K'Nex Extended Ball Zigzag 3

This is the third (and likely the final) version of a my Extended Zigzag ball drops. Each of these have different path lengths. One end of the path is narrower and gets wider which causes the ball to roll towards the wider part. The other end of the path widens further which allows the K'Nex ball to drop down to the next level.

In this version, the start of each path is slightly elevated when compared to my other Extended Zigzag ball drops. This helps the ball get all the way through the ball path or level. This version also has better support.

This could be made longer by adding more to the middle of each path. Since there is a slight slope, the ball should continue through the path and drop to the next level.

If you really want to make this longer, look at Steps 2 and 8. Make more of the shorter purple assemblies and add them and more grey rods to the ends of the path assemblies.

SUPPLIES

The K'Nex pieces needed are listed here.

Rods:

• 56 grey
• 48 blue
• 8 white
• 32 green

Connectors:

• 48 purple
• 60 yellow
• 2 red
• 8 grey
• 4 orange

Pair all of the purple connectors. Connect 2 green rods at an angle to 12 of these purple assemblies. These green rods need to be on the same end pointing at the other angle.

Add one yellow connector to each of the green rods on the purple assemblies. This should make 12 of these purple assemblies with yellow connectors attached to the green rods.

Add the last 8 green rods to the other end of four of the purple assemblies. There should be eight without the extra green rods and four with. These four purple assemblies need to have a yellow connector added to each green rod.

Add the white rods between the yellow connectors on the four larger purple assemblies. This should make these assemblies more secure.

All of the green rods and white rods should be part of the purple assemblies. There should be 4 larger purple assemblies and 8 smaller purple assemblies.

Connect a blue rod between each of the remaining 12 purple connector pairs using. Use a center connection on the purple connectors. This should make 6 purple/blue assemblies.

Add a blue rod to the other center connection on one of the purple/blue assemblies. Add another blue rod on the other purple connector of that assembly. This will be the center support of the base. This assembly should not lay flat on a table.

Add a blue rod to an end of a different purple/blue assembly. Add another blue rod on the other purple connector which should make the shape of an "H". Do this one more time for a total of two of these assemblies. These assemblies should lay more flat on a table.

Connect a blue rod to the center of a yellow connector. Add another yellow connector to the other end of the blue rod. Add a blue rod to one end of one of these yellow connectors, then another blue rod to the other yellow connector. Make 18 of these assemblies. Most of these will be like rungs on a ladder. Some will be crossbeams for the base.

Click one blue rod at an angle on a yellow connector. Click another yellow connector to the same blue rod. The backs of the yellow connectors should lay flat on a table. Do this two more times to make three end assemblies.

Slide two grey connectors onto a blue rod. These grey connectors should rotate freely. Click that blue rod onto the open end of an end assembly. Do this two more times to complete three end assemblies. These assemblies should have a blue rod with two loose grey connectors, clicked onto the end of two yellow connectors, and another blue rod clicked onto the same two yellow connectors at an angle. If you are as confused as I am with that description, check the pictures.

Slide two grey connectors onto another blue rod. Click this blue rod onto the end of a red connector. Click another red connector in the same direction near the other end of the blue rod. This is the top path end.

Since this element has four levels, this should complete four end path assemblies. That is, three end path connections with yellow connectors that should be used on the lower levels, and one end path connection with red connectors to be used on the top level.

Lower Rungs: Click both of the grey connectors of one end path assembly that has yellow connectors onto a blue rod that is the crosspiece of one rung assembly. Rotate the connection to go up from the rung. The blue rod on the bottom of the end path assembly should tightly fit into an opening of the yellow connector of the rung assembly but should not click or connect. Do this for all of the yellow-connector end path assemblies.

Top Rung: Click both of the grey connectors of the top end path assembly onto a blue rod that is the crosspiece of a top rung assembly. Rotate the connection to go up from the rung. The blue rod on the bottom of the end path assembly should tightly fit into an opening of the purple connector of the rung assembly but should not click or connect.

