong balls.

Here's the video of the ball juggler in action:



So, let's get building! I hope you like it!

 
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Step 1: Parts List

IMG_0001_2.jpg
Here's all the pieces you'll need to make the ball juggler:

Rods: 279
  • green-98
  • white-38
  • blue-92
  • yellow-35
  • red-9
  • flexi-rod (gray rod length)-3
  • rigid tan-2
  • rigid black-2
Connectors: 225
  • dark gray-11
  • light gray-5
  • red-34
  • green-25
  • yellow-45
  • white-14
  • orange-24
  • blue-27
  • purple-40
Other: 127
  • blue spacer-51
  • silver spacer-43
  • tan clip-21
  • Y-connector-7
  • rubber band-1
  • motor-1
  • small blue gear-1
  • red gear-2

TOTAL: 631

If you have all of these pieces, then you may begin! If you don't, then you could still try, and leave some pieces out (even though it won't work as well). Tan (red rod length) or black (gray rod length) rigid rods can be replaced with red or gray rods.
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joezim007 says: Apr 5, 2013. 8:01 AM
Now I just need to adjust the angles and get a more powerful rubber band and I'll have a super cool ball lift. :)
Shadowman39 (author) in reply to joezim007Apr 7, 2013. 10:26 AM
Cool!
~Meme~ says: Oct 5, 2012. 2:58 PM
I love it man! It counts as a ball machine I can make!
Shadowman39 (author) in reply to ~Meme~Oct 6, 2012. 11:21 AM
Cool, thanks!
~Meme~ in reply to Shadowman39Oct 6, 2012. 4:45 PM
Built it!
Shadowman39 (author) in reply to ~Meme~Oct 7, 2012. 1:41 PM
Nice, does it work well?
~Meme~ in reply to Shadowman39Oct 8, 2012. 1:56 AM
Once in a while a ball will miss the basket, but other than that I would strongly recommend it!
The Cannoneer says: Apr 7, 2012. 2:41 PM
Hey I managed to build 2 of these. I found a way to conect them together and with some moding i have a dual one. wil post a pic soon if thats ok :D
Shadowman39 (author) in reply to The CannoneerApr 7, 2012. 4:22 PM
That sounds cool!
The Cannoneer in reply to Shadowman39Apr 7, 2012. 8:25 PM
after the ball gets flung into the basket the ramp leads to the other flinger then that ball gets launched into the other basket then it all happenes again...very donfusing...lol :D
Shadowman39 (author) in reply to The CannoneerApr 8, 2012. 10:51 AM
Haha :-P
The Cannoneer in reply to Shadowman39Apr 9, 2012. 1:17 AM
SMILY FACE SPAM...XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD ...LOL
Shadowman39 (author) in reply to The CannoneerApr 9, 2012. 2:03 PM
That's a bunch of XD's!
The Cannoneer in reply to Shadowman39Apr 14, 2012. 5:01 PM
Looking back on that....I actually wonder how many people flaged me for spam...
BleSam112233 in reply to The CannoneerJul 29, 2012. 8:28 AM
O-o I know. Me!!
daredevil499 says: Dec 30, 2011. 3:38 PM
cool!
didexo in reply to daredevil499Mar 17, 2012. 7:22 AM
Somebody call the NBA I think we got an allstar :)
Randomguy65 says: Apr 28, 2011. 7:15 AM
Oh, what the heck. I've finally got some ping pong balls so why not. :-) I've got nothing better to do.
Shadowman39 (author) in reply to Randomguy65Apr 28, 2011. 2:29 PM
Cool! Send me a picture when it's done.
Randomguy65 in reply to Shadowman39Apr 28, 2011. 3:17 PM
I am having difficulties. :-(
zwelch1 in reply to Randomguy65Oct 10, 2011. 7:16 AM
me too its with the catapult it wont go all the way down to pick up the ball
Shadowman39 (author) in reply to Randomguy65Apr 28, 2011. 4:02 PM
With what part?
Randomguy65 in reply to Randomguy65Apr 28, 2011. 10:34 AM
CRAP! The ball dosen't want to make it on the catapult because the arm doesn't go down far enough!!!!!
pokerface1 says: May 15, 2011. 11:15 AM
Shadowman39 I'm a huge fan of you and i build this thing, it's realy awsome and I have fun with it. I don't have a picture, sorry
I also build the Knex Cristmas Wreath and the Hole Puncher.
Keep on doing this great work.
Shadowman39 (author) in reply to pokerface1May 15, 2011. 1:50 PM
Glad you like my Ibles! :-)
zwelch1 in reply to Shadowman39Oct 10, 2011. 7:14 AM
i am having trouble getting the catapult to hit the ball loader i think you shortend te turning mechanism too much
charliethecreator says: Sep 25, 2011. 10:18 PM
project juggle sounds good :)
Shadowman39 (author) in reply to charliethecreatorSep 27, 2011. 3:40 PM
Haha :-P
Snosageman99 says: Sep 2, 2011. 10:33 PM
awesome
Shadowman39 (author) in reply to Snosageman99Sep 27, 2011. 3:40 PM
Thanks!
Oblivitus says: Aug 27, 2011. 5:48 PM
This is great! 4.5 stars.
Shadowman39 (author) in reply to OblivitusAug 28, 2011. 3:29 PM
Thanks!
Knex Yoshi says: Aug 22, 2011. 8:06 PM
thx **5**
Knex Yoshi says: Aug 19, 2011. 4:31 PM
can you build with micro (I recently made the coin sorter but took it apart bcuz it didnt work
Shadowman39 (author) in reply to Knex YoshiAug 21, 2011. 11:54 AM
Probably yes, but it may not be strong enough for the rubber band.
knexman2001 says: Aug 4, 2011. 5:19 AM
Best instructable EVER!
Shadowman39 (author) in reply to knexman2001Aug 4, 2011. 12:36 PM
Thanks! :-)
Knex1235 says: Mar 10, 2011. 5:47 PM
mine it isnt getting in the loncher in gets in the thing that holds it for the ball to get in but i wont go in the lonchger but any way it is good
Shadowman39 (author) in reply to Knex1235May 15, 2011. 1:51 PM
I think someone else had this same problem, but thanks!
Randomguy65 in reply to Shadowman39May 15, 2011. 3:44 PM
I did.
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