Marble Run With Conveyors !!!

I made this marble run using cardboard and some parts from an RC car. I built it because I was bored and wanted to make something interesting and satisfying to watch. The major part of the build uses cardboard which i got from old boxes. The best part is the conveyor belt I made using the RC car parts and stepper motors—it lifts the marbles back to the top so they can keep rolling over in an endless loop. It was nice to make it but more satisfying to watch it.

A link to the short is attached here: https://youtube.com/shorts/ZoczOhdAfrM?si=gRGzkwoizYcVPUL6

The tools required are -

1. Scissors
2. Cutter

The supplies needed are-

1. Old boxes for cardboard
2. Glue
3. Cloth
4. Paper
5. Wheels
6. Arduino
7. Stepper Motor or any other geared motor

Take a old cardboard box with dimensions suited as per you requirement , I have taken one with 50cm x 50 cm.

Cut the flaps of the box, this gives an unobstructed view and these pieces will be further used to make the chutes for the carbles to travel.

Using scissors or a cutter, cut the flaps into long strips of width 3.5cm , to make the borders cut strips of width 1.5cm and glue them to form a U-shape. Ensure that the borders are not too high as they may obstruct the view.

Make the base with two rectangles of 12.5cm x 35cm. Make a hole at the lower end to accomodate your motor, ensure that the diameter and width of the drive and tail wheel is same. My conveyors had a width of 3.5cm.

Attach a long cardboard piece for extra strength and this ensures the belt and marble don't slip.

I used a piece of cloth and cut it into strips of 3 cm . I joined them using thread and needle and taped them to provide extra strength.

After this, attach small pieces of cardboard with glue at intervals of 7 cm to ensure the marbles don't slip.

I made a backboard and attached paper strips to ensure the marbles don't roll off the conveyor when the cardboard pieces aren't there.

I designed the runs on the go, but they can be customized according to your wishes. The total length of the runs is nearly 2 meters.

I used an arduino mega and 2 stepper motors however these can be changed according to lenth and load.