(506) 2240-6804
3D printed marble run
Physical Marble Runs - Out Of Marbles
How To Configure Your Marble Machine
BROWSE OUR PHYSICAL MARBLE MACHINES
Here you will find physical marble machines that we 3D print and ship them to you.
Two Wheeler | Physical Marble Machine
€249,95
Double Screw | Physical Marble Machine
€179,95
Bucket Tower | Physical Marble Machine
€109,00
Bucket Lift | Physical Marble Machine
€99,95 €119,95
Modules - Assembled
Free
Stairs | Physical Marble Machine
€99,95 €119,95
Twister | Physical Marble Machine
€99,95 €119,95
MARBLE MACHINE
Ever seen one of those satisfying rolling ball contraptions videos where balls roll, slide, loop and zigzag along perfectly designed tracks from start to finish in a way that almost has a hypnotic effect?
Those are marble machines (you might also know them as a rolling ball sculpture or marble run) and they are a form of kinetic art, designed with mechanical and aesthetic prowess, where rolling balls move along complex tracks, often in a series of chain reactions, using only gravity and the laws of physics!
There are also ones where rolling balls can compete in a race, and these are called marble races.
WHO IS A MARBLE RUN FOR?
You might be wondering who these fun contraptions are made for. Typically, they are sold commercially as children’s toys- as a fun building and learning activity for kids. However, since it is also a form of art, professionally-made aesthetic ones can be used as an office desk toy or displayed as valuable art at other places. For example, the Hong Kong Science Museum features the tallest rolling ball sculpture in the world among its displays.
Some enthusiasts and artists enjoy crafting these machines themselves as a hobby, and film soothing and fun to watch videos of balls rolling down these sculptures for audiences on social media. The experience can become quite addictive as people like to get more creative with them every day and assemble increasingly challenging sculptures. Having a marble race game is one of the most fun things to do and watch too!
WHAT PARTS DOES A MARBLE MACHINE HAVE?
A marble machine is usually made of open rails or tracks that have parallel guides on either side.
These tracks come in various shapes, twists, and arrangements, often including more complex parts such as jumps, loops, ramps, and other triggers. The ones sold commercially are sold as smaller, interlocking toy parts that can be assembled and disassembled and made into different configurations again and again.
Let’s discuss some of the fun track components that are often used apart from the straight tracks:
Loops: These are similar to the loop-de-loops on a rollercoaster track and a favorite component in marble machines.
Vertical spirals: A cylindrical spiral that makes the ball roll down in tight circles.
Helical lifts: This is different from a spiral, because marbles spin along these helixes to rise to the top!
Wavy/Zig Zag tracks: These tracks can come in many different styles where the balls move along in a serpentine fashion or in “waves” instead of going straight.
Tipping arm: Built like an automated seesaw or catapult which accepts an incoming marble (or marbles) and tips over with the weight of it, then releases the marble on the outgoing track.
These can also be designed in various ways.
Track switch: This divides the track and switches the path of each incoming marble into a different left-or-right track.
Other parts such as jumps, trampolines and electrical triggers are also used in some marble runs.
HOW ARE MARBLE MACHINES MADE?
Rolling ball sculptures are usually made of metal, wood, plastic, or PLA 3D printed plastic. People who make like making these at home as a hobby can also make them out of cardboard and paper.
Metal marble machines are unique and very strong, but they are handmade, which makes them very expensive. Metal also has its own disadvantages like being heavier and can rust if it comes in contact with water and is not properly protected.
Wooden ones are sturdy too, but these are also handcrafted, and the wood can also be damaged if it comes in contact with water.
The normal plastic ones which are produced in bulk, commercially, are light and do not corrode, but they are mostly injection-molded and of poor quality.
They do not last well.
The PLA 3D printed ones are in our opinion the best, because they are very good quality and inexpensive compared to the metal and wood ones. They do well under temperatures up to 45 degrees Celsius; some care has to be taken not to leave them for long under direct sunlight or near the heater because they can start getting bendy at 50 degrees.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF A MARBLE MACHINE?
