Marblevator, Circus
Introduction: Marblevator, Circus
"Marblevator, Circus" (as named by our grandkids) is a somewhat circus themed Marblevator with elephants, a giraffe and a giraffe wagon participating in the animation. As the elephants "push" the giraffe in its wagon back and forth, the giraffe picks up a marble (ball bearing) from the end of the track, places it at the start of the track, then returns to repeat the process.
This model is a high precision 3D print and assembly with fifty unique parts requiring both time and patience to 3D print and assemble. But when I finally completed mine, our kids and grandkids really enjoyed watching it so it was certainly worth the effort!
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 comment 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 and an Ultimaker 3 Extended.
Supplies
* Soldering Iron.
* Solder.
* Two 120mm lengths of AWG28 stranded wire.
* Thick cyanoacrylate glue.
* Brown acrylic paint.
* Small modeling paint brush.
Step 1: Parts.
I acquired the following parts:
* One 6VDC 30RPM N20 gear motor.
* One 5VDC power supply.
* One coaxial connector matching the power supply connector.
* Thirty two 3 by 1.5mm neodymium magnets.
* Two 6 by 1.5mm neodymium magnets.
* Two 8mm ball bearings.
* 8mm length of 2mm diameter music wire.
* Thin rubber band (approximately 100mm).
I 3D printed the parts as listed in the attached file "Parts.pdf".
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. I sliced my parts using Ultimaker Cura 4.12.1 "Engineering Profile" which provides a highly accurate tolerance requiring minimal if any trimming, filing, drilling or sanding. 654
However, prior to assembly, I still 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 to perform this step.
This mechanism also uses threaded assembly, so I used a tap and die (8mm by 1.25) if required for thread cleaning.
Step 2: Giraffe Assembly.
To assemble the giraffe, I performed the following steps:
* Pressed "Giraffe, Eye, Right.stl" and "Giraffe, Pupil, Right.stl" into "Giraffe, Body, Right.stl".
* Pressed "Giraffe, Eye, Left.stl" and "Giraffe, Pupil, Left.stl" into "Giraffe, Body, Left.stl".
* Painted the raised sections of the giraffe body halves.
* Painted "Giraffe, Ear, Brown, Left.stl" and "Giraffe, Ear, Brown, Right.stl", pressed the left and right brown ear components into "Giraffe, Ear, Yellow, Left.stl" and Giraffe, Ear, Yellow, Right.stl" respectively, then glued the left and right ear assemblies to the left and right body halves.
* Glued the left and right body halves together.
* Painted the tips of "Giraffe, Horn.stl", then glued them to the giraffe assembly.
* Painted "Giraffe, Mouth.stl".
* Glued the mouth to the giraffe assembly.
Step 3: Elephant Assembly.
To assemble the elephants, I performed the following steps:
* Glued "Elephant, Left, Body, Left.stl" to "Elephant, Left, Body, Right.stl".
* Pressed "Elephant, Eye.stl" and "Elephant, Pupil.stl" into the left elephant assembly.
* Pressed one of the 3 by 1.5mm magnets into each of the body halves, opposing polarity. 632