K'NEX Motor & Gear Guide

This instructable will be about the use of K'NEX Motors and gears. The last part will focus on a the K'NEX cyber system.

Summary of steps:

1. Gear characteristics
2. Some gear connections
3. Motor characteristics
4. Cyber K'NEX explained - Intro
5. The Processor
6. The Motors & Battery Packs
7. The IR-Controller

I hope you will learn something about the different k'nex motors there are or see new gear connections.

Step 1: Gear Characteristics

Step 2: Useful Gear Connections

The pictures speak for themselves, hopefully.

These are just examples I made up to show what is possible. Each type of gear connection in a model, requires a different approach, so it's hard to make it standard.

Click here for the link to the K'NEX differential

A differential makes sure a car can make turns without the wheels making alot of friction with the ground.

It is also used to combine the power of two motors together. It is then called an "adder". This is sometimes used in (toy) tanks.

Step 3: Motor Characteristics

All indicated motors can be bought here.

Step 4: Cyber K'NEX Explained - Intro

Cyber K'NEX was a part of K'NEX building line that let you make robot models that would either move on their own and react on their surroundings, or were controlled by the cyber K'NEX remote.

The sets were sold from around 2002 until 2007 (not 100% sure) and came in 4 sets:

1. Hyper Wheels
2. Cybots
3. Ultra Set
4. Cyber Swarm

In the next steps I will show how to set up the system.

Link for Front Loader video

Link for Fork Lift video

Link for Armoured Vehicle video

Step 5: The Processor

The processor is the "brain" of the Cyber K'NEX system.

It has 6 cables coming from it:

1. The processor's ON-switch
2. The Cyber Port
3. Black Connector (for motor pack 1)
4. Blue Connector (for motor pack 2, motors 2 & 3)
5. 2 seperate LED lights

Step 6: The Motors & Battery Packs

As seen in the last picture, there are several ways to connect the battery packs and motors to your model. I've found that this is actually a nice system, and I make it a sport to put them so that they are as invisible and compact as possible.

Step 7: The IR-Controller

The IR-controller lets you control all models from the Ultra Set, plus the programmable key.

Personally I like the Sarge Cyber key the best, because I make alot of steered vehicles with wheels and this key offers a steering mechanism.

Next to that, the programmable key doesn't make so many noises and childish sounds.

I hope you've found this instructable informative and learnful. It would be great if you can use some tips in your next K'NEX model.

! If you like it, please vote for it in the K'NEX contest !

Thanks alot!

Comments

[Next Mb]

Is there a way to reverse the direction of a worm gear motor? I’ve seen it done before but can’t seem to find a way to do it. People just use a different cable or something. It doesn’t even need extra gears or a gearbox. Thanks!

[GWorks]

Good question. Had to think about that one for a while, but the answer is not that difficult.
The 12V (worm gear) motor (light grey) is DC (direct current) motor.
That means that you can reverse the current and it will spin in the other direction.
To reverse the current, you switch polarity (+ is now - and - now +)

But! your adapter will still supply the same polarity... so you need to tinker with that.
It would be a shame to cut the leads of original K'NEX adapter. So, it's better to get a 12V power supply that can supply up to 2 amps (unless you want 4-5 motors running at once, then I'd go for 10-15 amps)
If you know a bit about electronics, you can get some left/right toggle switches and make them so that the polarity is reversed by the switch.
Basically you're making a small power station then. You'd need to get a cable and a plug then.
I hope that'll get you an idea :)

https://www.radioshack.com/collections/parts/produ...
https://www.radioshack.com/products/dpdt-red-rocke...

[s0200311]

Something I must ask you, gworks, would you please post instructions on a cyber knex model?

[The Real Phil Swift]

There's also the dual tethered motor.

[The Real Phil Swift]

There's the command-a-bot motor and the rc burnout motor.

[The Real Phil Swift]

Where can you find the IR controller?

[GWorks]

Hi! I got it off ebay. It costed me around 15$. Sometimes they sell it, but it's not common. You have the rest of the Cyber Knex parts?

[The Real Phil Swift]

No. I'm looking for the whole thing.

[GWorks]

Even then the best option is to look for the set at Ebay. Search for "Cyber K'NEX ultra"

[The Real Phil Swift]

Thanks! I found the rght onen.

[Ethan1023]

I've made a contraption that spins at 1/5.68 RPM.

[GWorks]

I guess it uses at least one of those big gears :) hope the gear calculator works

[Ethan1023]

It utilizes 3 14-tooth gears, each driving an 84-tooth gear.

[GWorks]

And which motor are you using? and for what application? Sounds pretty slow haha

[Ethan1023]

34 RPM, Standard Green motor. I actually added another gear, lowering it to 1/40 RPM. I have another large gear around my house somewhere, I just have to find it.

[GWorks]

Haha, lol that's pretty slow

[hunter999]

Like I commented on Akshats 'Ible, you're missing a motor. The ultimate big air ball tower orange one that lifts the balls with air. Technically that is a motor :p it uses C batteries I believe.

[sonic broom]

Nice guide! will you add information for the new robotics set when it come out?

[GWorks]

I do not know of any new robotics sets coming out. Could you please provide me some information where you found this? I checked the K'NEX website, and there's just the K-Force stuff on as "new" sets...

Thanks :) and I await your reply

[sonic broom]

Here is the video.