Motorized Marble Roller Coaster

Step 4 Conveyor belt

The conveyor belt is made from 72 inches of nylon webbing, with 3/4 nails placed through it every 3 inches. The nails are glued to small folded pieces of thin white cardboard, which keeps the nails standing up straight when they are pushing against a marble.

A cardboard guiding track was built around the conveyor belt. This V shaped track keeps the balls centered on the belt. A thin piece of wood was built into the track under the belt which keeps the belt from sagging.

I added little triangular pieces of cardboard to the front of each nail and "flag" which keep the marbles in place on the track while they are being pushed along.

Comments

[the poodleo]

thats a great idea,using nylon webbing for the belt. whenever I think of a chain lift that I would use for a project like thsi, I always think of something more complicated, like the ones that are in the Knex rollercoasters. but I love that this is just scratch built iwth such simple, working items. It would certainately make it easier to build.

[jess.jsli]

oh my god! what a good idea!

[trebornerdnoc]

is that like the strap of a school bag

[mashford]

Really cool! I hope I can make one for my kids by holiday season this winter. Where is the motor and battery pack in the final product? It appears to be on top of the base, near the main wheel, in the picture showing how you hot-glued to the base (as opposed to underneath), but I don't see it in following photos and videos? Thanks.

[seamster]

Take a look at the last couple of steps--I redid motor and drive in the "upgraded" version. The motor and batteries are now inside the little building with the red roof on top of the tower. I'm glad you like it--thanks for the comment! Good luck with your own!

[seamster]

I guess I don't have a really good photo showing the new motor assembly... But the second video shows it pretty well from the backside of the tower.