Introducing the Marble Run Stepped Hoist, the
second in a series of Ugears modular marble runs. This fun and fascinating
wooden marble run features an ingenious 3-stepped alternating lift mechanism and
a set of new features to hold your attention as you watch the marbles make their
cyclical journey. Multiple tracks and elements are packed into a compact space
in this DIY marble run.
The model has a 3-stage alternating lift that
hands the marbles back and forth as they climb to the top to embark on their
amusement park adventures. Which marble will take which track, and which will
make it down first? The Marble Run Stepped Hoist features a 3-marble accumulator
in which the third ball opens the gates for the trapped first and second
marbles, sending all three along their divergent paths. There are three tracks:
the first consists of a 2-marble accumulator and serpentine run, the second is a
hammer swing inside a C-shaped cradle, and the third has a whirlpool or funnel.
All marbles eventually pass through the collection tray and into the seesaw
lift. A rocker switch mechanism either sends the marbles back along the return
track to the 3-stepped lift, or (and this is where it gets really exciting!)
into another attached Ugears marble run.
We have designed the Ugears line
of marble runs to be modular, that is, each model works as a standalone, or it
can be connected frontally or laterally to other Ugears marble runs of the same
or different design (2 or 4 models can be connected, in pairs, using the special
connectors included in the kit). The rocker mechanism at the end of the run can
send marbles in one direction or the other, or in both directions (depending on
the attached weight), returning marbles to the original hoist or sending them to
a different marble run. With adjoining marble runs you now have an amazing,
complex system of interconnected elements, all powered by a single crank. It's
like a miniature amusement park! Keep an eye on your favorite marble—who knows
where it will end up, when it will return to its starting point, or what rides
it will take along the way!
The Ugears Marble Run Stepped Hoist is an
exciting combination of art and engineering. It is both a beautiful kinetic
sculpture and an intricate toy that teaches as it entertains. As you build this
ingenious wooden marble run, you will learn about the interplay of drive gears
and driven gears and the function of counterweights. Turn the crank handle
clockwise to set the machine in motion, and prepare to be mesmerized as the
alternating stepped ladder collects, lifts, and passes the marbles back and
forth until they reach the top of the machine to start their runs. Ugears marble
runs are strong. Rigidity in the structure is achieved through a strong base and
tightened frame parts. A muscular gear drive delivers power to both lifts: the
main 3-stepped alternating lift and the auxiliary seesaw lift.
Experience
the satisfaction of building your own intriguing, 3D puzzle / kinetic sculpture
/ marble run from Ugears. Everything you need for this fun DIY project comes
right in the box, including pre-cut wooden boards, 10 marbles, plus wax and
sandpaper (for optimal gear function). Each Ugears model kit, 3D puzzle, or
brain teaser comes with a set of detailed, illustrated instructions in 11
languages. The Marble Run Stepped Hoist has 355 pieces, is rated "Advanced"
level, and has an estimated assembly time of 8 hours. If you break a piece
during construction, don't panic! Ugears models each come with a few spare
parts included. If it's a unique piece that's damaged or broken, just contact
our customer service and we'll gladly send you a replacement part, free of
charge.
You and your family will have hours of fun constructing this DIY
kit together, without need of glue or special tools. And with Ugears, the fun
doesn't stop with the build. When you build a Ugears marble run the fun is just
beginning! You, your family and friends will have hours of enjoyment watching
this ingenious machine send marbles through a serpentine course, swirling down a
funnel, or flipping upside down in a hammer swing. Like all our models, brain
teasers, and 3D puzzles, the Ugears Marble Run Stepped Hoist is a beautiful
standalone, or it can form part of a growing collection of marble runs or other
elegant, functional wooden mechanical models.
Model size: 11.6*10.6*10.8
in (29.5*27*27.5 cm) Package size: 14.9*6.7*1.3 in (37.8*17*3.4 cm)
Number of components: 355 Estimated time for assembly: 8 hours
;)