H/T: Gizmodo
Many are used to seeing amazing LEGO creations, but Tyler Bower wanted to show just what is possible with K’NEX and your imagination. So, he built a functional 7.5-foot-tall pinball machine with automatic scoring. How does it recreate the pinball experience? It utilizes three motors, a corded power drill for all 10 chain lifts, a secondary motor to power the moving ramp / multiball door / mini door / spinner, and then a third motor to open / close the blue trapdoor when activated. Read more for a video of it in-action and additional information.
It keeps score using a Makey Makey circuit board that plugs directly into a laptop as the input for a program that displays the score. This circuit board only requires two pieces of conductive material to complete a circuit which indicates to the laptop that a specific key is being pressed, while a scratch code translates the keystroke inputs to perform actions, like play sounds and change the score on the laptop display.
- Build a classic motorized K'NEX Ferris Wheel
- Includes 744 durable, colorful plastic classic K'NEX pieces
- Battery powered motor included
To start/reset the game, the player first pulls the grey knob. This action moves a lever which pushes all 3 starting balls from the upper holding area into the lower holding area, ready to be launched. The player then pulls back and releases the red knob, which launches the first ball,” said its creator.
