K'Nex Dice Tower (Smaller)

This is a K’Nex “Dice Tower”. Using a dice tower is a great way to roll dice fairly. The die (a single shape) or dice (multiples) strike a minimum of three of the four slopes, this should randomly tumble the dice.

This tower works for dice of any number of sides and from 3/8” (5mm) up to 1” (25mm). The smallest would need a paper or something to cover the holes in the landing tray. This works best for less than 5 dice. Rolling 5 or more dice would require a larger dice tower. I have posted a "regular" dice tower for larger or more dice.

There are many rods that are connected only on one end. These are to block holes that a die could otherwise roll out of.

There are many steps and pictures. Some may seem redundant but they help to illustrate the placement and construction of the assembly.

The K’Nex pieces needed are listed here.

Rods:

• 11 blue
• 56 white
• 112 green

Connectors:

• 15 white
• 8 blue
• 58 purple
• 8 green
• 13 yellow
• 2 red

Other:

1 medium square panel (2.5” or 64mm)

Pair 52 purple connectors to make 26 purple assemblies. Put 6 blue connectors and 6 purple connectors together to make 6 blue assemblies. There will be 2 blue connectors left out as they will be used differently.

NOTE: My picture shows all blues assembled but that was my early mistake.

Put 1 purple assembly on each corner of the panel so the 2 purple assemblies on each side are in line. This begins the tray assembly. Join 2 yellow connectors on the center with 1 green rod. Do this to make 3 "bow tie" assemblies. Add 2 green rods to 1 side of each of the 3 bow tie assemblies. Connect 1 bow tie assembly on a side of the tray where the purple assemblies are in line. Repeat this for the other side. Add the last bow tie assembly to one end of the tray.

Connect 2 white rods to each of the side bow tie assemblies to connect them to the purple assemblies on the tray corners. Add another white rod to the top of the bow tie assemblies on the same side as the loose bow tie assembly.

Continue building the landing tray by adding 2 red connectors, 1 on each of the white rods. The red connectors should be able to point up or rotate. Add 1 green rod to the other end of each red connector. Click 1 white rod into the middle connection of the red connectors. Rotate the loose bow tie assembly and the red connectors so the green rods connect. Add 2 white rods the this tilted bow tie assembly to block the dice from rolling out of the corner. These white rods will only be attached to the yellow connector. Add 1 green rod to the purple assembly just below the red connector. Repeat for the other side. This will help keep the dice inside of the tray.

Attach 2 blue rods to the open ends of the purple assemblies on the base. Connect the center of 2 purple assemblies to the blue rods, then add 1 blue rod to connect the purple assemblies.

Attach 1 white rod to 1 white connector. Add 1 yellow connector to the other end of the white connector using the center notch to make the "Dandelion" assembly. Add 4 green rods to fill the yellow connector. Add this dandelion assembly to the center purple assemblies of the tray. This begins the exit slope, which is the lowest of the 4 slopes.

Add 1 green rod to the end of 1 green connector, repeat this to make 4 green assemblies. Connect 1 green assembly to both the yellow and white connectors of the dandelion assembly and repeat for the other side. Connect 1 green assembly to the upper part of the dandelion assembly.

Use 1 white rod, 1 green rod, and 1 purple connector to build a purple/green hammer assembly. Make a second on as a mirror image of the first. Add 1 hammer assembly to each side of the dandelion assembly connecting at an angle to the purple assembly in the center of the base. Be sure the hammer points upward on the side of the dandelion.

Connect 2 blue rods, 1 on each of the open purple connectors on the corners of the base so the blue rods point up. Connect the end of 2 purple assemblies, one on the top of each blue rod that is pointing up. Add 2 white rods, 1 on each side, to connect the sloping purple connectors to the purple assemblies on top of the blue rods.

Put 1 white rod on the center of 1 yellow connector. Add 4 green rods to the other notches of the yellow connector. Add this assembly to the top of the exit slope. All 5 rods should connect.

Add 4 white rods to 1 white connector to make a white star assembly. Add this star assembly to the back of the base assembly for stability. This completes the exit slope, the lowest of the four slopes.

Add 4 green rods to 1 white connector to make a dark star. Add 3 green rods to a yellow connector, 1 on each end and 1 in the center notch. Add 1 white rod at an angle to a purple assembly. Connect 1 green rod of the dark star to the end of the purple assembly near the white rod. Connect one green rod of the end of the yellow assembly to the side of the purple assembly near the white rod.

This purple/yellow/white (PYW) assembly needs to be connected to the proper side of the dice tower. Arrange the dice tower so the tray is to the right. With the purple connector of the PYW assembly towards the top, Connect 1 green rod of the dark star to the yellow connector of the tray, 1 green rod to the purple in the center of the base, and 1 green rod to the purple assembly of the exit slope. The 2 green rods of the yellow connector should connect to the purple assembly on the exit slope and to the purple assembly to the left. There are 2 pictures to help with this placement.

Make 2 dark star assemblies by connecting 4 green rods on each of 2 white connectors. Add 1 white rod on a purple assembly at the angle opposite from the PYW assembly above. Make a purple/white/white (PWW) assembly by connecting 1 green rod from each dark star to the purple connector, each near or next to the white rod. Arrange the dice tower so the tray is to the left. With the purple connector of the PWW assembly towards the top and pointing away, connect 1 green rod of the lower dark star to the yellow connector of the tray and 1 green rod to the purple in the center of the base. Connect 3 rods (2 green and 1 white) to the purple assembly of the exit slope. Connect 1 green rod of the other dark star to the purple assembly to the right. Join the 2 purple assemblies above the tray with 1 blue rod.

