Push Lift, a Knex Ball Machine Lift

Intro: Push Lift, a Knex Ball Machine Lift

Hi everyone!

Here are the instructions for the first lift in a series of 4 lifts, all first used in my knex ball machine Paradox.
This is the most complicated of all and the most difficult lift I ever built, and it turned out great!
It works near to perfection and looks very good.
One disadvantage: It is very piece consuming for its height, especially gears and spacers. 
But in exchange you get an awesome, unique lift! :D

Important: If you build this lift, read every image note! They will help you a lot!

So let's start building!

~Sandroknexmaster~

Video:

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 lift, named by their original color:

RODS:

Green: 193
White: 118
Blue: 162
Yellow: 52
Red: 41
Grey: 3
Black: 2

Total rods: 571

CONNECTORS:

Dark-grey: 61
Light-grey: 28
Orange: 52
Red: 46
Green: 18
Yellow: 99
White: 14
Purple: 149
Blue: 27

Total connectors: 494

OTHER:

Blue spacer: 90
Silver spacer: 146
Tan clip: 16
Y-clip: 23
Blue hinge: 1
Black hinge: 1
Small blue gear: 8
Medium red gear: 15
Medium yellow gear: 7
Big yellow gear: 1
Chain link: 44
Motor: 1

Total other: 353


Grand Total: 1418

STEP 2: Gears Part 1

We'll start with the first part of the gears, that exists out of 3 parts.

STEP 3: Gears Part 2

Second part of the gears.

STEP 4: Gears Part 3

This is the third and last part of the gears.

STEP 5: Completing the Gearbox and Adding Chain

In this step we'll attach all the gears togheter to get one strong gearbox. After that the chain will be added to let all the gears turn at the same time.

STEP 6: Pusher Connection Holders

This will hold the pushers in place.

STEP 7: Pusher Connections

These things are the connection between the crank and the pushers.

STEP 8: Crank Reinforcement

Reinforcement for the crank, like the title says.

STEP 9: Crank

Now it's time to build the crank. Built everything exactly as shown in the pictures.

STEP 10: Combining Gearbox and Middle Section

The only thing to do in this step is combining the gears and the middle section. Look closely to every picture.

STEP 11: Entrance

The entrance, where the balls wait to enter the lift.

STEP 12: Pushers

These pushers will push the ball up.

STEP 13: Rails and Support

The rails will keep the ball from falling down. The support... well... supports :D

STEP 14: Exit

Here the ball exits the lift.

STEP 15: Gate

Only one ball at once may enter the lift. That's what the gate takes care about.

STEP 16: Motor Section

The last step! The motor and the rest of the gears.

STEP 17: Finished!

Congratulations! You just finished your own Push Lift!


If you made this lift, please send me a picture so I can add it to this step.

Thanks for watching/building!


~Sandroknexmaster~

Comments

[dickheijboer]

Nice, but I think it's difficult to build in because you use blue and yellow rods in the same line.. I hope you can understand it because I can't explain it well in English.. :D But, good job!

[sandroknexmaster]

Yeah I know what you mean. I tried to make it different (only blue/red rods) but it was too complicated. Red gears come togheter with a white rod, just like where the gears from the gearbox and the gears of the crank come togheter. So I had to use white rods, or other gears: Big yellow gears; I don't have to explain they are not a good option. Small blue gears: I tried it but then the crank touched the gearbox and blocked. Then I had to make a smaller crank, but then I also had to change the pushers because the smaller crank didn't push the pushers far enough back and forward. So red gears were the only option.

Well, I hope this explain why I had to use white rods :P

Thanks! =D

[www139]

you can put the red gears together diagonally instead of horizontally... I don't know if it would work, as I haven't actually built it! :P

[sandroknexmaster]

That could work indeed, you could give it a try :)

[www139]

I actually don't think I could build it anyway! We don't have enough gears left! =D

[sandroknexmaster]

Then once you have enough gears left for it :)

[www139]

yeah! Even then, I don't think we would have enough!! :P You have waaaaayy

more gears then we do. I think we may need to get some more in the future on ebay! :D Then again, we're running low on red and blue rods so that would make it hard to build this lift too! :P Maybe when we take down our current ball machine. I can't wait to build it! :D

[sandroknexmaster]

Ok nice!

[www139]

Great! (fast reply! only 5 minutes :P )

[dickheijboer]

Long story.. But I understand that this is the best way.. But you can use also a red gear, than a blue gear and than again a red gear.

Np.. :)

[sandroknexmaster]

Yeah I know, but that would be even MORE gears. It is already one of the most gear consuming lifts. But that could be possible indeed :D

[dickheijboer]

Yes, that's true.... 31 gears! Wow!

[www139]

did you change the gate since it was in paradox?

[sandroknexmaster]

Yes it's different here.

[www139]

how so?

[sandroknexmaster]

It's just different, look in the videos :D

[www139]

I looked in paradox's video and I couldn't see it very well (the white floor was blocking the view a little :P...) Very cool still!

[martijnb95]

great design! looks kinda heavy on the motor though. I will see if i can improve it so it can be extended a long way.

[sandroknexmaster]

Yeah there are probably some better mechanisms to make the same lift idea, but sometimes I seem (and secretly like) to make things more complex than necessary :p

It stresses the motor a bit indeed, but not exeggarated. I'd like to see a mod from you!

[martijnb95]

i'll be working on it. do you want to collab?