Marblevator, Floating Tracks.

myminifactory

After creating "Marblevator, Tracks", family and friends suggested I hide the mechanism from the front view. So after much thought and more than a few trial and error attempts, "Marblevator, Floating Tracks" is finally finished! The model utilizes magnetics (sixteen 6mm diameter by 2mm thick), brass axles (sixteen 12mm long by 1.85mm diameter) and ball bearings (sixteen 2mm thick by 5mm diameter by 2.5 mm diameter center hole) in order to achieve a "floating illusion" while using little power (approximately 20ma). The model operates by raising and lowering two slides via a modified scotch yoke mechanism, the two slides being guided using sliding dovetails. Each slide contains magnets and rides on miniature ball bearings, the ball bearings being used to minimize friction. The two tracks also contain magnets and ride on miniature ball bearings as well. The design result is such that with the tracks magnetically coupled to the slides, they follow the slides as they are raised and lowered with no obvious mechanical connection when viewed from the front of the model, thus the tracks appear to "float" up and down the flat surface of the guides. As usual, I probably forgot a file or two or who knows what else, so if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask as I do make plenty of mistakes.Designed using Autodesk Fusion 360, sliced using Ultimaker Cura 4.12.1, and 3D printed in PLA on Ultimaker S5s and an Ultimaker 3e.