People love tinkering with marble machines for various reasons. They make such cool desk toys and art pieces. Some of the best marble runs in the world are kept at museums and public spots on display so that everyone can enjoy them.
But since marble machines are primarily sold as children’s toys, let us tell you the amazing developmental benefits they have for your children:
A marble run toy set is a practical way for your child to get STEM skills.
It develops your child’s engineering and motor skills and the ability to craft complex structures.
It enhances your child’s cognitive and problem solving skills too as they try out various design challenges. It helps them learn what works best through a trial and error approach.
It fosters their creativity and imagination as they think of new possibilities to try.
It inculcates teamwork and collaboration when they play with other kids, siblings, or their parents. They can even have a fun and healthy competition like a marble race game.
It teaches them persistence, hard work, and patience, and gives them a sense of achievement once they accomplish a goal through that hard work.
Not only are marble runs great educational toys for kids but also fascinating for teens and adults. They are a fun activity to do as a hobby no matter what age you are.
We do recommend a little precaution with them; they are generally safe for children above 6 years of age but adult supervision is advised as the marbles are very small and can be accidentally ingested by children.
That said, there is so much learning and fun in store for you and your kids, so go get your marble machine today!
Bucket Lift | Marble Machine STL
By subscribing you will receive download links in your email and further emails when we release new marble machines & modules.
You can also purchase Hardware Kit, so you don't have to worry about marbles, motors, etc...
You will need a 3D printer to print with a minimum bed size of 180x180x180mm. Yes, it can be printed on Prusa Mini by disabling the skirt.
G-codes for Prusa printers are also provided in the files!
All of the modules on our website are interchangeable between all of the machines.
You are getting two versions. The first is motorized and the second is hand-cranked. You can print just one of them or both if you would like. For the motorized version, you will need a hardware kit and for the hand-cranked version, you will only need the marbles.
The kids absolutely love the hand-cranked version, since it is more intractable!
We also sell Fully Assembled Bucket Lift.
You are NOT allowed to resell this in digital or 3D printed versions.
Specifications
| Length | 180mm |
| Width | 180mm |
| Height | 180mm |
| Marble Size | 7.14mm| 9/32” |
| Motor | N20, 15 - 60 RPM (15RPM shown in video) |
| Printing Time | 19 Hours |
| Printer Bed Dimensions | 180x180x180 mm |
| Filament Used | / |
Hardware
Please see our help topic for the list of hardware needed.
Extensive assembly instructions can be found here.
Printed on: CR-10 Smart
Filaments used: PLA
made my father very happy
Quite a conversation piece, visitors love it! Keeps my father amused for hours on end sitting in the sun.
Now he wants me to print more
Printed on: Prusa Mini+
Me and the kids love it!
Took a little bit of leg work on my part to get it all setup correctly, but now it works great!
Printed on: Ender 5 Plus
Filaments used: Hatchbox PLA
Good product
Bought. Printed. Assembled. And marbled. Fantastic print.
Printed on: Prusa MK3S+
Filaments used: PLA
Nice project :)
Printed on: Cr10 v3
Filaments used: Eone pla+
Great little print
Printed well nice machine
123
3D File Tracks for Marble Sports Racing System - Modular Marble Race Track
Heroscape Stone Bridge System, Miniature Games, Scale Model, Modular Bridge, Diorama Decoration, Loose Relief, RPG, RPG
5.13 €
Basic set "HEX"
6.
15 €
Studded Corner Tracks for Marble Sports Racing System - Modular Marble Race Track - STEM Toy
€10.25
Straight tracks for marble sports racing system - modular marble racing track - STEM toy
6.15 €
Curbs for the Marble Sports racing system - a modular toy in the form of a marble racing track
4,10 €
Marble Sports Racing System Announcer Stand - Modular Marble Race Track - STEM 9 Toy0004
4.10 €
Forest set - "HEX" tiles for a highly detailed 3D game board.
€13.33
GRAVEYARD SET - "HEXAGONAL" TILES FOR A HIGHLY DETAILED 3D PLAYBOARD.
