World Record Knex Ferris Wheel

This was The World's Largest Working K'nex Ferris Wheel from 2008 to 2011. It measures 12 feet in diameter and 13 feet tall. It has 128 spokes, 32 carts and about 12,000 pieces. It was designed by myself (Austin Granger) and was built in 3 weeks (including repairs made after wind damage) by myself, Renee Bergeron, Sam Ihlenfeldt, Stephen Walker, Simon Olson and Paul Davis. The wheel is supported by a quarter-inch steel axle and powered by a 12 volt DC motor. The wheel was completed thanks to the generous donations of over 4,000 pieces from people in my neighborhood.

Includes a POV shot of a camera riding in one of the carts.

To see more of my K'nex projects, and to follow the design and construction of new ones check out http://knexdesigns.blogspot.com


Interesting side-note, this wheel is so heavy, yet so perfectly balanced that removing even a single gondola will throw the center of gravity off to the extent that the 12v motor can no longer power the wheel.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• knex
• ferris
• wheel
• world
• record
• worlds
• largest
• giant
• big
• motorized
• mechanical
• engineering
• first
• person
• 12
• foot
• diameter

[metakight4]

what if a hurracane,tornado,earthquake came would you try to protect this or just let it crumble =P

[austron]

@metakight4 I think if a hurricane-tornado-earthquake were to strike my house, I would have bigger things to worry about than my K'nex structures, such as "How the hell did a hurricane manage to form 1,600 miles away from the ocean?"

[theFMLP]

Hey it Isnt the biggest anymore

JOchumpie build bigger one 16 feet

[austron]

@theFMLP Thank you for being the 400th person to tell me this. I was well aware of his project before any of you were. One of the people who works on it is my friend on Facebook, and he has been keeping me posted on the construction updates for months now.

[theFMLP]

@austron YEAH SO CHANGE THE TITLE THAN!!

[austron]

@theFMLP Then*

[austron]

@theFMLP Also, I changed the title over a year ago when my record was broken by a 13 foot wheel. The title reads: "World record K'nex ferris wheel", not "World's largest k'nex ferris wheel". It was a world record when it was built, so that title is still valid, unlike your argument.

[reddude333]

Great view from the top :-P

[Dieseldemen]

@austron lol people can be such dumbasses. this thing is awesome. NICE JOB!

[nikojow]

Make a tutorail

[papercandles]

That's amazing! Do you ever take it down ?

[soccerman67812]

everyone go drink a sandwich

[moneymakerdude12]

Just how long did it take to build?

[tugtugbug926]

Holy balls. That is epic! How many pieces did you use!? :o

[zetalore]

omg its beautifull!!!

[metakight4]

@austron ok good point lol but still it is one of the best K'nex structures ive ever seen mostly because i suck at building K'nex xD