More K'nex ball machine elements

When building my latest and so far biggest K'nex ball machine, I've used a few elements which weren't on Instructables yet. I didn't describe all elements used in this machine, just the ones which weren't featured here yet.

It's also a nice chance to show some pictures of my 332 cm(130 Inch, 10,9 feet) tall machine itself! It's the biggest I've ever seen, and also the biggest on Instructables. As you can see I had to take out one of the ceiling plates to fit it in.
In K'nex terms, it's 21,5 red rod blocks tall.

Step 1: The grabbing dropping arm

This arm grabs a ball at the end of a 45 degree down sloped path. It then releases it, and makes the ball fall into a basket below.

By sliding the counterweight up and down, you can tune the speed with which the arm moves.

Comments

[Cristiano Ronaldo]

Where do you get a wooden rod!?!?!?

[cqdmgy]

The rod itself comes from the DIY store, I've just used a small round file to get the notches at the end.

[SkipperOf]

Out of curiosity, were any of these ideas inspired by the Power Tower crane kit that Knex used to make? It looks like some of the elements in that set.

[COASTER19]

somthing like this was used in the Power Tower Crane, but this is only single layered where as the Power Tower Crane had 2 layers to it.

[cqdmgy]

On later ball machines I've vuilt them with 4 layers, that's much better!

[cqdmgy]

Yup, have that one also! It's nice, but I've added elements from the big ball factory(copied from images)

[Michaelgoode]

You got that from the big ball factory, but anyway good ball machine!

[cqdmgy]

It's not as much about the spiral stairs itself, it's about the long wooden rod, which makes it possible to make these stairs much longer.

[Michaelgoode]

Yes of course what you have done is brilliant

[zchan1120]

look at Darth Trainman's ultimate guide to ball machine elements to see how to connect rods together to make a spiral

[cqdmgy]

I've seen how it works, though my solution provides a smoother stair. I've got a wooden rod of three red lenghts now, makes quite a nice stair!!

[zchan1120]

How did you shape the wooden rod the right way? Like, how did you shape the ends so you could put connectors on them?

Also, does anybody know how to get "sponsored by K'nex"?

[Bartboy]

Cool....

[Bartboy]

But I think it helps when you really show the steps.

[TigerNod]

You can possible also make them on another way. Take a few gray rods, build the stairs, then put the rods into the stairs. But don't add conectors between the gray rods. Just let them slide in and put two connectors to the end. This is just a concept, i'm not sure if they will stay together. Hope it works!

[The Jamalam]

also connect the yellow rods with red connectors

[cqdmgy]

In what way?

[The Jamalam]

can't really explain without pics, soz

[cqdmgy]

oke, lol!

[The Jamalam]

video of the ball machine?

[cqdmgy]

Unfortunately not, this thing was HUGE, so I had to take it apart.

[The Jamalam]

can you post a video of that bm?

[cqdmgy]

Unfortunately not. It was built in my mum's classroom, and it kinda distracted the kids too much!! So I had to take it apart again..

[The KNex Weasel]

Neat. I like those elements quite a lot.

[Darth Trainman]

Excellent.

[knex_builder_freak]

awesome ball machine! next time take the pictures with the windows in back.

[the_burrito_master]

that was me but the stupid log out thing didn't work again.....

[knex_builder_freak]

oifff!!

[Electroinnovation]

Hi. Can you PLEASE post a video of it. I would love to see this thing in action.PPLLEEAASSEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Kiteman]

You say "elements" - is that like modules, that you can make as units and then stack or connect in different ways to make different-shaped machines? Maybe add more "tower elements" and "stair elements" to make it even taller? Oh, and a video of it running would be a great addition to this ible.

[cqdmgy]

You can combine them into these towers. Sorry I don't have videos, I can't make any good ones with my camera.

[bakenbitz]

Kind of. Elements are like stunts that make up the machine, like a track that the ball goes on, or a funnel that the ball goes in.

[Kiteman]

Ah, like stages in a trick. I was thinking more modular like Scalextric track. Hey, there's a challenge (for the K'NEXers as a whole) - come up with plans for modules that can be fastened together however you like.

[bakenbitz]

Now that would be cool.

[The Jamalam]

lol, that bm looks sweet!