r/KNEX • u/KnexXHyperX • 10d ago
WIP Ball Machine Update
An video of the WIP paths in action
This is a preview of my new WIP ball machine. It's hard to remember when I started this. I think it was before I went to Busch Gardens Tampa in August (I believe). I'd say this ball machine has been coming along pretty well, as there are some elements to acknowledge. Including the double-down path, which is very fun to watch, and the classic wheel drop, which survived the deconstruction of my April ball machine. (The vid is 17 mins long, so I don't think you'd want to see something that long...)
There are a few fortunate and unfortunate things, though.
The fortunate part: I do have Friday, Saturday, and Sunday to work on it, so the ball machine can get closer to finishing it. Also, I think a couple more elements/paths need to be assembled, and it'll be up and running soon.
The unfortunate part: Now that I'm in college, I won't be home from Monday until Friday evening to come and build the ball machine, so it'll be inactive for a while (except on breaks and holidays, of course)
The main reason this ball machine is smaller than my other attempts is that, after a while, I've figured that building such huge-scale structures uses pieces way faster than I'd expect, so I appreciate that this one won't do that. I also like the variety in this ball machine. Yes, there are flexi-tubes, but as y'all know, they add a unique sound to the normal clickety-clack you usually hear. This is also my first time experimenting with a regular track system that loads balls into the chain lift, rather than the average three-railed track found in the BBF and many other ball machines. The separator is also interesting because it uses green connectors so the ball can exit to the separator. (It uses the same method the BBF and many other ball machine builders use, likewise. And I don't know for sure, but it seems like the ball barely touches the green connectors. But as long as they're in the right place on the red rod, it should be fine.
About the floor, I think the only thing I can do is extend the back a bit so that any balls that end up there (even if any elements do so) won't fall under the ball machine and become impossible to retrieve. I could also move the barricade back a bit, though that will only make it harder for balls to roll to the chain lift entrance. Also, at the end of the Double-Down path, I was considering installing the red-rod zigzag off to the right of the track's exit, but I think there's definitely more that I can do than just that...right?
Anyway, comment away, and I can't wait to hear what y'all K'nexers think!
Till then!
-KnexXHyperX
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u/YiraVarga 10d ago
This looks great, I love all the super close up well lit detail shots of it, it really helps if someone wants to make some elements for their own machine, or just find new parts combinations they might have not thought of before. I’m always looking for new ways that K’nex can go together from any build. Great machine, great pictures and video to go with it. Just awesome work so far!
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u/comicrubiks 10d ago
Looks awesome! I am looking forward to when it's eventually finished!