Not specified here is tools and equipment available. Some conceptually simple ideas not suitable to being built in short time with hand tools. http://3dprintingindustry.com/2013/04/02/marblevator-3d-print-your-own-marb= le-elevator/ Variations on the reciprocating stairstep design are possible. Could be relatively easy/quick to produce if you have access to laser cutter or largish CNC mill/router. Many other interesting ideas, various levels of practicality given your time constraints.... http://woodgears.ca/marbles/paul.html Personally fond of this one, but time and tools may make it impractical. http://woodgears.ca/reader/walters/marble_machine.html Vertical bucket conveyor is probably "simple enough". One quick and dirty idea- hardware store "V" belt and pulleys, drill holes in the belt and use small screws to mount "buckets". If you're already at the hardware store, hit the plumbing isle for some "buckets" (pipe caps?, cuts of pipe with the end squished?)... Qualifies as "belt abuse" but given the low loads and speeds... Good luck, -Denny On Wed, Dec 4, 2013 at 7:28 AM, RussellMc wrote: > Question: My mission, should I accept it, is to design & build a marble > lift by lunchtime. > Comments and ideas welcome. > See below. > _________ > > As part of a (stunningly impressive) Christmas related display I have bee= n > given the task of making a "marble lift" to take plastic marbles from the > exit of a ball fall system and return them to the top. > I was given this task "if I wanted it" at about 1am. > I'ts 3am Thursday . > I am about to go to sleep. > This needs to be working by midday Thursday OR at least by that stage > certain to work. > Display opens friday. > If I pass the magic set builder man will probably come up with something > that works in no time flat. > Maybe not. > > Marbles, plastic, lighter and smaller than std glass marbles. Can measure > but should not be needed. > Vertical lift ~=3D 2 metres. > > _______________ > > Have windscreen wiper motor with reciprocating action and also with rotar= y > at 45 and 60 rpm. > > Can have air from 12v COMPRESSOR OR MAINS COMPRESSOR. > cAN DO AIR SOLENOIDS BUT TIME LIMITED FOR PLAYING. > > Can do motors, solenoids, maybe flickers, blowers, lifts ... ? > > ______________ > > Balls may ascend in batches or in 1's. Rate of ball flow said not to be > very critical but I suspect having N balls in play at once is desirable s= o > ascent flow rate ~ >=3D descent probably. > > Space limited if possible. ie a wheel or sloped conveyer not desirable. > > Extra points if ascent is visible and impressive in its own right. > > > ___________ > > Note" Archimedes screw does not work as most people think it does - it mu= st > be inclined and there are always "buckets" within the screw that hold flu= id > even when stopped. > So a vertical screw is not suited to archimedes screw use. Not really > enough room here for inclined screw. Probably. COULD angle across front o= f > multi shelf ball fall on outside inside clear tube. > > - Solenoid flicker - use more energy than needed and a deflector plate a= t > top. > > - Motor turns and winds up then releases a spring lever to flick ball. > > - Air blow - batch or single. > > - Vacuum > > - Angled bristles against a shark tooth plate (sawtooth wave shape - > bristles move up and down and balls catch in sawtooth to give mainly > upwards flow. > Some version of this may work well and be "not to hard". > > - Buckets on endless loop. > > - Bucket with direction change. > > - Most certain: > > Length of wood (say) is reciprocated vertically. > There are 3 possible columns that balls may be in. > Channels in moving wood or in base plate can move balls between columns - > slight down slope. > > Inject ball at 1. > Column has 1->2 channel. Ball is in 2. > Ball thus cannot roll out again into 1 entry hole. > Move column vertical to 1st channel in base plate =3D 2->3. > Ball leaves column and enters base channel and rolls to 3. > Column descends and channel in column descends down to ball. > Channel is 3->1 . Ball enters column and rolls to 1. > Lift column - exist into 1->2 in base plate > ... > > Stroke >=3D vertical spacing of holes. > Determinate action. > > 3:27am. Sleep calls. > > > Russell > -- > http://www.piclist.com/techref/piclist PIC/SX FAQ & list archive > View/change your membership options at > http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist > --=20 http://www.piclist.com/techref/piclist PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist .