Octoswitch 2.0 K'nex Path Separator

Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCFrDFbkXXE

This is Octoswitch 2.0! A path separator/randomizer. Its way more efficient in terms of height lost, and pieces used, which means it's much more usable than the first Octoswitch. ;) Octoswitch 2.0 is in my -in progress- knex ball machine and I am really happy how well the switch is working so far :)

Step 1: Piece Count

Rods - 126

Yellow - 1

Blue - 62

White - 43

Green - 20

Connectors - 125

White - 3

Yellow - 18

Red - 12

Light grey - 16

Dark grey - 8

3D blue - 24

3D purple - 44

Miscellaneous - 26

Tan clip - 3

Y clip - 8

Silver spacer - 7

Blue spacer - 7

Moter - 1

Total - 277

470 less pieces then the first Octoswitch!

Step 2: Main Structure

Build stuff! Easy! NOTE: The bottom of this build is not necessary if you are putting this in a machine. It's only necessary if you want the switch to stand up on your table ;)

1 - Build

2 - Build

3 - Build

4 - Stuff you built

5 - Attach

6 - Stuff you built

7 - Attach

Step 3: Motor

One of the easiest motor mechanisms I have ever built!

1 - Build

2 - Stuff you built

3 - Attach

4 - Another view

Step 4: Switcher

This is the switcher! It randomly decides the fate of each one of your k'nex balls...

1 - Build

2 - Build

3 - Build

4 - Stuff you built

5 - Attach some of it

6 - Attach the rest

7 - Stuff you built

8 - Attach

9 - Another view

Step 5: Path Starters

This is the hardest part of the build! so, not that hard ;)

1 - Build 4 of them

2 - Stuff you built

3 - Attach

4 - Another view

5 - Build 4 of them

6 - Stuff you built

7 - Attach

8 - Another view

Step 6: Roof and Walls

Build the entrance point and the walls! (so that knex balls go where we want them to)

1 - Build

2 - Stuff you built

3 - Attach

4 - Build

5 - Stuff you built

6 - Attach

Step 7: Finished!

Yay! Easy to build, compact, path separator/randomizer!

Comments

[cmu3rd]

Nice!! How is the randomization? Do all the paths get used equally if the balls drop in say every 10s?

[Caverat]

That's a good question! Unfortunately my guess is as good as yours. From what I can remember when I used this in a knex ball machine, certain paths were favored at different times, though it was mostly an even spread. I did, however, have a much greater (and more varied) input rate than 10s. Here is the link to the ball machine if that helps at all: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=le6zpYgMg5A

[dynamite_kid]

Cool gonna mod this for my marble machine

[Proassault]

Cool for ball machine !

Great job ;)

[Caverat]

Thanks! ;)

[That_Jamie_S_Guy]

looks great!:) Maybe I'll use this next time I make a ball machine!

[Caverat]

Thanks! if you do, I would love to see it! :D

[That_Jamie_S_Guy]

I don't know when I will, but I'll keep this ible in mind. favouriting for now :)

[www139]

Very nice! It's so much smaller than the original! Great work! :D

[Caverat]

Yup, that was the plan! Thanks!

[The Knex Inventor]

Very nice path seperator! Favorited and Subscribed. :-)

[Caverat]

Thanks!

[The Knex Inventor]

You're welcome! Do you have any other new projects planned as well?

[Caverat]

Well, I put octoswitch 2.0 in a machine i'm working on, I'm not that far on it though (almost finished the main frame.) Hoping to make lots of new elemens in the machine :)

[The Knex Inventor]

Neat! Looking forward to seeing it when you post it!

[Lexi Knex]

aaaah i was looking for a compact separator for my ball machine ande there it is !!! i made it and thanks :)

[Caverat]

No problem! Thanks for making it :D

[Lexi Knex]

and*

[OfficialKNEXGUY]

Bro! Where have you been all of these years?! Good jab man!

Keep it up!

-OfficialKNEXGUY

[Caverat]

Haha, Thanks man!