Marble Track

This is a tutorial for a marble track. You can switch lanes by pressing a button.

Step 1: Materials

Materiaallijst:

Wood (3mm): I used 3mm wood for the box. I used wood for the track.

Acryl (3mm): For the side of the box. You'll need transparant acryl. You can see the marble roll down from that side.

3d print: The buttons on top of the box are 3d printed.

Nails: For the track i meanly used some wood, but in some parts i used a line of nails.

Marble: The marble i used had a width of 1.3 cm.

Foam: I used foam to make a barriage for the marble. Because of the foam the marble is forced to go to the order track.

Step 2: Tools

Tools

Saw: I cut the piece in the middle with a saw
Ultimaker 3D printer 0.4 nozzle: I 3d printed the buttons on the top.

Lasercutter: I used the laser cutter to make the casing.

Soldering iron: I used the soldering iron to solder wires and a resistor unto the buttons.

Wood glue: I used wood glue to glue the wooden parts together.

Step 3: Step 1: Outside Box

The first step is to lasercut the outside box. I included a photo of the caseplan i used.

The height of the box is 30 cm. The width of the box is 20 cm.

I used the lasercutter for this

After you cut the different pieces i glue them together with wood glue

Step 4: Step 2: Code

For the mechanics i use Arduino

this is the code for the arduino:

https://github.com/IrenePrins/MarbleTrack.git

i have a picture of the circuit i made.

Step 5: Step 3: Buttons 3D Print

The next step is the buttons. You need to 3d print the buttons. I have included the cura plans for the 3d printer i used.

I used the printer with a 0.4 nozzle. If you use a 0.4 nozzle the structure is more sophisticated than the 0.8 nozzle.

Step 6: Step 4: Soldering Buttons

For this design you'll need two arduino buttons. I soldered two wires en one resistor to the button. The wires can be lead throught the back of the casing. You need to glue the 3dprinted button unto the arduino button. The 3d printed button is a case.

Step 7: Step 5: Piece in the Middle and Transparent Arcyl

You will need a the piece of wood in the middle. The height is 25 cm the width is 3 cm. I used a saw to cut the piece in the right size.

I lasercut the transparent arcyl top. I've included the caseplans as a adobe illustrator file.

The casing is now done.

Step 8: Step 6: Backexit

In de casing you need to cut two circles.

These are for the marbles to exit the track.

Step 9: Step 7: Track

The next step is the track.

I drew the design of the track on the case. Then i measured the size of the line i drew. Then i made a illustrator file with these measurments.

I cut them with the lasercutter.
The left track is blue and the right track is pink.

With wood glue i glued every piece to the casing

Step 10: Step 8: Backcasing

For the wires, arduinoboard and breadboard i made a backcasing. This is to hide all the electronica. I have included the lasercut file for this casing.

Step 11: Step 9: the Barrier

The arduino code in step 3 is used for the barrier to choose between the two tracks. I cut the foam in the right shape and size. In the back of the casing is an opening for the piece of foam. You need to glue the foam on the servo. When you upload the code on the arduinoboard en get the circuit right, you will operate the servo motor with the buttons on the top of the casing. When you press the right button the marble will go for the left, blue track. The barrier will go to the right. It will prevent the marble to go to the right, pink track.