Water Mill Marble Run by Structales - Roadrunner4d

Structales - Roadrunner4d

Toys & Games>Construction Sets

IP Report

GIF

Print Profile(6)

All

A1 mini

P1S

P1P

X1 Carbon

X1E

V1 Old profile - No Supports, 0.2mm and 0.12mm small parts

Designer

24.8 h

6 plates

4.9(28)

V2 A1 Mini profile, with the new parts.

Designer

25.1 h

7 plates

4.8(35)

V2 print profile with easier handling, tweaked tolerances

Designer

26.2 h

6 plates

4.6(30)

Motorized Addon for Watermill - 0.12mm layer

Designer

3.5 h

1 plate

5.0(3)

Click to see more

Open in Bambu Studio

Boost

2625

4754

316

502

3.2 k

811

Released

Description

Water Mill Marble Run – Rollercoaster-Inspired Fun

This 3D printable marble run brings the charm of a water mill to life, using 8mm steel marbles and a hand-operated crank to transport the marbles to the top of the track. Crafted with a combination of wood and steel textures, the design blends rustic elegance with industrial style.

Assembling the gears and tracks is an engaging hands-on experience, allowing you to bring the intricate mechanical system to life. Each piece sticks together, to get a smooth track. Whether you're a fan of engineering or just looking for a creative project, this marble run is a fun and rewarding build.

Hand Mode:

Motormode:

Check out the rough assembly guide video and the more detailed pdf.

Every track has a small number printed on top in the middle, where the to rails connect. Check the end of the video to see it‘s positions.
Try to stick every track completely into the connectors.
You can turn the tracks inside the connecters some degrees, to adjust and tweak the tracks quite a bit if the marble doesn‘t run smoothly, falls out the track, stops or crashes other rails.
Glue: the bearings / the handle stopper / the buildings to the base (after assembly)
You need 8mm diameter Steelballs

And here as a link: https://youtube.com/shorts/zj-U_POdYJE

There are 3d printed bearings included. Use 0.12mm and arachne walls for them.
The big wooden structure maybee needs a bit of postwork with unclean overhangs, but it should be easy and fast fix.
No Supports needed
No AMS needed
You need to have 8mm diameter steelballs

Boost Me (for free)

Help me make more free models with your free boost

Motorized Version

Also attached is the PrintProfile with all the necessary parts for the motorized version. The Assembly Guide first walks you through building the manual version and then shows you how to easily convert it into the motorized version in just a few steps.

You’ll need a few additional maker’s supply parts for this:

N20 Motor (150 RPM)
Power Distribution Board
Button Switch

You need to glue the big wooden parts of the motorhouse to the motorholder, if you want it to be stable to transport the marble run.

Aside from these components and the 3D-printed parts, no other materials are required—no screws, extra cables, or soldering needed.

Documentation (2)

Assembly Guide (2)

Motor Kit Water Mill Marble Run - Assembly Instructions V1.pdf

Water Mill Marble Run - Assembly Instructions V3.pdf

Bill of Materials

Maker’s Supply Kits and Parts

10PCS 8mm Stainless Steel Balls - FA005

B-FA005

2.08 USD

× 1

Power Distribution Board (PDB) - 4 Channels (1PCS) - IA005

B-IA005

5.29 USD

× 1

Self-Locking Button Switch with SH1.0 Connector (2PCS) - IA006

B-IA006

2.29 USD

× 1

N20 Reduction Gear Motor 150rpm (1PCS) - LA002

B-LA002

6.99 USD

× 1

Buy Now

Download BOM

Comment & Rating (316)

@ekardt

Boosted

Print Profile

V1 Old profile - No Supports, 0.2mm and 0.12mm small parts

quality and detail is incredible, but required alot of troubleshooting, sanding, filing, reprinting parts that snapped, and quite a bit of glue. but it turned out amazing!

@Daniel4d

Thanks for the feedback! For my Model, it was easy to put it togheter. Its a beautiful fix tough. But it should have enough space there at the edge. I'm gonna check later, if I maybe put the wrong lenght track at the fall module. I hope, it made fun though!

@Daniel4d

Replying to @Daniel4d :

just checked, the documentation is correct. But maybe I should have planed it a bit longer there

@ekardt

Boosted

I had to trim some of the support brackets and cut them down as many of them were too long and pushing the track so high that gravity wouldn't allow the marbles to roll down. maybe it's a fit and finish issue cause I printed most of mine with standard walls rather than Arachne. it all worked out in the end!

@JimmyFallin

Boosted

Got everything working except the step #3 on the pdf file part #2 my 8mm ball bearings keep coming off on the exit of that tight loop exit and can't seem to work it out with leveling the pieces by twisting the connectors. Seems the bank on part #2 needs extenstion to the end of the turn. I love the marble run and will try printing another possibly getting this section to work in round two. I'm attaching two photos one with a line pointing to the area I'm having 8 mm ball bearings fall off the track. Thank you for any help, Jimmy Fallin

The designer has replied

@Daniel4d

Will look into it, when I next tweak the pieces. thanks for the detailed feedback

@Saarsy

Replying to @Daniel4d :

happening to me too

@JimmyFallin

Boosted

Replying to @Daniel4d :

Thank you Roadrunner4d, I need to learn autocad. I got in tinkercad and made my version and am about to try it out.

@shribr

Boosted

I can’t seem to correctly print out this part. it fails at the very end doesn’t complete the top portion.

