Marble Run
2024 Spring Semester
Sylvia Wang
Period 3
Introduction
The purpose of the Marble Run Boards project is to develop modeling and assembly skills by using SolidWorks as a medium for
developing and pretesting ideas. Create a series of modular, interconnected and interrelated mechanical structures. to foster
community among individuals and teams as they work to create an integrated board system that moves a set of marbles around
the room. Overall, the project was designed to foster a sense of community and organization, much like a manufacturing team
must work together to meet deadlines and produce a multifaceted product.
1. Using the reference image, create a sketch of the marble track concept using the following parameters:
A. Assuming a 24" x 48" board running horizontally, the pins will enter the pin track 4" high on the left side of the board.
After being lifted by the motor drive, the marbles will roll through a series of runs before exiting 4" on the right side plate.
b. Eventually, the board will be mounted to the wall. It connects both ends to other Marble Run boards.
C. Each marble must remain in motion on the board for at least 60 seconds.
2. For slab section, use SolidWorks to create a model and/or assembly that represents the run on one quarter of the marble
running slab.
3. Work with team to combine ideas and create the final structure in digital format.
Concept Sketch
In our concept sketch we wanted our
Last hole
marble run to follow these series of steps:
1) Go up the elevator
2) Water wheel pushes the marble
3) Loop de loop
4) Downwards ramp into ferris wheel
5) Exit the ferris wheel into some gentle
hills
6) Hills into funnel
funnel 7) Funnel into exit
We wanted to utilize the full board so we
put the water wheel as high as possible
Start on End on and the starting and ending activity are at
5th hole 5th hole
the 5th hole which is 4 inches from the
bottom of the board.
Reference Images
For our elevator, we wanted to either use a
spiral elevator or a pulley elevator. We
decided to go with the spiral because it
was more fun and seemed easier to make.
We also knew For extra fun, we also wanted to add a marble ferris wheel.
we wanted to With the Ferris wheel, we could control the speed of enter and
add a funnel exit and stagger the marbles ourselves instead of relying on the
for time previous board.
SolidWorks Modeling
SolidWorks Modeling
Next Week’s Goals
● Angle spiral elevator
● Curve in loop de loop
● Make water wheel thinner
● Finish concept modeling
● Start on physical models
Modeling
I added walls to the spiral ladder so the marble
would not fall out while going up.
I also added a fun cut pattern on the walls for
more visual interest
I wanted to make sure the marble would be able to
funnel directly into the spiral ladder so I added a
ramp
I also added a slanted backing for mounting
because I think for the marble to be able to go up
the spiral ladder properly, it would need to be
slanted back a little.
Modeling
I modified the water wheel to have smaller protrusions that would fit
inside the ramp.
I wanted to keep the model thick overall, because I thought it looked
better, so I opted to cut down the protrusions.
I didn’t add a hole for the motor to go through because I wasn’t sure of
the dimensions needed.
We decided to lengthen the spiral
steps so it would proportionally span
across the board and so we didn’t
have to put two next to each other.
Modeling
The marble enters the
wheel through the hole
and we plan for it to
make a full rotation
As the marble reached the end before being kicked out
of the run, we needed it to and going into the spiral
change directions. Originally, we steps and exiting our
were going to use a cup to make board.
it change directions, but instead
made a catch so everything
could be one piece, leaving less
room for error
Full Assembly
Steps:
● Marble enters our board and is guided by
ramp into spiral ladder
● Spiral ladder takes marble up and deposits
it at the mouth of another ramp
● Marble goes down ramp, is hit by the water
wheel, goes around the loop de loop and
exits path
● Marble is caught by scoop and makes it way
down into the ferris wheel
● Marble goes around the ferris wheel and
exits into spiral steps
● Marble goes down spiral steps into funnel
● Marble drops through funnel into exit ramp
Conclusion
Goals
Next Week’s Goals:
For next week, I hope to
● Create a very basic mock up of the marble run to see potential issues
● Go through design changes with my team
● Start on finalized models
● While doing the mock ups, decide the appropriate materials to use for each part.
Spiral Ladder
During the project, I was mainly consumed with building
the spiral ladder. I wound cardboard strips around a
dowel roughly in the shape of a spiral and repeated that
until it was thick enough to hold a marble. I built a casing
for it with cardboard that would allow the marble to press
against as it went up and Kaitlin cut an acrylic case for
me which I glued onto the front. This made it so the
marble does not fly out while going up. I modified the
spiral to not be on a slant because I had trouble
connecting ramp from the start to the mouth of the spiral
ladder. I mounted it onto the board with hot glue and
created an extension with metal plating and screws for
the motor. I 3D printed a part to connect the dowel to the
metal stick that would protrude from the motor.
Niki’s Progress
Although creating the downward slope
with zig zags was unproblematic, Niki
experienced a number of difficulties
while creating the ferris wheel
including alignment issues and traction
issues between the gear powered by
the motor and ferris wheel. As the
deadline was fast approaching, we
opted to remove the ferris wheel and
go with some simple ramps that altered
the direction of the marble to feed into
the spiral steps.
Kaitlin’s Progress
Kaitlin worked on most the steps.
This included the metal ramp on
the top of the board, the squiggle
ramp the feeds into the funnel and
the funnel. She experienced
smooth sailing with most of these
but had some minor issues with
shaping the funnel, which she
fixed by cutting slits in a radial
manner on the bottom of the
cardboard.
Conclusion
The device met team goals by functioning and
being completed by the deadline of the project.
It also had the 6 required steps that were needed
for completion. (Refer to the steps in previous
slides. Replace ferris wheel with turnaround
ramp and remove the water wheel.)
The community benefited as a whole from this
project as it allowed many of us who had not
talked to each other before to connect over a
shared experience.
