42 replies to this topic

[02221994]

Ok guys, we are starting a new ball tower among other small projects. Ideas for elements, lift types, etc would be helpful, and if you want me to include elements from the previous ball tower i posted on here let me know.

Heres a list of Elements/lifts that we are going to try to incoroporate:
Ferris wheel
Ferris lift
Peg Board
Trampoline Field
Pinball Machine
"infinite loop" basically as many loops in a row as i can get
Vertical loop. (not sure the technical name for it)
Spiral Bowl
Corkscrew
Ball thrower (if i need it or y'all want it)

[Witting]

would be a very nice balltower

[CW5X]

Try for a ball cobra roll or something cool like that. If you can fit all that in, this will be awesome.

[02221994]

After 2 days of building, i finally got all of the structure up. Now time to start on the paths.

[02221994]

Initial stage of the cobra roll. its proving to be as difficult as i thought it will, so it will take several days to properly hash out and get the bugs out, but for now it's looking like its possible.

[maarten12]

It would be really cool if you get that Cobra roll to work, I've never seen it before on a ball machine .

[-=TK=-]

^Indeed, that would be a new element then! Looks very good, I love ballmachines

-=Tk=-

[Kool Coaster Kid]

Hmm, no offence, but I'm not too sure this will work. Corkscrews alone are very hard to finetune and are not too reliable. Putting 2 and half loops is just asking for trouble. Not to discourage you though, keep at it and you may get it to work!

Btw, supports look strong. The "x' design makes a structure very resistant to tension as well as compression.

One thing that I have learned, is that if you make the paths with trusses, the ball will travle on it much better.

[02221994]

It would be really cool if you get that Cobra roll to work, I've never seen it before on a ball machine .

Thanks, and i agree it would be rather cool.

^Indeed, that would be a new element then! Looks very good, I love ballmachines

-=Tk=-

Thanks

Hmm, no offence, but I'm not too sure this will work. Corkscrews alone are very hard to finetune and are not too reliable. Putting 2 and half loops is just asking for trouble. Not to discourage you though, keep at it and you may get it to work!

Btw, supports look strong. The "x' design makes a structure very resistant to tension as well as compression.

One thing that I have learned, is that if you make the paths with trusses, the ball will travle on it much better.

Firstly thanks. second, its going to be one of those paths that im going to tinker with for a little bit each day until i get it to work.

third on the trusses, ive found that if you keep the path stable and relatively anchored it will travel well. While the structure holding up the roll looks flimsy now, it still holds it in place enough for me to test, and once i have it all worked out, then i will go in and beef up the supports.

fourth - structure, thanks, im kind of a structure nut so all of my structure is as strong as it needs to be if not more.


Ok so im planning on well over 30 paths on this ball tower, and my progress is going to be rather slow at first until i can figure out which paths i want where, and if they will work in the space i have available. There are probably going to be alot of lift types, since most of this ball tower will have to be overhead.
It is going to be difficult coming up with ideas so any that you have are greatly appreciated, for paths or lift types.

[Sorunome]

I cobra roll in a ball machine? O.o
aweosme idea
And that rubiks cube needs to be solved

[02221994]

We finally got the cobra roll to work! video will be up and posted in here some time tomorrow, and as for the rubik's cube...it cant be solved its an alarm clock.

[02221994]

IT WORKS!!!! It looks a bit funky, and ill be working on that but now we know its possible! Here are some pics followed up by the video.








OK if you watched the video you most likely noticed the shaking of the track, so i think you guys can help here, every time ive put on more stabilizing supports it messes it up and goes from a 75% success rate to none flat. Any ideas on how to fix that? This is a relative prototype, so it will be changed, but id like some imput on it or ways to improve it. one i already know of is im going to have to change the runup because the ball spinsout alot on it.
I will post some progress pictures tomorrow.

[TheRandomGuy]

A cobra roll for a ball machine element?!
This is looking great so far! A tip to keep the cobra roll from shaking, you should try adding some box supports. Always works like a charm!

[02221994]

A cobra roll for a ball machine element?!
This is looking great so far! A tip to keep the cobra roll from shaking, you should try adding some box supports. Always works like a charm!

Yes a cobra roll. I too thought it was ridiculous till we had an epiphany about it yesterday. Which led to me finishing it up today, But Thanks for the support tip. i will note that down for later when im finishing up the ball tower and putting the final elements in over and on my work space.

[Jumpge]

I have no idea about the shaking problem and all, but I know that, that is a nifty looking cobra roll. Very different

[Helmut]

I never thought that would be possible. Great job making it work. It sounds logical that the ball flips out faster when there are more supports. So I don't think there is an easy way to fix the shaking. Just try and test a bit, maybe you will find something.

[Kool Coaster Kid]

Where does the balls fall off? I have a solution if they fall off in a certain area.

On a side note, it looks cool and very innovative!

[02221994]

I have no idea about the shaking problem and all, but I know that, that is a nifty looking cobra roll. Very different

Thanks!

I never thought that would be possible. Great job making it work. It sounds logical that the ball flips out faster when there are more supports. So I don't think there is an easy way to fix the shaking. Just try and test a bit, maybe you will find something.

Thanks!

Where does the balls fall off? I have a solution if they fall off in a certain area.

On a side note, it looks cool and very innovative!

Thanks!, im not sure what your solution is, but what i've noticed about them falling off is about their speed, since they tend to spin out they lose speed as its going into the bank, so it flips out as its turning into it, or it comes off toward the end, but i seem to have fixed the end one, other than that i haven't done much testing on it as a majority of the ball tower has to be finished for me to finish that path.

pictures of progress will be up later.

[Sorunome]

Sorry, I don't have a idea for the shaking problem, but the cobra roll is looking awesome! Great work!

[02221994]

Sorry, I don't have a idea for the shaking problem, but the cobra roll is looking awesome! Great work!

It's all good, i fixed most of it when i supported the first part of the cobra roll more so now the first 1/3 of it barely moves, and it gets it most of the time, so i think when i support the rest like the 1st, it will be fixed and rocket through the cobra roll, thanks for the effort though!