42 replies to this topic

[Sorunome]

That is awesome!
And i got an idea: Maybe you could make like a basket underneath that catches the balls that don't make it and thus have a wacky funny random path separator

[02221994]

That is awesome!
And i got an idea: Maybe you could make like a basket underneath that catches the balls that don't make it and thus have a wacky funny random path separator

Haha thats always the last resort before completely scrapping the path

As promised here are some progress pictures






As of these pictures i have 2 completed paths, 3 that are atleast half way done, and an entrance to another built.

[Sorunome]

That looks pretty awesome, can't wait to see the finished ball machine! And I noticed, are you building color-coded with metalic/non-metalic pieces?

[Kool Coaster Kid]

I like it so far. Lots of paths! Is it only in half the room? How big is the room?

BTW, a warning, the zigzag element in the center of the 4th picture can be very un-reliable.

[02221994]

That looks pretty awesome, can't wait to see the finished ball machine! And I noticed, are you building color-coded with metalic/non-metalic pieces?

Thanks! We would be doing t hat, but i only just recently sorted colors of pieces, so all of my 5 ways, 2 ways, blue rods, and a few others were all in one tub together, so basically as i progress along the ball tower, it will be color coordinated, but the way we build is we use 1 color part till we run out, then switch to another.

I like it so far. Lots of paths! Is it only in half the room? How big is the room?

BTW, a warning, the zigzag element in the center of the 4th picture can be very un-reliable.

Thanks! and by my math it should have roughly 35 paths on it (the most ive ever seen is 24). It occupies the whole room, mostly around the edges, but the 1st and last portion, the room is 15' by 14'.
As for the zig zag, it has been rather reliable for me, but in that pic i hadnt put on the pieces that make it almost perfect.

And now for an update. no video yet as i havent finished alot of paths because im waiting till i start some others to get all of the lifts in to determine how long i need to make them.

[tornado96]

Looking nice. I think the challenge with these ball machines is avoiding using just pathing everywhere as supposed to elements. A great challenge for you is to try and avoid pathing as much as possible. Love the angled maze!

[Kool Coaster Kid]

Looks good at this point!

The pegboard must have took forever to make though...

[Jogumpie]

I love the sight of a room being completely filled with K'NEX.

[rollercoasterfanatic919]

This is fantastic. I love all the elevated tracks that navigate around the room. Ball machines like this must be so much fun to build!

[Sorunome]

This is looking awesome!
I like the horizontal maze and that it uses pathing as an element!

[02221994]

Hey guys we are back! After a long break from K'nex we have resumed work on the ball tower and it is scheduled to be finished by the end of this week. Sorry about the long delay but we both had a serious lack of time to do anything with knex. I'll update you guys and hopefully you can give us some ideas for a few areas that are especially static that we are having trouble with.

[02221994]

so here is an update guys and hopefully you can help me out with these spots, i seem to be having some major trouble trying to have elements instead of just plain pathing everywhere.. The pictures will have labels above them so if you have any ideas please post them thanks!

wall 1


wall 2


wall 3

[Sorunome]

Ui, that's looking great as usual!

[Rollerfreak987]

Regardless that there is much pathing and not too many elements, I think that this is still quite amazing.

[Kool Coaster Kid]

Looks cool. You could try to make a spiral bowl or a helix of sorts.

[tornado96]

start looking at mechanics in real life. Think of ways to apply them to elements. By far the most used meachanic apart from straight pathing is stuff to do with wheels. Whether it be ferris wheels or whatever. Try and find new ways to attach these simple mechanics to something a little more complex. What i like to do is vision the ball (without any knex around) performing a certain motion. Take for example a downward helix, or a buckel shape. Now think of way you can make an element that achieves that motion without simple track. Also try using gears, Gears can help make some fun elements.

[02221994]

After a hiatus of not building because of lack of inspiration and being distracted by games and school, i finally finished the ball tower, part in realization that i will be moving out of where i live soon, and to make a final attempt at the Ferris wheel before i go as well. I don't think there will be pictures to accompany this post. I will be trying to hurry up and stress, and reliability test it and get it all filmed before the end of today. Thanks for the ideas that were proposed, and I will try to keep you all updated on the status of the Ferris wheel.

[02221994]

Well shenanigans! I had too many issues with the machine for me to feel comfortable filming until the issues are worked out, its close but not close enough, next time i will be able to film will bee in 2 weeks! Hopefully y'all stick through to the end!

[ZachCreate]

Aawwwww 2 weeks... That sucks!

[02221994]

It's done! Here's the video.

Edited by 02221994, 02 November 2013 - 10:58 PM.