Labyrinth: FINISHED!

After 2 months and 2 days of work, the single largest structure I have ever built is completed. The Labyrinth contains 25,000 pieces, 261 feet of track, 19 paths, 13 switches, 4 lift hills and 4 motors. Click Here to watch the video!

Labyrinth Update

Winter break is over and work on The Labyrinth has slowed down, but it has not stopped. I have added 2 more tracks (with 6 unique elements between them) to the machine. The largest and most obvious track is a 8 foot arch bridge which spans the width of my room, crossing over my bed and desk. This track features several elements which I have never even attempted to build before, but it works perfectly.

right end of arch bridge

The second track is a pinball-type element consisting of a 5 foot long sloping pegboard. The ball drops on to the board and gradually works its way through the pegs, exiting in one of 3 slots at the bottom. These 3 slots then lead into 3 different tracks, which all deposit the ball at the bottom of lift #3. The pegboard alone contains 1300 pieces.

Pegboard

Paths exiting pegboard

Labyrinth: Almost There!

I missed my New Years Eve deadline do to piece shortages, but I continue to make progress. Labyrinth now has 14 tracks, 4 lift hills, 4 motors and an uncountable number of pieces. (I still estimate around 20,000. I will do a more accurate estimate later. I have also wrapped the entire structure in Christmas lights for the holiday season.

Labyrinth: 13 tracks, no end in sight.

I have gone beyond my estimation of a 12-track ball machine with the completion of my 13th track yesterday. I now have an estimated 16,000 pieces invested in this machine which is still growing daily.

Labyrinth: Vertical Race Completed

The largest track of the entire structure, the vertical race, has been completed. This track took 2 days to build, stands 7 feet tall and uses 3000 pieces. It also has its own motor. Basically, the vertical race is its own ball machine, but it will have a track branching off of it which integrates it with the rest of the tower.

Labyrinth: The Vertical Race

I am almost finished with the vertical race track. This is the largest and most complicated track in the machine, as it includes the tallest tower, its own dedicated lift hill and motor, and over 3000 pieces (as many pieces as in the entire Big Ball Factory) The two massive, 900-piece ball drops are in place, supported by the large lift tower. Construction of the switch is underway and should be completed soon.

Labyrinth: New pieces, New tracks, New tower.

I have come up with a new design for a very cool track, but it will require the construction of a 7.5 foot lift tower using yet another motor. The track will use two extremely tall flapping ball chutes (as seen in the Big Ball Factory) side by side. Using my design for a simultanious ball release mechanism, I will drop one ball down each chute at the same time and they will race to the bottom. I am done with the semester and am in winter break, so I will be building a lot. More updates soon.