Introduction: 8-Ball Drawbridge Lift: a K'nex Ball Machine Lift

By Knextus Blog
About: I like to build with K'nex and Lego.

Here are the instructions for 1 of the 3 lifts that I designed for my ball machine Ribdul. I designed the 8-Ball Drawbridge Lift as an expansion for Sandroknexmaster's Separating Arm Lift, but you can use this lift by itself. Also, the 8-Ball Drawbridge Lift's drive gearbox contains www139's reversible transmission, in my custom frame. The 8-Ball Drawbridge Lift is my most complicated lift, so be sure to follow the instructions carefully. In addition, the version I present here is slightly better than the one on Ribdul; this version features a set of moving gates that prevent balls from entering the lift when they shouldn't.

Click here to se the video, which I am unfortunately unable to post on Instructables.

Step 1: Entrance Tracks

You will start by building the lift's 8 entrance tracks (and some supporting frame).

Step 2: Gates

The gates prevent balls from entering the lift when they shouldn't.

Step 3: Loader Mechanism

In this step, you will build the mechanism that loads balls into the arm.

Step 4: Entrance Tower Frame

Now it's time to build more of the lift's frame.

Step 5: Entrance Gearbox, Part 1

This gearbox transfers the force of the arm pressing on a lever to the gates and loader mechanism.

Step 6: Entrance Gearbox, Part 2

You must do more things to the entrance gearbox before you can mount it. In this step, you will do those things.

Step 7: Mounting the Entrance Gearbox

It's finally time to mount the entrance gearbox (and build some supporting frame).

Step 8: Gray Motor Mount

If you want to use a gray motor to power the lift, follow this step to build the gray motor's mount.

Step 9: Green Motor Mount

If you want to use a green motor to power the lift, follow this step to build the green motor's mount.

Step 10: Drive Gearbox, Part 1

In this step, you will start building the gearbox that drives the lift.

Step 11: Drive Gearbox, Part 2

In this step, you will finish building the gearbox that drives the lift.

Step 12: Chain Beam & Chain Tower

Now you will build more of the lift's frame.

Step 13: Dismounter Mechanism

The dismounter mechanism knocks balls off of the arm and onto the exit tracks.

Step 14: Chain

In this step, you will thread the chain through the lift.

Step 15: Arm

It's finally time to build the lift's arm.

Step 16: Exit Tracks

All the lift needs now is exit tracks. In this step, you will build the exit tracks.

Step 17: Finished!

I designed this lift as an expansion for Sandroknexmaster's Separating Arm Lift, but you can use the 8-Ball Drawbridge Lift by itself. For example, you could run 8 different paths through this lift to give all of them a bit more height. And if you decide to use this lift along with the Separating Arm Lift, you don't have to connect them exactly like I did on Ribdul. For example, you could put the 2 lifts on opposite sides of your ball machine and connect them with long tracks.