Tubular - The Parametric Shelf Marble Run

🌀 Tubular - The Parametric IVAR & Hose Marble Run

Turn boring shelf space into an interactive physics playground! Tubular is a modular marble run system that uses affordable, transparent PVC hose from the hardware store and clever 3D-printed clips to transform your shelving unit (optimized for IKEA IVAR) into a wild track.

From gentle curves and spiral corkscrews to action-packed loops – there are no limits for kids and kids at heart. Who can build the fastest track? Who can keep the marble rolling inside the tube for the longest time?

✨ System Highlights:

• 100% Parametric: Don't have an IVAR shelf or using a different hose size? No problem! The Fusion 360 files are fully parametric. You can adjust the board thickness, hose diameter, and ball size directly in your browser on MakerWorld using the customizer sliders, or open the .f3d file yourself.
• Almost 100% Support-Free: Except for the starting funnel (Ballrun_start) and the horizontal connector clip (Horizontal_connector_Clip), all parts are engineered to print without any support structures. This saves you time, filament, and post-processing!
• Modular & Endless Expansion: Need more curves? Just buy another meter of hose, print a few more clips, and keep expanding.

📦 Print Plates (Thematically Organized):

1. Starter Kit: Contains the starting funnel, the end plug, and 2 basic shelf clips.
2. Connectors: For joining different hose segments together (includes a regular version and a version for optional hose clamps).
3. Clips & Holders: All the standard horizontal and vertical clips to secure the track to your shelf.
4. Looping Module: The specialized clip for the ultimate action element.
5. All-in-One Platter: Every single component layout on a single print bed.

🛠️ Technical Details (Default Setup):

• Optimized for: IKEA IVAR shelves (18 mm board thickness).
• Hose Dimensions: PVC hose with 20 mm outer diameter and 16 mm inner diameter.
• Marbles: 10 mm diameter.
• 💡 Pro Tip for Customizing: If you scale the model parametrically, I recommend keeping the hose diameter slightly larger than the board thickness to ensure the smoothed geometric transitions look perfect.
• ⚠️ Bending Note: Keep in mind that PVC hoses slightly deform and constrict in tight curves (the inner diameter shrinks). Choose your marble size accordingly or pick a hose with a larger inner diameter if you plan wild curves.

💡 Assembly Advice:

Cut the hose into handy 1 to 2-meter pieces and join them using the printed connector elements instead of installing a single 10-meter hose. This massively reduces the mechanical tension within the hose, makes the system way more stable, and allows for much faster reconfigurations!

🙌 Show Me Your Tracks!

I would love to see photos and videos of your wildest setups in the comments! If you have ideas for new action modules, let me know.

Have fun designing, printing, and rolling!