Use the three remaining purple crossbeams and the two yellow crossbeams to make the base. Connect these with grey rods. There should be one purple crossbeam on each end and one in the middle. Looking from one end to the other, there should be a purple crossbeam, a yellow crossbeam, a purple crossbeam, a yellow crossbeam, and the last purple crossbeam.

The ends (or ladders) are assembled by stacking one assembly atop another, connecting the blue rods to the yellow connectors. Start with the red path end connection and connect it to the yellow connectors on a plain rung. Connect this to the yellow connectors on a rung that has a path end connection. Be sure the path end connectors face the same direction. Finish this ladder by connecting it to a plain rung.

The other end starts with a plain rung at the top. Connect it to the yellow connectors on a rung that has a path end connection. Connect this to the yellow connectors on a plain rung. Finish this ladder by connecting it to the yellow connectors on a rung that has a path end connection. Again, be sure the path end connectors face the same direction.

It is important that these ladders alternate between plain rungs and end connection rungs. It is also important that the two ends not be the same. Even if there are an odd number of levels or paths, the top of one end should have an end connection and the other should be plain.

This should complete the ladder assembly and all rungs should be in place. Connect the blue rods on the bottom of one ladder to the purple connectors on one end of the base. Be sure the path end connectors face in and not out. Connect the other ladder onto the other end of the base, making sure all path connectors face the inside.

Connect two grey rods to one orange connector. Do this three more times to make four long assemblies.

Connect a grey rod of one long assembly to the center support and the other end to a top rung. Do this three more times which should make the entire base more secure. The base should now have 8 grey rods on the top and 8 grey rods on the bottom.

Using the four larger purple assemblies from Step 3, connect 6 grey rods. This would be one grey rod connected to the end of each of the four yellow connectors, and two grey rods connected to the joint or intersection of the purple connectors. Do this three more times to make four path assemblies.

Connect the last 8 (smaller) purple assemblies to the ends of the grey connectors. This completes the center of the path assemblies.

Connect 2 grey rods to the yellow connectors at one end of a center path assembly. Connect 2 more grey rods to the other end. Do this three more times to complete the 4 path assemblies.

There should be no more pieces to add. All that is left is combining the assemblies.

Put one path assembly through the bottom rungs but do not connect it. Both ends of the path assemblies should be the same so it should not matter which way it is placed. All path assemblies should be the same so it should not matter which path goes in first, but placing the bottom path in first is easiest.

Put another path assembly through the rungs above the first. Repeat this for all inner paths. The top path can simply be placed on the top of this element.

Connect the bottom path end assembly to the grey rods at that end of the path. Do not click the other end of the path in yet. Connect all paths to their path end assemblies first. Continue to connect the path end assemblies to the paths until all paths have one end secured.

Starting at the lowest level, click the loose end of the path assembly into the yellow connectors of the lowest rung. Do this for each path assembly. Be sure the ladders are straight and not flexed or stressed.

Send a K'Nex ball through. If it does not complete the element, check the following:

• Check the size. If the K'Nex ball is more than 1 3/4" (43cm) wide, it will not drop through to the next level down. Not all K'Nex balls are the same. If there is no hole through the ball, it is likely from the "Big Air Ball Tower" and is 1 7/8" (48cm). Let me know if this is the only size you have and I will post a wider version for you.
• Check to see if the path has rotated or is crooked. Each side of the path assembly should be somewhat level compared to the other side. The first end should be slightly higher than the last end but the sides of the middle should be about the same. With no fixed support it is easy for these paths to twist.
• Check to see if the entire element is close to level. If one end is too much higher than the other end, the ball will roll well on any level going one way but will not do well going the other direction. In fact, the ball may tend to roll backwards if the element is very far out of level.
• Check for other factors. Is there a fan blowing that could cause the ball to not roll right?

Enjoy!