K'nex Contraption Project - Cosmos

by nschmal1

808014

Intro: K'nex Contraption Project - Cosmos

This is my latest contraption to date. It is still in progress and is set to be completed by Dec. of 2015 or 2016. Currently the contraption features several unique elements and expands across the entire room. It is the largest, most complex and most interactive contraption that I have constructed. This project is intended to tell a unique story as one follows the K'nex balls through an intertwining maze of different pathways. Currently there are only two ways that are 100 percent complete and many more in progress. The giant loop is the main attraction so far and is the center of attention in this design. Many more elements will take on their important positions in this universe of K'nex as they are created. Below is a video of one of my favorite and most innovative ideas ever- The Trampoline Shower, which is set up high in a centralized location on the machine to illuminate its prominence in this contraptional design. Enjoy!

STEP 1: Jan. 2019 Cosmos Update

Just a few more ways to complete. It is taking a little bit longer to complete. There will be a total of 16 ways and I am estimating around 25,000 to 30,000 pieces.

STEP 2: Labyrinth Element


Here is a new element I have included that was inspired by that wooden marble labyrinth maze game that I grew up with. The ball works its way through the maze with the assistance of the pivoting platform. Instructions on this new element will come around after the disassembling of the contraption, which probably will not be for a few years. If anybody wants more detailed photos of the element so that they can build it or something similar, let me know and I would be more than happy to show the workings of it.

14 Comments

ThatSwitchDog 5 years ago

That’s a lot of freetime you have on your hands.

nschmal1 5 years ago

I am not sure why the video is not working for the labyrinth. It works fine when I watch it seperate on my computer through quick time but uploading it to instructables, it doesn't work. Any ideas?

Shadowman39 5 years ago

Just now saw the January 2019 update, I'm glad you're still continuing this project! Those wavy paths inside the loop look cool, and is that white tubing I see on one of the paths?

nschmal1 5 years ago

Thanks. Me too. I started this project back in Dec. 2014 on my college break, thinking id have it done in 2015 then had a few curveballs in life that have caused me to have to put it on hold for some time, but just started back up this January, and its at about 95% completion. I've always loved the concept of putting paths that snake through the giant loops. I've done that on some previous projects. Yaaa. I have the white roller coaster tubing on the humpty hump way. I forgot i had it but rediscovered it last month and have never used it until now. I do not remember where I got it from. The only time maybe i picked some up was when my brother and I were Knexperts from 2006 and went to Knex headquarters so I wonder if we got it there, not too sure to be honest.

Shadowman39 5 years ago

Life has a way of doing that oftentimes. Building stuff is hard when there's also college. I've never seen the white tubing anywhere, so I was going to ask you where you got it. It seems likely that you did get it from the headquarters. I was hoping you were using some other tubing that wasn't Knex, as Knex tubing can get expensive, haha.

nschmal1 5 years ago

Definately does, such a journey. Yaaa weird I just remember acquiring some blue, red and white roller coaster tubing all at once way back from someone or somewhere, it probably was the headquarters. I don't see it on any set and didn't see that color on ebay. Certainly more expensive than buying just regular parts. Lol, I had a vision of having all of us KNEX masters meeting up and uniting somewhere with unlimited KNEX and building some sort of epic giant contraption.

www139 9 years ago

wow. one word: wow. :O

koolcoasterkid 9 years ago

Aha, I love this style of machine! The giant loop is awesome, I love massive elements like that. Will it circle the entire room when it's done?

nschmal1 9 years ago

My brother came home for the holidays and had no idea I was building a new creation. I told him I was planning a giant loop and he instantly put it together in about ten minutes haha

nschmal1 9 years ago

Thanks! it was funny actually, when I first started building, I was intending on one track to have done by christmas 2014, that went from the chain lift by the piano all the way to the spiral lift by the stairs and around the back of the room over the couch and loop around, but then I realized it was a lotta structure for one way. I wish I had an endless supply of red and gray rods but most likely this will be the extent of the machine. I will continue to fill in the empty spaces in front of the window and piano with more elements and tracks! I love your latest creations- The Kinetic Energy one, I just saw it for the first time about a month ago!

nschmal1 9 years ago

Thanks everyone. I've got a lot of work to do on it but I am very pleased with the amount I got done over the holiday break. Id say its roughly one third of the way complete. It most likely will not get any larger, just more filled in

Sorunome 9 years ago

This is looking awesome! I'm looking forward to seeing this done! :D