€15.38
Best 3D printer files in Game category
Bicycle Guzi armed
€3.
20
Lockheed T-33A Shooting Star
1 €
Western European Fortress - Age of Empires...
9.99 €
Legend of Zelda - Windwaker Master Sword
Free
Multi-Color Kobayashi Fidget Cube
Free
Fey Goddess - Tabletop Miniature
Free
Deactivated
KRUSTY SURPRISE BOX
1,25 €
Bestsellers in the Game category
SPACE GNOME SQUAD
6.15 €
Octopus 2.0
4.09 €
Fighting director
1.
54 €
Articulated dragon
4.09 €
Lazy Cat
4.09 €
Vodfolk Explorer
10.25 €
Articulated tarantula
4.09 €
Cute flexi unicorn
1.05 €
Champion Alteira
5.13 €
USS EnterSurprise - printable game container for tiny F14 jet fighters
4.09 €
Short-range artillery for legionnaires
10 €
Heavy Imperial Fire Support Weapon [Preliminary Support]
5 €
Flying unicorn
1.05 €
Space Dwarf All - terrain vehicle
16.
41 €
Dancing Skeleton
3.59 €
Bicycle
1.40 €
Do you want to support Cults?
Do you like Cults and want to help us continue our journey on our own ? Please note that we are a small team of 3 people, so supporting us in maintaining activities and creating future developments is very easy. Here are 4 solutions available to everyone:
-
AD: Disable your AdBlock banner blocker and click on our banner ads.
-
AFFILIATION: Shop online with our affiliate links here Amazon.
-
DONATIONS: If you want, you can donate via PayPal here.
-
* INVITE FRIENDS: * Invite your friends, discover the platform and great 3D files shared by the community!
Marble dust 3D printing
Archive
Subscribe author
Subscribe
Don't want
Marble has been widely used as a building material since time immemorial.
Today, the disposal of industrial waste from this production, namely marble dust, is one of the most serious problems in the world. During the cutting process, about 25% of the original mass of marble turns into fine dust, and the accumulation of this dust leads to environmental pollution, and can also become a serious problem for agriculture and health.
3D Marble-Eco Design was born in the heart of the marble quarries in Careno Ausonio, northern Lazio in Italy, with the aim of preserving the mass industrial production of marble.
“Our goal is to reuse the waste generated from the marble production process. Sludge and waste is an inevitable consequence of the production system, and the disposal of marble dust is a very complex and expensive process. But we found that if it is mixed with special resins and catalyzed with ultraviolet rays, then the waste can be turned into a high-quality and almost ideal material for 3D printing. Its applications are almost limitless: in architecture, design, art and up to industrial use.
In addition, this technology will make it possible to turn ideas into real and environmentally friendly projects.”
The marble dust obtained from the industrial area of Careno Ausonio has an average density of 2.7015 g/cm3 and consists entirely of CaCO3 (calcium carbonate). Analysis based on scanning electron microscopy has shown that the particle size of this dust varies from a few tenths of a nanometer (nm) to 150 microns. 3D Marble-Eco Design blends this dust with light-sensitive polymers to create a new material for 3D printing.
3D Marble-Eco Design has developed a custom 3D printer that is essentially a new 3D printer hybrid using light curing technology. 3D Marble-Eco Design employees said: “Specially to improve the quality of printing, we found several technical solutions: special mechanical joints were used that allow us to achieve a step accuracy of up to ~ 0.5 microns along each of the three axes of movement (53 microns per ten steps) . The extruder nozzle has a diameter of 0.
15 mm, so the droplets are formed with a size of 0.16 mm. The final version of the printer has incorporated a lot of improvements and now the marble-resin mixture instantly "freezes" under the rays of light, which makes it possible to produce objects of very high quality.
This project focuses on research into the recycling of marble dust and the main benefits of 3D printing technology. This approach helps conserve natural resources and protect the environment.
You can watch a video from 3D Marble-Eco Design about the project
Article prepared for 3DToday.ru
0037
6
Subscribe to the author
Subscribe
Don't want
One of the latest developments in 3D printing devices has been the advent of extruders.
