Product Idea |

Helter Skelter Great Ball Contraption

21 comments

Last Updated . Click "Updates" above to see the latest.

My project is a continuous loop Helter Skelter Great Ball Contraption (GBC), which I built as a challenge to find the most efficient way of moving balls vertically upwards as quickly as possible, using the minimal number of commonly available pieces, and then to be able to extend this upwards to reach any height.
 
It was fairly difficult in a round tower to find the ideal rotating mechanism that moves the balls smoothly upwards without jamming or the balls falling off the square slope arrangement.
 
This would make a great Lego set as it is an unusual build, with the outside 'corkscrew' slope using an interesting technique which allows the balls to continue moving forever.

Also once motorised watching the balls fall in a corkscrew pattern is quite addictive.

Opens in a new window