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Step 6Design your Track Elements
Design the different elements and lifting devices you would like in your marble run. This marble run has two different types of lifting devices and seven other types of track elements.
Lifting Device 1 - Wheel Lifter
The first lifting device is a large wheel that picks up marbles at the bottom and drops them out at the top. The wheel is actually two wheels with a 3/4-inch spacing between them where the marbles sit.
The wheel is run by a small DC gearmotor and a pack of AA batteries. The motor is controlled by a momentary push button mounted on the wall where my son can reach it. This way the track only runs when someone is holding the button down.
Lifting Device 2 - Stair Lifter
The second lifting device is located on the opposite wall from the first lifter. This one is composed of two sets of steps with one set moving up and down within the other. The whole assembly is sloped forward at 5 degrees to keep the marbles rolling forward when the steps lift the marbles each time.
The stairs are run by the same small DC gearmotor and AA battery pack as the other lifter. The motor for the stairs is controlled in two ways. The first marble that enters the stairs makes a momentary contact that starts the stairs moving. As soon as this happens the stair motion starts moving a wire that moves a wooden wheel. On the back of the wheel are two contact strips that touch a small copper sheet. The copper sheet has a small gap for one of the contacts. When the contact strip hits this small gap the stairs stop until another marble enters the bottom of the stairs.
Track Element 1 - Balls on Track
This track section is composed of a slight depression that holds several marbles. When a marble runs into the line of marbles a single marble is ejected from the group on the other end.
Track Element 2 - Tipping Arm
This track section is composed of a tipping arm that has to fill up with five marbles before tipping and dropping the marbles on the track below. The marbles roll uphill until they stop and then continue down the track as a group.
Track Element 3 - Back and Forth drop
One marble is dropped on to the vertical curve and rolls back and forth until it comes almost to a complete stop. It then rolls forward on to a section of track and continues on until it hits the release for the next marble.
Track Element 4 - Corner Spiral
The corner spiral is a corner piece that has 450 degrees of track curve instead of a regular 90 degree corner piece. The marbles accelerate as they go around the spiral and are a lot of fun to watch.
Track Element 5 - Track Dip
This track element is a vertical dip in the track section. The speed of the marble before and after the dip section is almost identical.
Track Element 6 - Snake Track
This track element is a section of track that meanders from side to side. When looking at this section of track from the side it is almost hard to tell that the track isn't straight.
Track Element 7 - Channel Drop
The channel drop is used to drop the marbles to the elevation of the bottom of the circle lifter. This element really slows down the marbles.
Lifting Device 1 - Wheel Lifter
The first lifting device is a large wheel that picks up marbles at the bottom and drops them out at the top. The wheel is actually two wheels with a 3/4-inch spacing between them where the marbles sit.
The wheel is run by a small DC gearmotor and a pack of AA batteries. The motor is controlled by a momentary push button mounted on the wall where my son can reach it. This way the track only runs when someone is holding the button down.
Lifting Device 2 - Stair Lifter
The second lifting device is located on the opposite wall from the first lifter. This one is composed of two sets of steps with one set moving up and down within the other. The whole assembly is sloped forward at 5 degrees to keep the marbles rolling forward when the steps lift the marbles each time.
The stairs are run by the same small DC gearmotor and AA battery pack as the other lifter. The motor for the stairs is controlled in two ways. The first marble that enters the stairs makes a momentary contact that starts the stairs moving. As soon as this happens the stair motion starts moving a wire that moves a wooden wheel. On the back of the wheel are two contact strips that touch a small copper sheet. The copper sheet has a small gap for one of the contacts. When the contact strip hits this small gap the stairs stop until another marble enters the bottom of the stairs.
Track Element 1 - Balls on Track
This track section is composed of a slight depression that holds several marbles. When a marble runs into the line of marbles a single marble is ejected from the group on the other end.
Track Element 2 - Tipping Arm
This track section is composed of a tipping arm that has to fill up with five marbles before tipping and dropping the marbles on the track below. The marbles roll uphill until they stop and then continue down the track as a group.
Track Element 3 - Back and Forth drop
One marble is dropped on to the vertical curve and rolls back and forth until it comes almost to a complete stop. It then rolls forward on to a section of track and continues on until it hits the release for the next marble.
Track Element 4 - Corner Spiral
The corner spiral is a corner piece that has 450 degrees of track curve instead of a regular 90 degree corner piece. The marbles accelerate as they go around the spiral and are a lot of fun to watch.
Track Element 5 - Track Dip
This track element is a vertical dip in the track section. The speed of the marble before and after the dip section is almost identical.
Track Element 6 - Snake Track
This track element is a section of track that meanders from side to side. When looking at this section of track from the side it is almost hard to tell that the track isn't straight.
Track Element 7 - Channel Drop
The channel drop is used to drop the marbles to the elevation of the bottom of the circle lifter. This element really slows down the marbles.
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Apr 23, 2011. 2:45 PM
djsfantasi
says:
djsfantasi
says:
In the wheel lifter, if the marbles are 1" in diameter, but the two sides of the lifting wheels are spaced 3/4" apart, how does the marble fit inside and stay there as the wheel rotates? Thanks.
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