MAD Marble Machine 1 User manual

Marble Machine No 1 Motorised
Assembly Instructions
1

Marble Machine No 1 Motorised
Assembly Instructions
2
Wood glue (PVA or aliphatic resin recommended) and/or Cyanoacrylate (CA) glue
Clamps or weights, rubber bands
Sandpaper
Soldering iron, solder
Please note:
It is recommended that you apply varnish or sealer to the nished marble machine, especially if you live in areas with high humidity.
Polyurethane varnish is a good choice.
If you manage to drop some of the balls on the oor (inevitable!) then DO NOT be tempted to pick them up with a magnet. This can cause
the balls to become magnetised and they will then stick together which will impair the operation of the marble machine.
Before you start assembly it is a good idea to study the pictures in these instruction so you know how it goes together. You can dry
assemble the frame initially.
This kit contains small parts and is not suitable for small children without supervision.
Required for assembly:

Marble Machine No 1 Motorised
Assembly Instructions
3
Parts

Marble Machine No 1 Motorised
Assembly Instructions
4
You will need the pieces highlighted in red in the pictures. First you must sand the pips o󰀨 the cam wheels. Place them on the 3 mm rods and
use one of the 2 mm rod to hold them aligned so you can sand them pips o󰀨 in one go as pictured.
1.
2.
3.
Camshaft Assembly 1

Marble Machine No 1 Motorised
Assembly Instructions
5
Layer the cams and spacers with the application of wood glue between each part. The rod should protrude 15 mm from both ends as shown.
Use the supplied jigs and 2mm rods to ensure the cams are properly aligned on the 3mm axle. Use rubber bands to hold the assembly together
while the glue sets and make sure the jig is on a level surface.
1.
2.
3.
Camshaft Assembly 2
15 mm 15 mm

Marble Machine No 1 Motorised
Assembly Instructions
6
The parts can be glued together in one go and the parts held in place with rubber bands The bottom should not be glued but can be used to
hold parts aligned while the glue dries. The bottom is left loose for access to switch and batteries.
If you don’t want the text to be visible, simply turn the part so it face inwards. When viewed from the front the holes for the motor mount (circled
in red) should face left as shown in the picture below.
1.
2.
Base Assembly

Marble Machine No 1 Motorised
Assembly Instructions
7
Use glue sparingly – you don’t want a lot of glue to go inside the frame as this can interfere with the movement of the steps. Any excess glue can
be wiped o󰀨 with a damp rag.
1.
2. 3.
Frame Assembly 1
Glue the motor mount parts together and insert them into the tall upright. Insert them into the
base to hold them aligned and glue them to the base. Use the bottom of the base to check that
the upright is square.

Marble Machine No 1 Motorised
Assembly Instructions
8
Place 2 washers on each end of the camshaft and slide it in place between the frame ends. Before you glue the the right frame upright, t in place
and see if the are any gaps between the washer and the uprights (picture 3). If so go to the next page otherwise move on to ‘Track Supports’
1. 2. 3.
Frame Assembly 2

Marble Machine No 1 Motorised
Assembly Instructions
9
If you have a gap on the camshaft use the spacers highlighted in the picture to close the gap. If they need to be thinner sand as necessary. Place
as many of the spacers as you need after the washers to close the gap but make sure the camshaft still turns easily.
1.
2.
3.
Frame Assembly 2a ‘xing the gaps’

Marble Machine No 1 Motorised
Assembly Instructions
10
Now glue the right, front and rear frame pieces in place. The tabs/slot di󰀨er in size on the front and back frame pieces so you cannot attach them
the wrong way round. Hold the frame pieces together with rubber bands while the glue sets.
1.
2.
3. 4.
Frame Assembly 3

Marble Machine No 1 Motorised
Assembly Instructions
11
Glue the top, front and bottom track supports to the frame.
IMPORTANT the two supports at the top angle downwards
and the two at the bottom angle upwards (see pictures)
1.
2.
3.
Track Supports

Marble Machine No 1 Motorised
Assembly Instructions
12
Each step consists of two parts. One half of each step has a small line engraved on it. Make sure this line is on the outside as shown in the photo.
Apply wood glue sparingly and assemble each step using the 2 mm rods to ensure good alignment. Be careful you don’t get glue on the surfaces
that shouldn’t be joined! you can leave a slight gap between each step to prevent this.
1.
2.
3.
Steps Assembly 1

Marble Machine No 1 Motorised
Assembly Instructions
13
If you have a Dremel type tool with a small diameter sanding drum use that but be careful not to remove too much material from a step so it cannot
reach above the next step up. Place the steps in the frame from time to time and check that they match up. When a lower step is in its top position
it should still be a bit taller than the next step up so the ball will roll from step to step. If you accidentally sand o󰀨 too much then a piece of scrap
plywood can be glued to the bottom of the step and you can then proceed to sand the top until it aligns with the other steps.
1.
2.
3. 4. 5.
Steps Assembly 2

Marble Machine No 1 Motorised
Assembly Instructions
14
Next place the steps into the frame making sure the angle on each step angles down away from the smaller previous step. If the steps are too
loose in the frame glue a spacer step to one the steps, repeating as necessary to close the gap in the frame but make sure the steps are loose
enough to still move up and down.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Steps Assembly 3
Spacers

Marble Machine No 1 Motorised
Assembly Instructions
15
DO NOT remove the tracks from the retaining sheet at this stage. They should be left in place until the track joiners are glued in place.
The track spreaders should be mounted on the opposite side of the side with the “O” engraved so put the “O” face down when you glue the
spreaders on. Double check orientation before assembling the track so you don’t end up with a track the won’t t on the front of the lifter!
Remove the track spreaders from the sheet, use a sharp knife to cut the retaining tabs. Glue them to the tracks with wood glue. A fast way to do
this is to put a good sized blob of glue on a scrap piece of paper and then dip the spreaders in the glue before mounting them in the cut outs in the
track.
Track Assembly 1
1. 2. 3.

Marble Machine No 1 Motorised
Assembly Instructions
16
The track should be glued to the frame in two stages. If you use CA glue you can simply hold the parts in place while the glue sets. If using wood
glue you will need a scrap of MDF and some rubber bands to hold the track in place while the glue dries. Start by glueing the track to the lower
track support and the side support. Once dry you can glue the track to the upper track support.
Track Assembly 2
2. 4.1.
3.

Marble Machine No 1 Motorised
Assembly Instructions
17
The track should be glued to the frame in two stages. If you use CA glue you can simply hold the parts in place while the glue sets. If using wood
glue you will need to clamp the track in place while the glue dries. Start by glueing the track to the lower track support and the side support. Once
dry you can glue the track to the upper track support.
Track Assembly 2
5. 6.
7.

Marble Machine No 1 Motorised
Assembly Instructions
18
When the track is glued in place, sand the tops of the uprights at an angle so the balls run smoothly o󰀨 the steps and onto the steps.
Track Assembly 3
1.
2.

Marble Machine No 1 Motorised
Assembly Instructions
19
Push the gear-motor into the frame so it sits ush with the frame. Glue gear and doubler together and slide onto the motor axle.
Attach Gears & Motor 1
1. 2.

Marble Machine No 1 Motorised
Assembly Instructions
20
Place a washer on the protruding crankshaft.
Fit the gear and doubler onto the motor shaft
and camshaft. A tiny drop of glue between the
gear and doubler will su󰀩ce to keep the gear in
place on the shaft.
Take care not to get glue into the bearing
hole.
Attach Gears & Motor 2
1. 2.
3.
4.
This goes on
the motor