K'nex Hammer Lift

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

Comments

[2007KnexpertMan]

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]

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

[RNB]

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]

Aww man.

Don't have all the spacers :(

[k-n-e-x(leaved ibls)]

i have like 300 blue spacers and 400 silver spacers!

[MegaMetal8]

:-0

[k-n-e-x(leaved ibls)]

and i'm getting sick of having so many spacers...

[MegaMetal8]

oh

[k-n-e-x(leaved ibls)]

you want to buy some??

[MegaMetal8]

Im lright know I bought 55 blue ones and have about 65 silver

[k-n-e-x(leaved ibls)]

cool

[RNB]

Try to get more ones!

[MegaMetal8]

I am!

[MegaMetal8]

KK will build soonish

[MegaMetal8]

Do you have to have the orange tubing connectors, I have none

Ps: Please reply ASAP

[RNB]

Read 2 comments below. There's your answer :-P

[MegaMetal8]

Oh yeah forgot!

Sorry

[COASTER19]

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]

A very innovative lift design, I must say. Does it automatically reset itself too?

[RNB]

Yes. It works as long as the motor runs.

[Purple Waffles]

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]

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]

So could the track go vertical?

[RNB]

I never tried that one, I'm sorry.

[Michaelgoode]

Ok, maybe a test for me sometime

[RNB]

Please tell if that's possible (if you sent me pictures, I'll add them to this Instructable)

[Michaelgoode]

Oh, its a good design, a similar thing could be made, but the track goes vertical up?

[RNB]

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]

Is the end of the hammer really heavy, so it comes down faster?

[RNB]

yes, it's heavy: but not too heavy, otherwise the engine wouldn't pull it all the way up.

[Michaelgoode]

What makes it come down real fast? (the hammer)

[RNB]

Gravity :-)

[Lightning Thunder]

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]

I can't make it but it looks awesome!!!

[RNB]

Why can't you make it?

[Orangeprofessor]

not bad and really cool

[Orangeprofessor]

the little thing with the spacers looks like a face

[RNB]

If you hold your mouse on the photo, I said it is a smiley face :-).

[dshively]

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]

in the last step have I put some tips how to make the track. I think you can build your own with that.