K'nex Hammer Lift by RNB
Hey!

This is my new (and first) k'nex lift system. I came up with this idea, because the physics teacher was showing us the effect when anything that's heavy (a hammer) hits a light - weight thing. (a small ball) So I made that system with k'nex, and this is the result.

In this lift, a rotating arm goes up, and it comes down real fast, sending the ball up the incline.

The one in the video is a bit different, the one in this Instructable is better.


Hope you guys like it.


Click here to watch the video



Step 1: Parts List

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

Rods: 221

green-74

white-69

blue-54

yellow-21

red-9

tan rigid-1

black rigid-1

Connectors: 154

dark gray-14

light gray-13

orange-14

red-10

green-7

yellow-44

orange tube connector - 6

white-3

blue-21

purple-29

Other: 122

blue spacer-48

silver spacer-42

red gear-3     

blue/tan gear-1

small grey gear-1

tan clip-3

blue clip-15

Y clip-14

small wheel band-4

rubber band-1

chain link-7              

battery-powered motor-1

Total: 533



And,  of course, you'll need k'nex balls and tubing

Step 5: Motor

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P5033201.JPG
P5033202.JPG
This is a hard part to make, look closely at the quantity of spacers.

Step 7: Finished!!!

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P5043266.JPG
P5043265.JPG
Congrats, you're done with your Hammer Lift. Here are some tips:

1. The new k'nex balls (the big ones) comes higher than the old ones: If you use them both, be careful at the top of your hill: the big balls could fly off the track.

2. Attach the track as much as possible, this is to save speed, and to reach higher. Also support the track  good: It mustn't be unstable, the balls slow than down quickly.

3. If the arm goes stuck on the system that let 1 ball / time go, make the second and the third picture.

4. If the balls are going to be launched off the entrance path, make it longer. If the balls don't pass, wait till other balls arrive. That balls will push it trough the system that block balls.

Please give a feedback and feel free to comment and rate!

1-40 of 60Next »
2007KnexpertMan says: Jun 17, 2011. 9:00 AM
This is a cool design! I have an idea that I might use to make it whack the ball even harder and up a higher track by using some of my modified motors which plug into a wall outlet and spin two to three times faster than any other knex motor! :)
MegaMetal8 says: Dec 19, 2010. 9:39 AM
Might build but heres 3 questions....

1. Do you have to have that pathing, can I change it to some different pathing?

2. I have the motor in the picture (Ignore ball) will it still fit in?

3. The motor isn't too powerful, does it have to be a strong motor?

Thankyou, MM8
100_0969.JPG
RNB (author) says: Dec 19, 2010. 10:02 AM
1. It's changeable to yellow 5 - way connectors, although you'll have to find out the new height of the track.

2 + 3 Attach the motor to a white snowflake connector, and change the spacers/rod. The motor should work, cause my motor is weak too. If it doesn't work, just gear it more down. (again a blue gear on a red, you could change the red gear into a big yellow one, but the motor must be on a different place then0
MegaMetal8 says: Dec 20, 2010. 7:53 AM
Aww man.

Don't have all the spacers :(
k-n-e-x(leaved ibls) says: Jan 3, 2011. 7:36 AM
i have like 300 blue spacers and 400 silver spacers!
MegaMetal8 says: Jan 3, 2011. 10:47 AM
:-0
k-n-e-x(leaved ibls) says: Jan 3, 2011. 11:29 AM
and i'm getting sick of having so many spacers...
MegaMetal8 says: Jan 4, 2011. 1:23 AM
oh
k-n-e-x(leaved ibls) says: Jan 4, 2011. 8:18 AM
you want to buy some??
MegaMetal8 says: Jan 4, 2011. 10:25 AM
Im lright know I bought 55 blue ones and have about 65 silver
k-n-e-x(leaved ibls) says: Jan 5, 2011. 4:04 AM
cool
RNB (author) says: Dec 20, 2010. 8:03 AM
Try to get more ones!
MegaMetal8 says: Dec 20, 2010. 9:50 AM
I am!
MegaMetal8 says: Dec 19, 2010. 11:17 AM
KK will build soonish
MegaMetal8 says: Dec 24, 2010. 7:18 AM
Do you have to have the orange tubing connectors, I have none

Ps: Please reply ASAP
RNB (author) says: Dec 24, 2010. 7:49 AM
Read 2 comments below. There's your answer :-P
MegaMetal8 says: Dec 24, 2010. 9:14 AM
Oh yeah forgot!