@shribr

Boosted

I am using the Bambu A1 mini

@shribr

Boosted

I tried printing the part 3x and each time the piece toppled over with about 8 minutes left. It appears that the plastic is cooling off too quickly on the bottom and is not staying secured to the platform. Also, the fact that the piece is slightly too-heavy doesn’t help either. update: I increased the brim and it’s all good.

(Edited)

@Ruby_Prints

Boosted

I had the same issue with that part. I ended up adding a brim to just that part in Bambu Studio & it worked great.

@user_2133166503

Any advice for putting the worm gear on to the long hex shaft. It keeps getting stuck. I tried brute force with a hammer and a chunk of wood. Tried lubricant; WD-40, White lithium grease. No luck.

The designer has replied

@Daniel4d

probably too tight for your filament or settings... You could try two things, print the hex shaft a little bit smaller. Or the Wormgear a bit bigger. I have one filament, where I need to but alot of force there, and one, where it is a bit too loose. Hope that works

@user_2133166503

Replying to @Daniel4d :

Compromise... I'll keep you posted.

@Daniel4d

Replying to @user_2133166503 :

:) it's not meant to print in this direction. You could actually also scale down the hex shaft in the Y-direction by 50% and print it two times.. so you can add them from both sides.

@sardin

Boosted

Print Profile

V2 print profile with easier handling, tweaked tolerances

great design had problems with the plastic bearings so i made a little change to allow the use of 608zz bearings will upload a profile with your permission. photos added of my changes.

@Daniel4d

very nice

@Daniel4d

It would be great to have your profile with just the necessary parts to use the bearrings and not with all the rest. In that case, an update can be handles more easy...

@sardin

Boosted

Replying to @Daniel4d :

sure I can add the profile with just the parts needed for bearings

@Felix_Stabil

Boosted

Print Profile

V2 print profile with easier handling, tweaked tolerances

It's a fantastic Model, putting the pieces together needs a bit of concentration but if you follow the instructions it is pretty easy. The only downside is, that the ball bearings are pretty bad, they often just get stuck. apart from that you can just turn the water wheel manually to bring the marbles to the top. A motorized Version of the model would be awesome

@Daniel4d

thank you for the feedback, did you try to lube the bearrings? Maybe som WD40.

@Felix_Stabil

Boosted

yes, the bearing "balls" turn on their side and block the rest from turning. :(

@matty2112

At least your bearings printed! I've tried 3x and it blows up in the middle of the print and I end up with parts everywhere. I've got a clean PEI build plate and all of the other parts printed fine.

@lacaveauchat

Wonderfull model with nice textures all around! Everything printed perfect but I've an issue with the bearings. It looks like the little 'balls' rotate in the track and end up sideways with the head pointing into the track, blocking the bearing. Any idea of what I'm doing wrong? I guess the little strand of filament that's present when printing is supposed to break off when using them? Anyway thanks for the model!

The designer has replied

@Daniel4d

Hmm interesting. Maybe try not to cut of the little string. It should work, but not as good, but I think that wouldn't matter here. I did find the idea and parts of the model here. Maye you find a solution here : https://makerworld.com/en/models/34145#profileId-307927

@lacaveauchat

Replying to @Daniel4d :

Thanks for that quick answer! I tried not cutting it but it kinds of break automatically when turning the center part. Thanks for the link I'll check that out and will figure things out. I'll come back with the finished make!

@chenai

I replaced the 608ZZ bearings, a somewhat arduous task, yet now it spins smoothly

Show original

@user_801193834

Boosted

Print Profile

V2 print profile with easier handling, tweaked tolerances

printed really well Took a lot of putting together some supports had to be shortened But overall this model is really good 👍

@Daniel4d

Looks exactly as mine :) nice. I will look into the supports in the next iteration.

@user_801193834

Boosted

Replying to @Daniel4d :

I'm really pleased with it Must admit it was a challenge putting it together But enjoyed every minute of it 😀

@chenai

A truly delightful model, well worth acquiring; an electric version would be even better

The designer has replied

Show original

@Daniel4d

Thank you. I' will look into the electric version, as soon as I get the long waited parts for that :)

@chenai

Replying to @Daniel4d :

Thank you

Show original

@Pinki

Print Profile

V2 print profile with easier handling, tweaked tolerances

This is a lovely and well-refined design I had some trouble correctly setting up some tracks and had to trim one but everything worked perfectly after minor adjustments I added extra securing pins to prevent them from falling out and I’m not sure if the snail house inside needed to be glued to prevent it from coming out from under the gear because that happened to me during operation so I made bushings and the problem is solved

Show original

@Daniel4d

Ahh, thanks for the feedback, I really like the vibrant color. Good you mention it, with my filament the gear was always in place, so I thought friction is enough. And if there is a problem, some glue would help, but your solution is way better. I will consider this next time.

@Pinki

Replying to @Daniel4d :

I didn't glue this snail together because if anything breaks, everything can be disassembled, so I added these bushings ;)

Show original

License

This user content is licensed under a Standard Digital File License.

You shall not share, sub-license, sell, rent, host, transfer, or distribute in any way the digital or 3D printed versions of this object, nor any other derivative work of this object in its digital or physical format (including - but not limited to - remixes of this object, and hosting on other digital platforms). The objects may not be used without permission in any way whatsoever in which you charge money, or collect fees.

Get Commercial License