Introduction: Leapfrog Separator, a Knex Ball Machine Path Separator
Hello!
This are the instructions for the Leapfrog Separator. It was first used in my ball machine Elysium.
The separator used in the instructions takes 5 balls, but you can make it as long as you want.
Some flexi rods are added because they look good on the separator, but they are not required to make the mechanism work.
If you're going to build this separator, don't forget to read the image notes!
Thanks for watching / building!
~Sandroknexmaster~
Step 1: Piece Count
If you want you can count the pieces before you start building.
Here is a list with all pieces included in this separator, named by their original colour:
RODS:
Green: 94
White: 32
Blue: 100
Yellow: 12
Red: 20
Grey: 2
Long flexi: 10
Total rods: 270
CONNECTORS:
Dark-grey: 18
Light-grey: 8
Red: 29
Green: 28
Yellow: 68
Purple: 92
Blue: 12
Total connectors: 255
OTHER:
Blue spacer: 2
Silver spacer: 14
Y-clip: 2
Total other: 18
Grand Total: 543
Step 2: First Module
This is the first module, we need to build it once.
Step 3: Last Module
The last module, we will also need it once for the separator.
Step 4: Middle Module
Now you can choose how long you want your separator to be. You can build this module as many times as you want. In the instructions, three middle modules are built. Together with one first module and one last module, that makes five modules and thus five balls can be separated by this separator. You can choose to add more, less or even none, then the separator will be able to separate two balls (only first module and last module).
Step 5: Support
If you chose to make three middle modules like in the instructions, you can use these support pieces to finish your separator in the next step. If not, you will have to improvise and make your own support parts, it shouldn't be too difficult.
Step 6: Combining All Modules
In this step we will combine all the modules. If you have five in total, you can also add the support parts from the previous step.
Step 7: Flexi Rods
This step is optional. Use some flexi rods to give a finishing touch to your separator!
Step 8: Finished!
Your Leapfrog Separator is finished!
Thanks for watching / building!
~Sandroknexmaster~

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6 Comments
2 years ago
#1) great job on the build! And #2), honestly, the way this element works is just so satisfying I can just have entertainment for a while! Great job man! Looks simple enough of a build!
4 years ago
Fun build. Lots of pictures with different angles. Very easy to follow. I had no trouble putting this together.
Reply 4 years ago
Thanks! Good to hear everything was clear :)
4 years ago
Great for rapid fire haha! That's cool that it triggers multiple paths simultaneously.
Reply 4 years ago
Thanks! You can even start more paths at the same time, as many as you want :)
Reply 4 years ago
Right, that's what I think is cool!