The Marble Machine Solar Powered

Jul 21 2015 explore the world of electronics with make.

The marble machine solar powered.

Our solarengine circuit stores the light from the solar cell and releases it in an occasional pulse that drives the mechanics. The circuit takes the light from the solar cell stores it and releases it in a pulse making the gear wheel move which eventually drops the marble down the spiral. The solar version pulse moves the elegant hand off mechanism that passes marbles to the top of a sweeping multi level track. It s solar powered stop action motion.

This is the solar cousin of the battery pack marble machine both originally designed by martin raynsford no batteries no springs just marble motion from the ambient light. The solarengine circuit turns normally unusable room light into pulses of power that moves metal marbles to the top of a rolling spiral. One of the projects featured there was the marble machine something we really thought was a cool project and so we worked with him to bring you the solarbotics edition solar powered. The wintergartan marble machine works by sending thousands of steel marbles around a circuit albeit an enormously complex one.

You will need a soldering iron philips 1 screwdriver and a tiny bit of glue. Intermediate skill level ages 12. The solarbotics marble machine kit solar edition. The kit contains all the parts to build your own mini marble machine except for tools.

In sunlight the motor will pulse every few seconds and drop a ball every minute. Solarbotics have added a solar cell with a smart circuit to this clever marble machine. The wooden parts come in handy panels with additional instructions. Solarbotics solar gravitrack marble machine kit is their newest addition to the marble drop mechanism family.

The more light it gets the more often it moves. You will witness the fascinating step by step action of the arms as the geometry changes periodically. Easy to build with engraved building notes solar powered or hand crank operation. As molin turns a crank the marbles begin to roll down chutes.