Vertical Knex Binary Counter/Adder

A Horizontal Knex Binary Counter is a common sight. That is if you're looking for binary counters. However, I have made a Vertical Knex Binary Counter. It uses binary values to add any number. For example, 9 is 1001 in binary because the 1 on the left represents 8 and the 1 on the right represents 1. Therefore, 1+8=9. This machine uses golf balls to act as 0's and 1's. The machine I made can add any number from 0-131,071. But you can make your counter bigger or smaller depending on what you want.

Each section of the binary counter will require:

Rods:

Green: 5

White: 2

Blue: 19

Yellow: 16

Red: 2

Gray: 0

Connectors:

Purple/Gray One Clip: 4

Light Gray: 0

Orange: 3

Red: 11

Green: 0

Gray/Purple 4 Clip: 20

Yellow: 4

Blue: 4

White: 0

Misc:

Tan/Blue Clip: 2

Blue Spacer: 13

Gray Spacer: 7

Black Y-Clip: 2

Other:

Golf Balls: Take how many Sections you have an add 1. So, if you have 4 sections you need 5 golf balls.

Anything to mark which sections are which numbers. (I used Masking Tape and wrote on it with a Sharpie)

The first step is making the outline. You'll need 6 blue rods, 14 yellow rods, 20 gray connectors, and 4 blue connectors.

Next, we'll make the mechanism that tells you if the value is a 0 or a 1. This is the hardest step. You will need 2 green rods, 2 white rods, 10 blue rods, 2 yellow rods, and 1 red rod. You'll also need 4 gray 1 clip connectors, 6 red connectors, 4 yellow connectors, 2 tan clips, 7 blue spacers, and 5 gray spaces.0

This all the extra pieces that allow the flipper to function. You will need 3 green rods, 3 blue rods, 1 red rod, 3 orange connectors, 5 red connectors, 6 blue spacers, 2 gray spacers, and 2 Y-clips.

Repeat steps 1-3 to make more sections. Alternate which side you put the flipper on so that it works. Also alternate the entrance track as well. Put in on the opposite side of the flipper. To connect sections, don't build the top and just connect the bottom of each one to the rods coming out of the other sections.

This step is not required but is suggested. This is the base that makes it so your binary counter won't fall over on top of you. You will need 36 red rods, 60 yellow rods, 42 gray 4 clip connectors, and 28 blue connectors.

There is a little extra space at the bottom of the counter. This is used for the exit track for the last ball. You will need 2 white rods, 4 blue rods, 2 light gray connectors, 3 red connectors, 2 yellow connectors, 4 blue spacers, 2 gray spacers, and 2 Y-Clips.

This is the step where you can do whatever you'd like. In labeling each section in binary, you start with 2 to the 0th power. Which is 1. And then 2 to the 1st power which is two and so on. 1,2,4,8,16,32,64,128,256,512,1024,2048,4096,8192,16,384,32,768,65,536...The top section will be 1. And then just go down for how many sections you can. I used masking tape, but you can use whatever you'd like.

I hope this was a cool project to build. It's sure to impress your friends when you tell them that you can add huge numbers with golf balls. I hope everything was clear but if anything wasn't clear, please tell me in the comments so that I can fix it. Also, by the way, this is my 6th Instructable so go check out my other 5 for cool Knex creations. Thanks!