Sorry
COASTER19 says: Nov 17, 2010. 2:05 PM
I decided to make this and it works great. Although I did have 1 problem with it letting only one ball in at a time.
TigerNod says: Nov 12, 2010. 11:53 AM
A very innovative lift design, I must say. Does it automatically reset itself too?
RNB (author) says: Nov 13, 2010. 12:14 AM
Yes. It works as long as the motor runs.
Purple Waffles says: Oct 12, 2010. 1:51 PM
I built it and what happens is the hammer comes down but stops short of the ball, then comes down slowly. Also, the gate opener keeps breaking when the hammer lifts the thing up. Please help!
RNB (author) says: Oct 12, 2010. 11:00 PM
Hammer comes down but stops short of the ball??? Could you give me a picture of that, I never had that problem

Gate opener: did you make the 2nd and the 3rd picture of the last step? that should help. It works even better if you remove the blue connector and the blue and gray spacer on the white rod.

If you've more problems, tell me.
Michaelgoode says: Oct 10, 2010. 8:22 AM
So could the track go vertical?
RNB (author) says: Oct 10, 2010. 9:25 AM
I never tried that one, I'm sorry.
Michaelgoode says: Oct 11, 2010. 11:10 AM
Ok, maybe a test for me sometime
RNB (author) says: Oct 11, 2010. 7:48 AM
Please tell if that's possible (if you sent me pictures, I'll add them to this Instructable)
Michaelgoode says: Oct 9, 2010. 12:30 PM
Oh, its a good design, a similar thing could be made, but the track goes vertical up?
RNB (author) says: Oct 10, 2010. 6:42 AM
No. Like you see in the picture, the track goes 30/35 degree up, but it has a other use: transport. Just cut the tubes off direct after the "launch" part (the part in this tutorial), and the ball flies about 1M, where it must be saved by a basket.
Michaelgoode says: Oct 9, 2010. 7:31 AM
Is the end of the hammer really heavy, so it comes down faster?
RNB (author) says: Oct 9, 2010. 11:04 AM
yes, it's heavy: but not too heavy, otherwise the engine wouldn't pull it all the way up.
Michaelgoode says: Oct 8, 2010. 1:14 PM
What makes it come down real fast? (the hammer)
RNB (author) says: Oct 9, 2010. 5:02 AM
Gravity :-)
Lightning Thunder says: Aug 27, 2010. 6:48 AM
Sorry but I don't have a lot of KNEX. My birthday is soon and this is number 1 on the list to make. You literly inspired me to make ball machines so you get V.I.P. on my list!
Lightning Thunder says: Aug 27, 2010. 5:19 AM
I can't make it but it looks awesome!!!
RNB (author) says: Aug 27, 2010. 6:28 AM
Why can't you make it?
Orangeprofessor says: Jul 8, 2010. 12:04 PM
not bad and really cool
Orangeprofessor says: Jul 8, 2010. 10:51 AM
the little thing with the spacers looks like a face
RNB (author) says: Jul 8, 2010. 11:15 AM
If you hold your mouse on the photo, I said it is a smiley face :-).
dshively says: Jun 28, 2010. 9:06 PM
i made the project and it works great i never thought that the small engine would never pull that hammer all the way around. i wish you would show how to make the rest of the track.
RNB (author) says: Jul 7, 2010. 2:21 AM
in the last step have I put some tips how to make the track. I think you can build your own with that.
1-40 of 60Next »
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