Some people build simple stuff using K’Nex, but others like to build huge contraptions like this. This is The Citadel, a huge K’nex ball moving machine built by YouTuber Shadowman. It took him about 3 years to build it.
The machine features more than dozens of unique sections, lifts, and mechanisms that separate balls into 17 different paths. It also has little K’nex men working all over it, giving it a construction-type feel with lots of catwalks and stairs. It has three total motors, one of them powers all three floor lifts.
The actual time to build it was about one year, but with breaks it added up to about three. It is an amazing feat of engineering and it is a lot of fun to watch in action. Check out more pics over on Flickr and the build process here.
[via Geekologie]
Like K’NEX building toys? How about mechanical contraptions? Then you are going to love this. Guinness World Records recently certified that this machine built by Austin Granger is the world’s largest K’NEX ball contraption. It was probably also the world’s biggest headache to assemble. This is one crazy machine.
I love watching machines like this. It is very calming and zen. Great job, Austin.
[via Viral Viral Videos via Neatorama]
Today on In Case You Missed It: Facebook is adding VR to the social network and one of the new tricks will let users take a selfie of their avatar selves inside of different tourist spots. Japanese researchers discovered that a water droplet coatin...
Want to show your workmates your playful side? Brik Book, which is featured in our store, Walyou Deals, is a DIY MacBook case that enables you to customize Apple’s notebook in a unique manner.
The Brik Case started as a Kickstarter project back in March. Back then, Brik Book, the Palo Alto manufacturer of this unique MacBook case, wanted to raise $30,000 so that their product makes it to mass production, but the backers were so excited about the prospect of dressing their MacBooks in unique outfits that they pledged more than 3 times the funding goal, thus ensuring Brik Case’s future. Our store, Walyou Deals, now brings you this case at a discounted price, so that you can put your creativity to the test on the back of your MacBook.
Whereas most people prefer to decorate their MacBooks with stickers of their favorite movies, TV shows or musicians, geeks would rather make their own, unique patterns using LEGO or K’NEX building blocks. From that point of view, the Brik Book is an impressive new take on MacBook cases that’s fit not only for grown-ups who’d like to impress their coworkers, but also for kids who don’t get too much screen time.
Playing with bricks during break could represent a great distraction from the daily problems. While some might look at this as a way to take their mind off work, I’d like to think of it as a manner of seeing thing from a different perspective. I don’t think it’s that far fetched to say that an object that encourages creativity could lead to people finding initially unexpected solutions to a problem.
On top of that, you could give your Mac a more professional look by attaching a pen holder and a business-card holder.
More importantly, the Brik Book represents a great way of turning something common in work environments (the MacBook) into something unique. In an office room where everyone uses a Mac, the Brik Book could help you make yours instantly recognizable from across the room.
While Brik Book makes Brik Cases for several different models of MacBook, the one featured on Walyou Deals only fits the 13-inch MacBook Air. In terms of compatibility with building blocks, you have a bit more freedom in this department, as you can use LEGO, Mega Bloks, PixelBlocks, KRE-O & K’NEX.
If you think that the whole world should be built out of LEGO bricks, and would like to start with the back of your MacBook, then head over to Walyou Deals, where you will soon be able to buy the Brik Case for Macbook. On the manufacturer’s website, the Brik Book sells for $49.99 (with free shipping for orders exceeding $75), but here you can get it for $44.99, including free shipping to continental US. Deliveries are expected to take place between January 2 and 5.
Be social! Follow Walyou on Facebook and Twitter, and read more related stories about the mighty Mac app bundle that’s available for free on Walyou Deals, or the HuMn RFID mini wallet.
It’s Mario Kart in real life! Get busy, really busy, building your own working track with Nintendo Mario Circuit Ultimate Building Set.
That’s what she said. The Karts themselves are motorized and battery powered, so they can really zip around the twists, turns, and jumps of the track just like in the Wii game. Watch out for the included obstacles: sliding Piranha Plant, moving chain chom, and swinging Goombas. There are other sets and additional track pieces you can purchase too if you want to go even larger- if 5 feet isn’t quite big enough for you. Fun stuff.
K’Nex is an amazing building system. People have made some really amazing and huge contraptions using nothing but K’Nex pieces. The latest is this amazing K’Nex pinball machine from University of Colorado student Andrew Locke.
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Look at this crazy K’Nex machine. It took 8 months to create, has over 450 feet of track and it includes over 40,000 K’Nex pieces, 8 motors, 5 lifts, 21 distinct paths, and a computer-controlled crane. That’s insane.
This crazy contraption is called “Clockwork,” a giant K’Nex ball machine created by YouTube user austron. This is his fifth major ball machine and their largest, most complex K’Nex structure.
Check the video. It’s a wild ride that takes a full 5 minutes! It’s insane to me that people create this stuff. I just wish I had the talent to make a massive machine like this. I don’t know about you, but I could watch it do it’s thing all day long.
[via Geekosystem]