K'Nex Smooth Path 01: JOR

This first smooth path should look familiar since it is part of the Big Ball Machine and others. I like this path because the ball rolls smoothly down the stick and white connector. I do not like this path because the sides can move in making the path too narrow. This narrowing can be prevented by adding blue spacers on the white rods between the white and yellow connectors but that would take many spacers.

This can be made with any length of rods. When made with yellow rods, two sections are about 8 5/8 inches long or about 22 centimeters.

The length of any segment can be changed by simply changing the three rods that connect it. Segments of differing lengths can be attached together.

Parts used: 6 yellow rods, 4 white rods, 2 white connectors, 4 yellow connectors, 4 grey connectors. Optional, two blue spacers per section.

Attach the four white rods to the center of the four yellow connectors. Then connect the four grey connectors to each of the white rods. Now connect the other end of the white rods to the white connectors. The grey connectors need to be on the outside which will prevent the path from getting too wide.

Add the rods to the segment connectors. This should complete the segment.

Connect the segments together. This should complete the path.

If you want to hang this or support it from above, make these alterations:

• Remove the grey connectors from the white rods on one of the segments
• Connect the green rods to the green connectors
• Connect the green assemblies to a white connector
• Connect the yellow rods to the green assemblies
• Connect the orange connectors to the yellow rods
• Connect the other end of the orange connectors to the white rods where the grey connectors were removed

This completes the alteration. The white connector on the top could also be a yellow connector. The real difference is how you intend to support this. If from the top, it must be white. If from the sides, it could be yellow.