Magnetic Marble Run

Featuring funnels, hypnotic wheels, flip-flops, and waves, these marble run pieces allow for endless creativity on a fridge, white board, or other magnetic surface. After publishing the motorized magnetic marble lift that uses the marble run 003 hardware parts, I've been in pursuit of compatible marble run pieces that would allow the lift to run unattended for several minutes without dropping marbles. These parts fill that requirement with higher side walls and carefully constrained marble paths, while still being compatible with the marvelous magnetic marble run by user waveman and the MEGA PACK (requires modified base pin) by user Trinkify3d.

All you need to get started is ½" magnetic tape ($5 online) and some 14-16mm marbles. I recommend applying a thin coating of rubber cement (or plasti-dip) to the back of the magnets to keep pieces from sliding around. This step is critical on fridges and whiteboards.

Update 01Jan2025: Print profiles have been added for parts that use 10x2mm magnets instead of the magnetic sticker tape. Rubber cement is still strongly recommended for adding grip to the back of pieces. 

A list of included pieces:

The Vortex

This funnel uses a gravity-well curve to spin marbles faster as they fall

The Elipsoid
Marbles spin slower as they get closer to the center

The Wheel

Drop marbles from the top or the sides

The Flip-Flop

Split the flow of marbles equally into two paths

The Wave

Slow down marbles with a longer path

The Curve

Turn vertical speed into horizontal speed

The Drop

Stop marbles before dropping to the next level

The Reinforcement

Add grip to pieces that might slide around, especially behind drops and beneath pieces that will have marbles dropping straight down onto them

The Straight

The most basic of marble run pieces. Comes in multiple sizes.