Knex Inverted Double Helix Lift

 by Shadowman39
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 1: Parts Count

IMG_0001_1.jpg
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!
1-40 of 143Next »
cooljupjup says: Feb 20, 2013. 2:34 PM
i can`t build this i only have the newer balls :-(
Shadowman39 (author) in reply to cooljupjupFeb 20, 2013. 4:35 PM
:-(
OZKNEX22 says: Jan 24, 2013. 2:14 PM
sick
Shadowman39 (author) in reply to OZKNEX22Jan 24, 2013. 3:57 PM
Thanks!
Gnmar2723 says: Apr 22, 2012. 12:41 PM
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?
Shadowman39 (author) in reply to Gnmar2723Apr 22, 2012. 4:05 PM
Try tightening the tubing. When they slip through they fall down a level right? How tall have you made it?
xXx-PaLsLaYeRs-xXx says: Sep 20, 2011. 4:28 AM
Orange tubing is good ? :/
Gnmar2723 in reply to xXx-PaLsLaYeRs-xXxApr 22, 2012. 5:57 AM
it probably wont work because the orange tubing is too thin and flimsy but you could try adding more supports.
Gnmar2723 says: Apr 21, 2012. 5:21 PM
could you just repeat this process to make the tower taller?
Shadowman39 (author) in reply to Gnmar2723Apr 21, 2012. 5:33 PM
Yeah, but don't forget the middle tower as well.
Gnmar2723 in reply to Shadowman39Apr 21, 2012. 5:56 PM
Ok thanks!
Lego Andrew says: Jan 10, 2012. 7:27 PM
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.
Lego Andrew in reply to Lego AndrewApr 8, 2012. 2:36 PM
My mistake wrong motor
Lego Andrew says: Jan 10, 2012. 7:03 PM
Why are two 'passage ways' blocked?
Shadowman39 (author) in reply to Lego AndrewMar 18, 2012. 6:27 PM
You can unblock them, but you'll have to add gray rods to the middle like the other two passages. There's really no point in doing that though, because it lifts balls up pretty fast.
Sorunome in reply to Lego AndrewFeb 7, 2012. 7:31 AM
Coz they just are.
No, ok, probally because the motor doesn't have to pull so much up?
Lego Andrew in reply to SorunomeFeb 10, 2012. 4:52 PM
yeah...
Lego Andrew says: Jan 10, 2012. 4:56 PM
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).
Sorunome in reply to Lego AndrewFeb 7, 2012. 7:33 AM
You really shoult sort your pieces, it speeds bilding up stuff A LOT
Lego Andrew in reply to SorunomeFeb 10, 2012. 4:54 PM
yeah, i am getting small boxes
Sorunome in reply to Lego AndrewFeb 11, 2012. 1:23 AM
good decission
MiniBr1t says: Jan 26, 2011. 12:23 AM
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
Lego Andrew in reply to MiniBr1tJan 10, 2012. 3:53 PM
Then it would be an entire K'nex ball machine all by itself!
Shadowman39 (author) in reply to MiniBr1tJan 26, 2011. 10:28 AM
It would be easy to do that, why don't you try? :-)
MiniBr1t in reply to Shadowman39Jan 26, 2011. 1:52 PM
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
Shadowman39 (author) in reply to MiniBr1tJan 26, 2011. 2:44 PM
Thanks! I never build tracks connecting the entrance and exit of the lift because I leave that part up to others who build it.
MiniBr1t in reply to Shadowman39Jan 26, 2011. 3:47 PM
i probably would build cause i think i might have enough but i dont have big bendy thing
Lego Andrew in reply to MiniBr1tJan 10, 2012. 4:34 PM
'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.
Jesus. says: May 8, 2011. 6:03 PM
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!
Shadowman39 (author) in reply to Jesus.May 9, 2011. 11:09 AM
Thanks!
16nato says: Apr 30, 2011. 3:48 PM
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!!!
Shadowman39 (author) in reply to 16natoMay 1, 2011. 3:07 PM
Cool, thanks!
DELETED_Blue Mullet says: Feb 2, 2011. 6:55 AM
(removed by author or community request)
Shadowman39 (author) in reply to DELETED_Blue MulletFeb 2, 2011. 2:51 PM
Nice, good luck building it!
DELETED_Blue Mullet in reply to Shadowman39Feb 3, 2011. 7:09 AM
(removed by author or community request)
Shadowman39 (author) in reply to DELETED_Blue MulletFeb 3, 2011. 2:09 PM
Lol, is it shaped like the Ibles Robot?
DELETED_Blue Mullet in reply to Shadowman39Feb 3, 2011. 2:46 PM
(removed by author or community request)
RNB in reply to DELETED_Blue MulletMar 16, 2011. 12:06 AM
Sounds cool!
salomon1996 says: Mar 4, 2011. 1:35 PM
I built this in a shortened method because I did not have enough pipe for it.
100_0508.JPG100_0509.JPG100_0510.JPG100_0511.JPG
Shadowman39 (author) in reply to salomon1996Mar 4, 2011. 2:53 PM
Looks great! :-D Does the orange tubing work well?
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