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Knex Inverted Double Helix Lift

Knex Inverted Double Helix Lift
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Hello everyone! This is a lift for ball machines, and it's an inverted double helix lift. This lift was first featured in Cataclysm (last picture shows it). It's similar to a regular double helix lift, except the tower rotates in the middle, and the helix is on the outside! Of course, there's still a tower on the outside supporting the helix.

This lift is much better than the double helix lift, because you can make it very high, since the tower in the middle is much stronger than a double helix. It's more smooth, and more fun to watch, too. :-) It does use a lot of pieces though.

This is different than the original used in Cataclysm. It uses much less pieces. If you have enough, you can make it as big and piece-consuming as you want.

Here is a video of the inverted double helix lift in action!



Note: This lift does not work with newer Knex balls (balls from Motorized Madness, Big Air Ball Tower, etc.) because they are too big.

 
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Step 1Parts Count

Parts Count
Here's all the pieces that this lift uses.

Rods: 313
  • green-127
  • white-64
  • blue-59
  • yellow-34
  • red-11
  • gray-18
Connectors: 231
  • dark gray-20
  • light gray-3
  • red-22
  • green-7
  • yellow-58
  • orange-tabbed-32
  • white-9
  • orange-8
  • blue-29
  • purple-43
Other: 35
  • Y-clip-6
  • tan clip-3
  • blue spacer-16
  • silver spacer-7
  • battery-powered motor-1
  • strands of tubing-2: one 6 feet 3.5 inches long (191.77 cm), and the other 6 feet 4 inches long (193.04 cm). You don't have to cut the tubing, but it is recommended that you do. Go to Step 7 for details.
Total: 579

And you'll also need original Knex balls.

If you have enough pieces, then let's get building!
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140 comments
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Apr 22, 2012. 12:41 PMGnmar2723 says:
hey shadowman I'm having a bit of trouble with the tubing because the ball keeps slipping through the tubing when the balls are close but when the balls are more spaced they work fine. also it doesn't work when there are balls on both sides so i can only use one side. Do you suggest anything to try and fix it?
Sep 20, 2011. 4:28 AMxXx-PaLsLaYeRs-xXx says:
Orange tubing is good ? :/
Apr 22, 2012. 5:57 AMGnmar2723 says:
it probably wont work because the orange tubing is too thin and flimsy but you could try adding more supports.
Apr 21, 2012. 5:21 PMGnmar2723 says:
could you just repeat this process to make the tower taller?
Apr 21, 2012. 5:56 PMGnmar2723 says:
Ok thanks!
Jan 10, 2012. 7:27 PMLego Andrew says:
I can't use the motor shown because it's SO SLOW!!! I'll just make one with an electric motor. But thanks for the instructions.
Apr 8, 2012. 2:36 PMLego Andrew says:
My mistake wrong motor
Jan 10, 2012. 7:03 PMLego Andrew says:
Why are two 'passage ways' blocked?
Feb 7, 2012. 7:31 AMSorunome says:
Coz they just are.
No, ok, probally because the motor doesn't have to pull so much up?
Feb 10, 2012. 4:52 PMLego Andrew says:
yeah...
Jan 10, 2012. 4:56 PMLego Andrew says:
I don't like to gather pieces, cause it takes a long time, cause I don't sort my pieces (I'm starting to though).
Feb 7, 2012. 7:33 AMSorunome says:
You really shoult sort your pieces, it speeds bilding up stuff A LOT
Feb 10, 2012. 4:54 PMLego Andrew says:
yeah, i am getting small boxes
Feb 11, 2012. 1:23 AMSorunome says:
good decission
Jan 26, 2011. 12:23 AMrabbitman says:
hey if u still have this built u should make it so at the top when they fall out the balls hav a ramp to go bak down to the bottom
Jan 10, 2012. 3:53 PMLego Andrew says:
Then it would be an entire K'nex ball machine all by itself!
Jan 26, 2011. 1:52 PMrabbitman says:
i had a look at the peice count and checked my peices and no that is right i had hardly any peices for this but another thing ur da best knexer i hav heard of keep buildin hectic stuff
Jan 26, 2011. 3:47 PMrabbitman says:
i probably would build cause i think i might have enough but i dont have big bendy thing
Jan 10, 2012. 4:34 PMLego Andrew says:
'big bendy' thing is tubing, the part that goes onto a connector that has a golden nib, looks like a yellow connector, and is colored golden. You can order tubing from www.knex.com.
May 8, 2011. 6:03 PMJesus. says:
Wow this is awesome!
Great job! I'm putting it on my newest ball machine!
I built the alternator lift and this one looks MUCH easy-er 9 steps is alot less that 41!
Apr 30, 2011. 3:48 PM16nato says:
I'm currently making a seven foot version of this. This is my four attempt at a lift and I think this one might finally work! Great job!!!
Feb 2, 2011. 6:55 AMBlue Mullet says:
I'm making it to put on my ball machine. I'll give credit.
Feb 3, 2011. 7:09 AMBlue Mullet says:
Finished. I'm processing a knex ball machine. Called Instructables robot.
Feb 3, 2011. 2:46 PMBlue Mullet says:
YEP! Lol. Its awesome and almost finished.
Mar 16, 2011. 12:06 AMRNB says:
Sounds cool!
Mar 4, 2011. 1:35 PMsalomon1996 says:
I built this in a shortened method because I did not have enough pipe for it.
Mar 5, 2011. 5:20 PMsalomon1996 says:
is there a diffrence between the colors? if there is i didnt know that! :S it was a little tricky to get it to work rite.
Mar 10, 2011. 5:27 AMsalomon1996 says:
now what does the RC stand for?
1-40 of 140next »

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Author:Shadowman39(Visit my Youtube channel!)
Hello! I'm Kyle, also known as Shadowman39. I like building with mostly Knex, and all of my Ibles are Knex-related. I also like Lego, but I don't build with them anymore like I used to. I also play so...
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