Maker Faire Bay Area 2024
3D-Printed Electric Marble Mazes
Home: California, United States
We are exhibiting a variety of innovative, fun, engaging battery-powered 3D-printed marble machines. Each model is 3D printed using PLA plastic on consumer FDM printers. This takes anywhere from six to fifteen hours, depending on each model's size and complexity. A model is made from two to seven PLA parts, which are inspected and cleaned of any residual plastic that's a byproduct of the printing process. (None of the models require support material, which simplifies the cleaning process). Once the PLA parts are prepared they, along with the electric parts are assembled into complete models. There's no painting — the plastic is the color it appears. The models are designed in Blender. They use a variety of different mechanisms to lift the marbles.
https://www.gualalagadget.com
Maker
Gualala Gadget
We conceive, design and print innovative 3D-printed kinetic gadgets such as marble mazes, clocks and curiosities. We love to share these at Maker Faires, bringing delight to adults and children alike.
https://www.gualalagadget.comWhat Inspired You to Make This?
The inspiration for Gualala Gadget came when our master gadget-maker, Jim, was exploring the complexities of 3D printing. Jim noticed that most of the things that are 3D-printed these days, while fascinating and very creative, are static objects with no movement at all, like action figures. So Jim decided to create a 3D-printed object that incorporated movement and started devising his first marble machine. After many months of trial and error, tweaking and changing, he had his first Gualala Gadget working perfectly. Jim has found the process of gadget-designing so enjoyable, he can't seem to stop himself from creating new gadgets. And in the process, Jim has managed to push the limits of 3D printing.
