Marblevator, Rube Goldberg Style, II

I believe I've easily exceeded the number of parts required to lift a marble in "Marblevator, Rube Goldberg Style" with this model "Marblevator, Rube Goldberg Style, II". At last count, 27 components are used in this model just to lift a marble from the end of the track to the start.

In memory Rube Goldberg and his wonderfully complicated machines.

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.

Soldering iron and solder.

Thick cyanoacrylate glue.

4.5mm hex wrench.

I acquired the following parts:

1. One N20 6VDC 30RMP gear motor.
2. One two AAA cell battery pack with wires and switch.
3. Two AAA batteries.
4. Two 15mm plastic marbles.

I 3D printed the following parts at 20% infill, .15mm layer height and no supports:

1. One "Axle Base (1.5m 24t).stl".
2. One "Axle Herringbone Gear Arm Short.stl".
3. One "Base.stl".
4. Eight "Bolt (M8 by 1.25 by 8mm).stl".
5. One "Bucket Path Lower.stl".
6. One "Bucket Path Upper.stl".
7. One "Bucket.stl".
8. One "Cam.stl".
9. One "Crown Gear (1.5m 24t).stl".
10. One "Crown Gear Gear Mount (1.5m 24t).stl".
11. One "Drive.stl".
12. One "Gear Arm.stl".
13. One "Gear Mount.stl".
14. Three "Herringbone Gear (1.5m 12t).stl".
15. One "Herringbone Gear Arm Long(1.5m 12t).stl".
16. One "Herringbone Gear Arm Short(1.5m 12t).stl".
17. One "Lift Arm Slot Mount.stl".
18. One "Lift Arm Slot.stl".
19. One "Lift Guide Cover.stl".
20. One "Lift Guide.stl".
21. One "Lift.stl".
22. One "Motor Clamp.stl".
23. One "Nut (M8 by 1.25 by 4mm).stl".
24. One "Rack.stl".
25. One "Track End Tower.stl".
26. One "Track End.stl".
27. One "Track Start Tower.stl".
28. One "Track Start.stl".

This mechanism is a high precision print and assembly using at times very small precision 3D printed parts in confined spaces with highly precise alignment. Prior to assembly, I test fitted and trimmed, filed, drilled, sanded, etc. all parts as necessary for smooth movement of moving surfaces, and tight fit for non moving surfaces. Depending on your slicer, printer, printer settings and the colors you chose, more or less trimming, filing, drilling and/or sanding may be required to successfully recreate this model. I carefully filed all edges that contacted the build plate to make absolutely certain that all build plate "ooze" is removed and that all edges are smooth using small jewelers files and plenty of patience.

This mechanism also uses threaded assembly, so I used a tap and die set (M8 by 1.25) as required for thread cleaning.

To assemble the base plate, I performed the following steps:

1. Pressed "Crown Gear *(1.5m 24t).stl" onto "Base.stl" and secured it in place with a small drop of glue.
2. Pressed "Bucket.stl" onto "Herringbone Gear Arm Short (1.5m 12t).stl".
3. Noting that herringbone gears must be properly oriented in a gear chain, I placed three "Herringbone Gear (1.5m 12t).stl" onto "Gear Arm.stl" noting that each is rotated 180 degrees from the others and that they must mesh with the short and long arm herringbone gears.
4. Positioned the herringbone gear and bucket assembly over the axle hole in the gear arm and secured it in place with "Axle Herringbone Gear Arm Short.stl". Note if the gear does not mesh with the three herringbone gears previously positioned, then remove the three and rotate them 180 degrees.
5. Positioned "Herringbone Gear Arm Long (1.5m 12t).stl" over the hexagonal hole in the gear arm making certain the bucket and long arm are aligned.
6. Positioned "Gear Mount.stl" over the long arm herringbone gear with the large hole on the outside of the gear arm.
7. Slid "Crown Gear Gear Mount (1.5m 24t).stl" through the large hole in the gear mount, then through the gear arm, long arm herringbone gear, and finally through the small hole in the gear mount, and secured to the gear arm assembly using "Nut (M8 by 1.25 by 4mm).stl".
8. Positioned the gear arm assembly onto the base assembly and secured it in place with "Axle Base (1.5m 24t).stl" carefully noting the position of the gear arm and axle base teeth, then secured the axle to the gear mount with a small dot of glue.
9. Glued "Bucket Path Lower.stl" to "Bucket Path Upper.stl" then carefully filed the bucket path slot smooth.
10. Placed the bucket path assembly onto the base assembly in the position shown.

To assemble the drive plate, I performed the following steps:

1. Pressed "Lift Arm Slot.stl" onto "Lift Arm Slot Mount.stl" as shown.
2. Pressed the lift arm slot assembly into the slot in "Rack.stl" and secured it with a small drop of glue.
3. Slid the rack assembly into "Drive.stl".
4. Aligned the left most rack gear tooth pocket with the drive plate as shown.
5. With the gear arm in its upper most position, attached the gear plate to the drive plate making certain the axle base gear tooth slipped into the left most rack gear tooth pocket.
6. Secured the drive and base plates together using four "Bolt (M8 by 1.25 by 8mm).stl".
7. Soldered the battery back wires to the gear motor.
8. Pressed the gear motor into "Motor Clamp.stl".
9. Pressed "Cam.stl" onto the gear motor shaft then rotated the gear motor and cam to the position shown.
10. Slipped the cam pin into the rack yoke slot then attached the motor clamp assembly to the base plate assembly using two "Bolt (M8 by 1.25 by 8mm).stl".

For final assembly, I performed the following steps:

1. Slid "Lift.stl" onto "Lift Guide.stl".
2. Pressed "Lift Guide Cover.stl" onto the lift assembly then, after making certain the lift slid easily within the lift assemble, secured the cover in place with a small dot of glue.
3. Slid the lift pin of the lift assembly into the lift arm slot then attached the lift assembly to the drive plate using "Track End Tower.stl".
4. Secured "Track End.stl" to the track end tower using one "Bolt (M8 by 1.25 by 8mm).stl".
5. Threaded "Track Start Tower.stl" into the drive plate assembly.
6. Attached "Track Start.stl" to the track start tower using one "Bolt (M8 by 1.25 by 8mm).stl".
7. Aligned the track sections so that they were perpendicular to each other and that the track end section did not interfere with the lift assembly.

With assembly complete, I made the following adjustments:

1. Adjusted the motor clamp to make the gear arm rotate such that it traveled from the center of the lift guide to the center of the track start.
2. Rotated the bucket path such that the herringbone long arm traversed the slot from end to end.
3. Adjusted the lift arm slot on the lift arm slot mount such that the lift was timed to raise the marble over the lift stops and onto the bucket.

With the adjustments completed, I secured them using small dots of glue.

And that is how I 3D printed and assembled "Marblevator, Rube Goldberg Style, II".

I hope you enjoyed it!