Ball Machine Update

I have finished the first track of my new ball machine. This is by no means the final layout for this track, but it gave me a chance to test a new element I designed, which is a tightly wound, banked helix which wraps around a column made of gray rods. About half way through the video the track enters a horizontal switch, for which the second path has yet to be constructed. I plan to start work on this tomorrow. I have also completed a vertical chain lift which brings the balls back up to my ceiling to carry them across the giant arch to the next phase of the machine, which is also under construction, but has been postponed due to design issues.

Here is a closeup of the purple tubing spiral. The design still needs work, as the balls tend to fly off the track here.