Knex 'Slider' Ball Lift

by mathsboy314

4.5K1421

Intro: Knex 'Slider' Ball Lift

This lift is quite like the 'alternator' lift, but at a 45 degree angle. It's also a lot more piece efficient.

It is also easily modified to get higher.

Video: http://youtu.be/LB3ykR_vr-I

STEP 1: Making a Scaffold

This scaffold will be made of 'cubes' and a slope down the side.

Part of the scaffold is left out, on the black rods around that there are dark grey connectors.
There is also a small ramp at the orange connectors, a yellow connector at the top, and extra base at the bottom, front.

STEP 2: Moving Part

This is the bit that slides up and down.

STEP 3: Adding That

Clip the previous step onto the dark grey connectors in the gap.

STEP 4: Roof

This is the part that goes above the slider so the ball doesn't go down.

STEP 5: Attaching the Roof

Attach each of the blue rods to the scaffold.

STEP 6: Entrance Track

This is where the ball enters the lift

STEP 7: Adding the Entrance

There are six places to connect the green rods.

STEP 8: Motor Parts

This is the crankshaft and the motor.

STEP 9: Putting It Together (Finished)

There are five connections to make.

STEP 10: What If Your Slider Is Jamming?

Put a spacer on any of the red rods like in the pictures.

19 Comments

KnexXHyperX 10 months ago

I've also forgot to ask if there's a way to make the left vertical. I can add images / videos to show you what I mean and then you can tell me what you think. Thanks! - James. ;)

Knexified 2 years ago

Would this be able to be made wider for more than 1 spot if you have more pieces (or enough)?

mathsboy314 2 years ago

You could give it a try but I suspect it wont work. This design isn't good at handling many balls at a time.

Knexified 2 years ago

Ok. I'll see what I can do.

KnexXHyperX 2 years ago

Can you use the green motor in this lift? I threw out the slow motor since one of the batteries exploded.

mathsboy314 2 years ago

Yes, but it might be unstable. I suggest that you add some extra scaffolding to hold it in place.

mathsboy314 4 years ago

Sorry dude, I don't have a piece count.
I designed this lift so you can extend it to any size.
You also can skip steps 6-7 (the entrance track) and let the ball start anywhere.
Step 1 (scaffold) is only a suggestion, and should be replaced according to the design of your ball machine.
For these reasons, it's hard to determine how many pieces are needed.

bennett2198 6 years ago

I made this. It works very well. I like the way it pushes the balls up. I made a video of it lifting up 3 balls at a time. It handled them quite well.


MechanicalCreationMaster 11 years ago

Neat lift, I like the fact that it uses waaaaay fewer pieces than Shadowman's Alternator Lift (which always kept me from building one). Although the movement appeared in the video to be slightly delayed with more balls, I consider this a well-crafted lift. Great job!

mathsboy314 10 years ago

Don't worry about the jumpy movement. I've edited it to remove that in step 4 (see tags)

sandroknexmaster 11 years ago

Works very good, I'll use it in my next ball machine.
It took me only half an hour to build.

daredevil499 11 years ago

If I ever build another ball machine I will try this lift. thanks

KneXtreme 11 years ago

Very ingenious! I like how the balls can enter from any point.