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Marble
Runn
1 Steel Wire Test
The start of the project was actually not about cardboard. I was intrigued by a youtube video about how to make a wire marble track.
The video is down below.
Galvanized steel wire
Aluminum Wire
I tried the soldering process on galvanized steel wire and aluminum wire.
Galvanized steel wire worked perfectly
Aluminum wire didn't work
Soldering
Tape
The rail worked perfectly!
But the problem occurred when I tried to recreate the wire spiral.
Even with galvanized steel, the spiral will bend during motion because the height of the structure is too high for the gauge I used.
So now I have to come up with a backup material since the metals are taking too much time to sodering and causing too much problem.
2 Cardboard Prototype
I was able to create a simple functional prototype with cardboard.
Since making cardboard parts is relatively quick and easy, I decided to set that aside and focus on the hardest part, which is the looping mechanism.
3 Vertical Screw Conveyor
I used cardboard and hot glue to make a screw that has enough space for one marble but also prevents it from falling out.
After connecting the axis of the screw with a DC motor, I tested the conveyor to ensure it was working as intended. And it workded.
However, I am still not satisfied with its appearance, so I have decided to create a new one.
Small axis hole for toothpick.
New screw made with wood rod and hard cardboard cuts.
I also created a screw conveyor enclosure using a toothpick to hold the axis of the screw in place.
New screw conveyor in action! I also built a spiral ramp and a funnel for looping purposes. Everything is modular and can be easily moved. (Each module was taped to the base for testing purposes)
4 Vertical Wheel
I want to explore different methods of vertically transporting marbles, so I came up with an idea to create a wheel that can move marbles similar to a Ferris wheel.
The wheel has two parts the front part and the back part.
Front part
Back part
When the marble reaches the groove in the front part, it will be stopped by the back part, preventing it from falling off and locking it in place. As the wheel turns, the marbles will also move vertically.
The vertical wheel wasn't functioning correctly, so I added some tape to the groove part to make the contact smoother. Now, it works perfectly!
note: the video was taken at a later stage.
5 Conveyor Belt
Finally, I want the last vertical conveyor to be a conveyor belt.
Use peeled cardboard as gears and belts, which will naturally interlock together and create a perfect connection.
The conveyor belt is here! I added some tooth picks on the belt to make the marble stay in place.
note: the video was taken at a later stage.
But sadly after some run time the axis part broke, and at the time there the project is due. So I have to just copy antoher screw and make another screw conveyor instead.
6 Finishing Up
Now the cardboard part has been done I just need to add the Arduino interaction part and motor speed control system.
The green zone has a third servo that is controlled by an IR sensor. When the sensor is triggered, the servo will open after 15 seconds.
IR sensor here
Servo 1
and
Servo 2
This box also contains a hidden Arduino and breadboard.
DC Motor Speed Controller
Box with interactive button that controls the servo motor
Final working video
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