Neat Laser Cut Marble Machine
erco
Posts: 20,259
This year's must-have Christmas gift for the guy who has everything:
http://www.bustedbricks.com/marble-machine-kit-1-146-p.asp
Nicely done and the brown laser cut edges gives it a great weathered patina, like something DaVinci might have played with. Love that oscillating elevator lift. Best of all, it's plywood! The video threw me, as the device is much smaller than I thought from the website, which clearly states "dizzying height".
http://www.bustedbricks.com/marble-machine-kit-1-146-p.asp
Nicely done and the brown laser cut edges gives it a great weathered patina, like something DaVinci might have played with. Love that oscillating elevator lift. Best of all, it's plywood! The video threw me, as the device is much smaller than I thought from the website, which clearly states "dizzying height".
Comments
Cleveland's UH Rainbow Babies hospital has a marble machine (sculpture? contraption?) in one of the lobbies. Everytime I go there I have to stop and match it for a while. If I ever need another hobby, it may be making machines like this. Rube Goldberg engineering at its best!!
Rick,
That IS a pretty cool contraption. I used to pass it every day going to the cafeteria when we installed the courtyard playground two years ago.
http://www.interactiveplay.biz/#!portfolio/vstc1=hospitals
We built everything in Tennessee, took it apart, and re-assembled it on site. The giant semi-circular tree stump was made in one piece, then cut into three sections for shipping, an epoxied the seams, and re- painted on site. We had to but all new paint because the facility is a Latex free zone. Someone didn't do their homework.
There are actually three Propellers in there. The are three large glass Mason jars with five fireflies each. Cast out of translucent pour cast in a mold with a Superbright LED shoved up their butt. Two jars hanging from the lamppost, and one on the leftmost building. They are running Beau's most excellent PWM driver:
http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?113685-OBEX-update-PWM_32_v2&highlight=Fireflies
Jim
Prototype picture: