Introduction: Rollercoaster Push Lift: a K'nex Ball Machine Lift
Here are the instructions for 1 of the 3 lifts that I designed for my ball machine Ribdul.
Click here to see the video, which I am unfortunately unable to post on Instructables.
Supplies
Here is a list of all the pieces you will need to build a Rollercoaster Push Lift:
RODS
- Micro black: 1
- Long classic-to-micro: 2
- Green: 66
- White: 45
- White-length flexi: 1
- Blue: 78
- Yellow: 42
- Red: 55
- Gray: 42
- Black*: 1
CONNECTORS
- Micro purple: 1
- Micro light gray: 1
- Classic-to-micro: 10
- Gray: 4
- Light gray: 1
- Orange: 14
- Red: 31
- Green: 2
- Purple: 75
- Yellow: 43
- Blue: 35
- White: 27
OTHER
- Blue clip: 2
- Blue spacer: 46
- Chain guard: 11
- Hinge: 1
- Long micro rollercoaster track: 4
- Micro chain link: 132
- Micro chain sprocket: 4
- Micro rollercoaster car: 1
- Micro Y-clip: 12
- Short micro rollercoaster track: 1
- Silver spacer: 53
- Tan clip: 2
- Y-clip: 6
- Motor**
TOTAL PARTS: 862 (gray motor) or 891 (green motor)
*This is the same length as a gray rod. You could use a normal gray rod, but it might bend too much.
**You will need either a gray motor or a green motor (your choice), plus some additional parts that depend on which motor you are using.
If you are using a gray motor, you will also need:
CONNECTORS
- Yellow: 2
OTHER
- Gray motor: 1
- Silver spacer: 4
- Tan clip: 2
- White gear: 1
If you are using a green motor, you will also need:
RODS
- Green: 12
- White: 1
- Blue: 2
- Yellow: 2
- Red: 2
CONNECTORS
- Purple: 11
- Blue: 7
- White: 1
OTHER
- Green motor: 1
Step 1: Frame, Part 1
You will begin by building the shorter half of the frame.
Step 2: Frame, Part 2
You will now complete the frame.
Step 3: Rollercoaster Track
Now it's time to attach the rollercoaster track and chain.
Step 4: Tunnel
The tunnel keeps the ball on the rollercoaster track so the car can push the ball.
Step 5: Entrance & Exit
All lifts must have some way to get balls onto and off of them.
Step 6: Gray Motor Gearbox
If you want to use a gray motor to power the lift, follow this step to build the gray motor's gearbox.
Step 7: Green Motor Gearbox
If you want to use a green motor to power the lift, follow this step to build the green motor's gearbox.
Step 8: Customize!
The Rollercoaster Push Lift can easily be customized. Here are some ideas:
- You could make the lift taller or shorter.
- You could build a full rollercoaster for the car to traverse on its way down the lift.
- If you want to make the lift taller or build a rollercoaster, you might want to add more cars. Beware, though: every micro rollercoaster car is unique, and each one coasts a different distance up the chain. Thus, you would need to design some way to keep the cars a uniform distance apart.
