Marblevator Mini, Loop

myminifactory

How Fast Is Too Fast for a Marble Machine? Well, Check Out This Video! Watch the "Marblevator Mini, Loop High Speed Test" video at 324,000 marble runs per day to see the fastest marble machine I've ever designed. The Stress Test Shows Just How Reliable It Is Take a look at the stress test video where the Marblevator Mini, Loop ran for over 29 hours without losing a single marble. Understanding the Physics Behind It I had to dust off my physics textbook to figure out how to design this machine. Using a few simple equations, I determined that the height of the entrance ramp (H) is calculated by H = 2.7R (where R is the radius of the loop). Designing for Size and Friction My goal was to keep the model small, so I chose a 7.5mm radius loop with a tapered auger lift. To add friction compensation, especially since it's printed in this orientation, I increased the height of the ramp over the calculated height. The Stress Test Results Are Impressive In the video "Marblevator Mini, Loop Stress Test", the stress test ran for 29 hours and is still going strong! The auger rotates at approximately 75rpm, which translates to 75 marble runs per minute. At this rate, Marblevator Mini, Loop has executed an incredible 130,500 marble runs without losing a single one. Printing the Track: A Challenge The track part may test your limits and those of your 3D printer. I've printed it with PVA support and without support at .1 and .15mm layer heights. If you use no support material, be prepared to file and sand the inside edges until reliable operation is achieved. Designing with Autodesk Fusion 360 I designed this machine using Autodesk Fusion 360 and sliced it with Cura 3.3.1. I printed it in PLA on both an Ultimaker 2+ Extended and an Ultimaker 3 Extended. Questions? Just Ask! As always, I may have forgotten a file or two, so if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.