Introduction: Knex Skeeball Machine

About: On my page you'll find lots of different Knex projects, from ball machine lifts to useful items. I hope you enjoy!  _______________________ Current avatar: Target of my skeeball machine Past avatars: …
Hello everyone! After over a year, it's finally finished: my Knex skeeball machine! This machine is full-size, coin-operated (takes quarters), turns itself off automatically, and counts points using a mechanical counter. And, all of it is mechanical, using only normal motors to power it (no CyberKnex motors). There are six motors used in the machine; four of them are used for just the counter. The only non-Knex parts used are a few rubber bands and the paper for the counter.

The video below shows the machine in action!

This game is a lot of fun to play, for me and my family (my dad has the highest score, over 400 points). I've only scored in the 1000 point hole 2 times, and I haven't seen anyone else score that one, so it's very hard to get the ball there. Playing time for one game is about 1:30, plus how long it takes to throw eight balls. 

Note that my camera lens makes things look curved, for example the ramp in picture 7. Insides of the machine start at picture 17.

Fun fact: If one were to buy enough new Knex pieces to build this, the cost would be around $4,391. The piece category that costs the most money are the yellow connectors, which would cost $835.

I will not be making instructions of this whole machine, but I have made other models that use mechanisms from this machine. These smaller models do have instructions, so you can still build some of the mechanisms used in the skeeball machine.
  • Leave Me Alone Box uses the same motor mechanism (the one in the box is more compact than the ones used in skeeball). 
  • Coin Sorter V2 uses the same coin sorting method found in the skeeball machine.

Started building: May 24, 2011
Finished building: July 26, 2012
Width: 26 & 3/8 inches (67 cm)
Length: 85 inches (216 cm)
Height: 57 & 1/4 inches (146 cm)
Pieces: 28,396


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