Introduction: Knex Ball Machine Element - the Elliptica
This is just a ball machine element that I made, meant to be added onto an existing machine. Check out the video to see how it works. Full credit for the concept goes to KageKumo.
Enjoy!
~IaC
Step 1: Parts List
Rods:
Green - 174
White - 94
Blue - 146
Yellow - 33
Tan (or red) - 1
Connectors:
Dark Grey - 52
Light Grey - 4
Red - 8
Green - 34
Yellow - 90
White - 15
Orange - 4
Orange tabbed - 22
Blue 3D - 8
Purple 3D - 96
Other:
Medium wheel - 2 (pictured)
Tan Clips - 2
Blue Clips (tan can be used in their place) - 2
Blue Spacer - 10
Y-Connector - 10
Total: 807
You will also need roller coaster tubing (orange tubing will NOT work). You need either two pieces, at least 2 feet in length, or one piece, at least 5 feet in length.
Super! Let's get started.
Step 2: The Top Switcher
This is the part where the ball initially enters and is diverted down one of the two paths.
1: Build this piece
2: Make these two bits as well.
3-4: Slide those two parts over the piece you made in photo #1
5: Make this little bit
6: Add it on as well.
7-8: Now make this small part.
9: Get all these pieces ready
10: Add on the green/grey clip pieces as shown
11: Now slide the yellow rod through like so
12: Add on that silver spacer and tan clip to complete the assembly.
Great! Lets move onto the next step.
Step 3: Top Half
This is top part of the frame. Pretty simple!
1: Build this panel
2: Build another one too (mirror opposite)
3-5: Make this long piece.
6-7: Add that part you made in step one to connect the two panels you made in photos 1-2.
8-9: Make this tracking piece.
10: Build a second one (identical)
11: Connect the two tracking pieces to the piece that you assembled in photos 6-7.
12-13: Now add the other long piece onto the other side
14-15: Add in that path switcher as shown. The tan clip should be pointing down.
Bazinga!
Step 4: Side Sections
These are just the two pieces of framing that support the whole structure.
1-2: Build this panel-esque piece
3-4: And this one
5-6: And now connect them as shown
7: Now build a mirror opposite of that same tower.
Super! Next step...
Step 5: Tracks
These are the two short tracks that direct the balls into the moving claw.
1-2: Build this part - it will be the "bumper" that the claw will hit.
3 : Build a second, identical one
4-6: Make this tracking piece. Note the placement of the blue rods
7: Build a second one
8: Add on the bumpers to the bottom of both track pieces.
Nearly finished!
Step 6: Rails
These are the railings that the claw will roll along. Very simple.
1-2: Build them up!
Yay!
Step 7: The Claw
This is the magical claw. Go!
1: Build this flat piece (don't forget the green rods!)
2: Build a second piece (without the green rods...)
3: Make this
4: Snap it into that snowflake connector like so
5-6: Snap on the other half and connect the 3d connectors
7: Add on a blue spacer then a tan clip...
8: ...Then put the wheel on...
9: ...And finally, add on two more spacers and another tan (or blue) clip.
10-11: Repeat photos 7-9 on the other side.
Woot!
Step 8: Assembly
The fun step!
1-3: Add the tracking pieces from step 5 onto the towers from step 4
4-5: Attach the rails from step 6 to the towers to get this frame
6-7: Drop the whole top frame onto the lower part. The connection is identical on both sides
8-9: Remove the orange connectors from the tower and slide them onto the tubing you have like so. If you have two tubing pieces, slide them just over either end of each piece, if you just have one piece of tubing (as in the photo), put two close to the center and two close to each end (this doesn't have to be exact, it will sort itself out.)
10-12: Clip the orange connectors back into the frame, and snap the tubing onto the orange tabbed connectors.
13: Depending on how much left over tubing you have, you can twist or tie it up however you want. I just clipped my ecxsess tubing into the lower part of the tower.
You're all done! Woohoo!
Step 9: Finished!
You're all done! All you need to do is to place the claw so that it catches the balls that roll off the paths on either side - see the video in the intro to see where it should be.
Thanks very much for checking out this instructable! If you build your own Elliptica, please post a photo! I'll add it onto this step.
Thanks again,
~IaC
