Fix a Gumball Machine

This will probably be my shortest instructable ever.

So my daughter got this little gumball machine. The lever promptly broke because, well, it was cheaply made. Just a little extra plastic around the inside of the lever could have made this thing last more than a few minutes. Being 7 years old, this breaking was quite a disappointment and she didn't even get the gumballs out. Also being a smart little 7 year old she thought well I could wrap something around the inside...

I did one better, and just used my laser cutter to dash out a little insert to strengthen things up. Worked on the first try with just measuring the diameters with a ruler.

Laser Cutter (or handtools like a small saw and such)

2 or 3 mm plywood or mdf

Design the part needed to fix your item. In my case I just needed a little disk to insert into the lever to make it stronger.

After cutting, place the part into the item.

I told you this would be short.

And that's it.

Enjoy.

:)