Knex Skeeball Machine

Hello everyone! After over a year, it's finally finished: my Knex skeeball machine! This machine is full-size, coin-operated (takes quarters), turns itself off automatically, and counts points using a mechanical counter. And, all of it is mechanical, using only normal motors to power it (no CyberKnex motors). There are six motors used in the machine; four of them are used for just the counter. The only non-Knex parts used are a few rubber bands and the paper for the counter.

The video below shows the machine in action!

This game is a lot of fun to play, for me and my family (my dad has the highest score, over 400 points). I've only scored in the 1000 point hole 2 times, and I haven't seen anyone else score that one, so it's very hard to get the ball there. Playing time for one game is about 1:30, plus how long it takes to throw eight balls. 

Note that my camera lens makes things look curved, for example the ramp in picture 7. Insides of the machine start at picture 17.

Fun fact: If one were to buy enough new Knex pieces to build this, the cost would be around $4,391. The piece category that costs the most money are the yellow connectors, which would cost $835.

I will not be making instructions of this whole machine, but I have made other models that use mechanisms from this machine. These smaller models do have instructions, so you can still build some of the mechanisms used in the skeeball machine.

• Leave Me Alone Box uses the same motor mechanism (the one in the box is more compact than the ones used in skeeball). 
• Coin Sorter V2 uses the same coin sorting method found in the skeeball machine.

Started building: May 24, 2011
Finished building: July 26, 2012
Width: 26 & 3/8 inches (67 cm)
Length: 85 inches (216 cm)
Height: 57 & 1/4 inches (146 cm)
Pieces: 28,396


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Direct video link

Comments

[Knexified]

This is a really cool build!! I never thought you could build to this limit! But one thing I need to ask: How long, on the days you worked on this, did you take to build a part of the skeeball machine?

[Shadowman39]

Thanks! Which part are you referring to? The systems that took longest are the counter and coin mechanism. The general frame for the machine didn't take very long. It was so many years ago that I forget exactly how much time each section took to build.

[Knexified]

Any part really. I have a guess that this takes the usual 4 quarters, correct? And do you think you could play the game even if you don't put coins in the slot?

[Shadowman39]

It only takes one quarter, and a game won't start without a coin.

[Knexified]

Right then. How does the game know when you put a coin in?

[Shadowman39]

The pushbutton slides the coin against a lever, which is attached to the starting motor. Without a coin in the slot, the lever is untouched.

[Knexified]

Very clever! Is it accepting just quarters or can it accept other coins like pennies or nickels because in the video, you put in more than a quarter?

[Shadowman39]

It only accepts quarters, that's why in the video the other coins are returned.

[Knexified]

Makes sense!

[radical28]

I might try make a tiny version, I just need to know the score and coin mecenism

[Shadowman39]

There are links above to some other Instructables that cover the main mechanisms, mainly the leave me alone box. However, it might be difficult to make the counter smaller because this one was already pretty compact.

[radical28]

Ok thanks.
Also could you post an instructable on the counter?

[Shadowman39]

I don't have the time right now to rebuild it, though in the future I plan on making a better version. In the meantime, the main thing you need is the motor switch in the leave me alone box and the 10-sided wheel. I think I posted a photo of it somewhere in these comments. I'm also pretty sure others have made the counter and an Instructable of it.

[diehlconnorm]

when is your next project

[Shadowman39]

I'm still in college right now, so I don't have big projects planned anytime soon. I can only build smaller things over breaks, such as my most recent project, the lobby ball machine.

[radical28]

That was cool.

[DanW205]

Hi! I've been collecting pieces and sets because once upon a time I saw a piece count on here. Do you have a piece count for me to target? I'm getting close! (Yes I know, that means $10k or so.. I've been raised on knex with multiple rollercoaster and ball factory sets, and have been collecting the oddities as I see them)

[Shadowman39]

The exact total is 28,396, but I don't have a piece breakdown.

[HatersDupstep]

Incredible!

[Shadowman39]

Thanks!