Introduction: 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:
- Gear characteristics
- Some gear connections
- Motor characteristics
- Cyber K'NEX explained - Intro
- The Processor
- The Motors & Battery Packs
- 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:
- Hyper Wheels
- Cybots
- Ultra Set
- Cyber Swarm
In the next steps I will show how to set up the system.
Step 5: The Processor
The processor is the "brain" of the Cyber K'NEX system.
It has 6 cables coming from it:
- The processor's ON-switch
- The Cyber Port
- Black Connector (for motor pack 1)
- Blue Connector (for motor pack 2, motors 2 & 3)
- 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!

Participated in the
K'NEX Contest
47 Comments
Question 1 year ago
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!
Answer 1 year ago
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...
2 years ago
Something I must ask you, gworks, would you please post instructions on a cyber knex model?
4 years ago
There's also the dual tethered motor.
4 years ago
There's the command-a-bot motor and the rc burnout motor.
4 years ago
Where can you find the IR controller?
Reply 4 years ago
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?
Reply 4 years ago
No. I'm looking for the whole thing.
Reply 4 years ago
Even then the best option is to look for the set at Ebay. Search for "Cyber K'NEX ultra"
Reply 4 years ago
Thanks! I found the rght onen.
5 years ago
I've made a contraption that spins at 1/5.68 RPM.
Reply 5 years ago
I guess it uses at least one of those big gears :) hope the gear calculator works
Reply 5 years ago
It utilizes 3 14-tooth gears, each driving an 84-tooth gear.
Reply 5 years ago
And which motor are you using? and for what application? Sounds pretty slow haha
Reply 5 years ago
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.
Reply 5 years ago
Haha, lol that's pretty slow
7 years ago
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.
7 years ago on Introduction
Nice guide! will you add information for the new robotics set when it come out?
Reply 7 years ago on Introduction
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
Reply 7 years ago on Introduction
Here is the video.