Marblevator, Perpetual?, Version 2.
Introduction: Marblevator, Perpetual?, Version 2.
I designed this model to mimic the operation of a few new "perpetual motion" devices that have yet again been appearing in my suggested video feed. "Marblevator, Perpetual?, Version 2" like "Marblevator, Perpetual?" is not perpetual motion, but it sure is quiet with the only noise being that of the marble as it swooshes around the track.
The 3D printed portion of the model consists of only three components, the base, top and a sloped track. 654
Without any assistance, the marble (ball bearing) when placed at the high point of the track will roll down the track slope until it comes upon the track uphill portion, where it will stop and reverse direction thanks to gravity and a few other thermodynamic law things ( :) ).
To overcome gravity and those thermodynamic law things, I've hidden an infrared transceiver, an electromagnetic coil and some electronic circuitry in the base to accelerate the ball bearing up the hill. As the ball bearing reaches the low point of the track, the infrared transceiver senses the ball bearing and generates a pulse into the electromagnetic coil which accelerates the ball bearing fast enough to overcome the uphill climb. Once over the uphill climb, the ball bearing rolls down the track, crosses over the infrared transceiver again, and the process repeats.
Our six year old grandson almost figured this one out the first time he saw it, which makes us proud!
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.
Supplies
* Soldering iron and solder.
* Micromesh polishing sheets.
* Sandpaper (120, 220, 400 and 600 grit).
* Thick cyanoacrylate glue.
* Double sided tape.
* Velcro.
* 1.5MM ID heat shrink tubing.
Step 1: Parts.
I acquired the following parts:
* One 800MA 11.1VDC 50C LiPo battery.
* One JST mating connector to the JST connector on the LiPo battery.
* One Coil (Gikfun EK1909).
* One Infrared Emitter / Sensor (TCRT5000).
* One MOSFET (IRF510).
* One Diode (1N4007).
* One 1K 1/8 watt resistor.
* Two 100K 1/8 watt resistors.
* One 3300uf 50V electrolytic capacitor.
* One 2.2uf 50V electrolytic capacitor.
* One solderable perforated board (similar to a breadboard).
* One 11MM diameter ball bearing.
* One M3 by 16mm cap screw.
* Four 3MM diameter by 1MM thick neodymium magnets.
* Four 10MM diameter rubber sticky pads.
* Multi color 28AWG stranded wire.
I 3D printed the following parts at .15mm layer height, 20% infill, and no supports:
* One "Base.stl".
* One "Top.stl".
* One "Track.stl".
Step 2: Circuit Assembly.
To assemble the circuit I started by preparing the infrared emitter / sensor and coil as follows:
* Trimmed the infrared emitter / sensor (TCRT5000) leads such that when inserted into "Base.stl" there was 10MM clearance between the emitter / sensor lenses and the top of the rim.
* Soldered and insulated with heat shrink an 80MM length of yellow wire to the TCRT5000 emitter anode.
* Soldered and insulated with heat shrink an 80MM length of black wire to the TCRT5000 emitter cathode.
* Soldered and insulated with heat shrink an 80MM length of red wire to the TCRT5000 sensor collector.
* Soldered and insulated with heat shrink an 80MM length of green wire to the TCRT5000 sensor emitter.
* Soldered and insulated with heat shrink a 80MM length of red wire to one end of the coil wire.
* Soldered and insulated with heat shrink a 80MM length of black wire to the remaining end of the coil.
Next, I soldered the components to the solderable perforated circuit board similar to the breadboard layout as shown, followed by soldering the TCRT5000, coil and JST connector wires to the circuit board.
Step 3: Final Assembly and Test. 654