Shake: a New Knex Ball Machine

by Mr. Muggle in Living > LEGO & K'NEX

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Shake: a New Knex Ball Machine

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Shake

this is a new ball machine that features an odd lift system and two paths. It can hold two or even three balls but My advice is to use only one ball because the lift works best with one ball. The big gray motor can be substituted for another motor but you might have to gear it down a little more. If you do use the big black motor: If your battery is full, the faster speed might also work.

In the first few steps I'll help you to build the frame and the lift, after that the switcher and then both paths, at the end you could add decoration which is optional.

for beginners (and experts and anything between those too): look really carefully at the pictures and read all my notes, if you don't follow the instructions extra carefully the entire ball machine might fail to work.

PS: if you notice my english is bad, I'm from holland.

Parts list
green rods: 129
white rods: 264
blue rods:105
yellow rods: 220
red rods: 50
gray rods: 18
flexi rods: 18

dark grey connectors:87
light grey connectors: 5
orange connectors: 60
red connectors: 32
green connectors: 27
yellow connectors: 97
white connectors: 62
purple connectors: 167
blue connectors: 87
Y connectors: 9
tan connectors: 7
blue caps: 1 (tan connectors can be used too)

gray spacers: 16
blue spacers: 11
motor: 1
big sized yellow gears: 1
little sized blue gears: 1
balls: at least 1
and maybe some extra gears if you have a weak motor.

The Frame: the First Stage

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read this:

Most red rods of the frame are optional (recommended though), I'll put a note on those red rods that aren't optional to use.

The Frame: the Second Stage

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the pictures all show different kind of angles

The Frame: the Third Stage

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simply make this, other motors can be used but you gotta find that out yourself

Putting the Frame Together

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in this step is shown how to put the frame together.

The Lift Wheel

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This is where you make the lift wheel: the wheel that transports the ball up

Attach the Lift Wheel

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do as the title says

Lift Slope

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make the lift slope, if this looks to complicated please tell me.

The Frame: the Fourth Stage

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make this.

Attach the Fourth Stage

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here you see how to attach the fourth stage, the picture isn't entirely right because you should have the wheel attached already and the picture has not.

Attach the Lift Slope

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it will be an itchy job but it has to be done.

Pick Up Slope

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this step shows how to make the slope that catches the ball when it leaves the lift wheel.

The Switcher and Support

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this step shows the part that ensures the ball gets on both two tracks.

Attaching the Switcher, the Support and the Pick Up Slope

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the title says it all.

A Part That I Cannot Name

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make this part, it's not overly important but just make it.

1: make it.
2: attach it like this.

The First Path, Step One

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this is step one of making the first path.

The First Path Step2, the Ferris Wheel

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here you�ll make the ferris wheel that can hold the ball.

The First Path Step Three

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this is step three of the first path.

Attaching the First Path

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in the pictures you see how to attach the first path.

Constructing the Second Path: Step 1

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make this

The Second Path Step 2

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make this,

The Second Path: Step 3

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make this, take a good look at the pictures this might be complicated.

The Second Path Step 4

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this is the fourth step of the second path, just make it

The Assembly

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in this step everything is put together

Decoration (optional)

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this step shows how to make decoration, it's optional but recommended, it looks really nice.

1:first collect these flexi rods.
2: the are connected like this.
3: I especially advice to make this part, it is really an addition to your ball machine.
4: view from above.
5: attach like this.

ALSO READ THE LAST STEP.

Finishing It

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my experience with ball machines is that they never work at once, you might still have to test your own version of Shake but here are some tips if things are not working:

if the lift is not working:
1 look at the way connectors are shifted or turned in the wheel, on the lift slope and on the pick up slope.
2 if your motor can't take it gear it down a little more or use another motor, except I can't help you with that.
3 use only one ball, it works best.

if the pathing isn't working:
1ad a yellow connector and two grey connectors as shown on the picture
2 look very good at the pictures to see where a grey connector is added on the white rod.

if the ferris wheel isn't working:
1 look carefully at the way the connectors are in place in step 15.
2 you could always ad extra guard rails or support, if you want help with that just PM me or ask for help on the forum.