After trying the traditional methods of making them, using steel or copper wire, none of which I felt comfortable with, I settled on 3/16” acrylic rods with water jet connectors. I have been working with plastic for some years now. It also gave me the opportunity to design a whole new set of tools.
I engaged the services of someone that does 3D printing to print the bending tools I needed and ultimately the switches and various “tricks.” These are notable for their color. After the first 2 or 3, I standardized the size to 12” square. This set parameters that forced the design and increased the challenge.
I became fascinated with the different methods of getting the ball from the intake space at the bottom to the discharge on top, and I am experimenting with other lift designs. What follows are three solutions and a collection of miscellaneous ideas.