The green rod on the top of the dark star will be connected later. The white connector is the beginning of a wall to keep the dice inside of the tower. There are 2 pictures to help with this placement.

Connect 1 white rod to the center of 1 blue connector (not a blue assembly). Add 4 green rods to the other notches of the blue connector to make a blue/green hat assembly. Add 1 green rod to the end and 1 green rod to the side of 1 purple assembly to make a purple/green assembly. Repeat to make another facing the other way. Connect 3 white rods to 1 blue assembly with 1 at the bottom, 1 at the top, and 1 on the side to make a blue "T" assembly. Repeat to make another facing the other way.

This next part is confusing and I do not know how to describe it any better. The pictures show it well. Connect the purple connector of 2 blue "T" assemblies to the blue/green hat assembly using the green rods on the sides. Connect the green rod on the side of 1 purple/green assembly to the notch on the lower side of a blue "T" assembly.

If stood on the purple assemblies, no white rod should touch the table. The purple assemblies should face in and the green rod should nearly touch a white rod from the blue assembly. This begins the lower slope.

Add this to the top of the base. The opening of the blue connector should face the green rod on the top of the white connector. The green rods connect the purple assemblies on the base to the new part being added. The white rods connect to the purple assemblies atop the base near the yellow connector.

Add four green rods to a yellow connector leaving the center notch open. Connect the center of 2 purple assemblies, one on each side of the yellow connector. Connect the other 2 green rods to green connectors using the second notch. Connect this assembly to the top of the lower slope by joining the 2 green connectors to the green rods on the center of the lower slope and the yellow connector to the white rod. The 2 purple assemblies connect at an angle to the white rods. Add 2 blue rods to stabilize the tower. This completes the lower slope.

Put 2 green rods on either side of 1 white connector. Put 1 white rod next to 1 of the green rods. Put 1 more green rod next to the white rod. Repeat to make 2 of these. Connect the center of 1 purple assembly to the green rod on the side of 1 white connector near the white rod. Add 1 green rod to the end of the purple assembly so it is near the white rod. Repeat this to make 2 purple/white (PW) assemblies that face opposite from each other. These PW assemblies are the sides of the lower/mid slope.

Attach the PW assemblies on the sides. Each green rod connects to a purple assembly or blue assembly already on the mid section. The corner of the tower now has three purple assemblies stacked in a row.

Make another white star assembly with 4 white rods connected to a white connector. Add 3 green rods to the white connector. Attach the open notch to the green rod on the side of the mid section, and the other rods to the purple connectors there. Add 1 blue rod to the open purple connectors above the green rod.

Start another hat assembly by connecting 1 white rod to the center of 1 blue connector (not a blue assembly). Add 4 green rods to the other notches of the blue connector. Put 1 blue assembly on either side of the hat assembly, connecting the green rod to the center of the purple part. Add 1 white rod to the top and bottom of each blue assembly. Put 1 green rod next to the lower white rod on each of the blue assemblies. Be sure the green rods are on the same side of the full assembly. This begins the upper slope assembly.

Attach the upper slope assembly to the dice tower so the slope of the blue assemblies point towards the yellow connector of the lower slope assembly. The green rods go to the white connectors and the white rods go to the purple assemblies on the corners. All 3 unconnected white rods should slope upwards.

Put 4 green rods onto a yellow connector, leaving the center notch open. Attach the side of a purple assembly to each side of the yellow assembly. Add a green connector to each of the other 2 green rods using the second notch. Put 1 blue rod on the end of each of the 2 purple assemblies so they both point the same way. Connect this assembly to the top of the mid section. All rods should connect to something. This completes the upper slope and the mid section.

Make another white star by adding 4 white rods to a white connector. Add 4 green rods to make a dark-white star. Connect 2 purple assemblies, 1 on each of the green rods on the sides of the star. Add 6 green rods, 3 on each of the purple assemblies (one on each end and one in the center notch). Connect this assembly on the side of the tower near the lower edge of the upper slope of the tower.

Put 3 green rods onto 1 white connector, 1 on either side and 1 on the top. Connect the center of 1 purple assembly to the green rod on either side. Add 1 white rod to the purple assemblies near the connected green rod. Add 1 more white rod on the other side of each purple assembly, sloping up and away. Connect this assembly atop the dark-white star assembly.

Make 2 dark stars by adding 4 green rods onto 2 white connectors. Add 1 white rod to each dark star assembly. Connect a white connector to each dark star on a green rod next to the white rod making 2 assemblies. Put 1 green rod on the side of the added white connector, near the white rod. Attach the side of a purple assembly to that green rod and the white rod. Add 1 green rod to the end of each purple assembly so it is near the other green rod. One assembly should mirror the other. These attach to the top of the tower. One of these attach on the front and the other on the back, near the yellow connector.

Take the last 2 blue assemblies and add 1 white rod on the bottom of each. Connect 4 green rods, 2 on each blue assembly, next to the white rods. Add these at a slope to the top of the tower, with the bottom sloping towards the yellow connector.

Put 3 green rods onto 1 yellow connector, on the side and top. Add 2 white rods to the open notches. Add a white connector to the green rod on the center of the yellow connector. Add 2 green rods to the sides of the white connector. Connect this assembly between the sloping blue assemblies. This completes the top slope.

Again, put 3 green rods onto 1 yellow connector, on the side and top. Add 2 white rods to the open notches. Connect this assembly to the open purple assemblies at the top of the tower. This keeps the dice from bouncing out of the top of the tower. This completes the entire dice tower.

Pictured is the smallest die I tested. It worked except this small one would fall into the holes of the panel and not show a rolled number.