Mechanically Multiplexed Marble Selector (Electromagnetic) - Marble Clock Seconds Display Pt.2 

If there’s one thing RU-vid has taught us, it’s that you can’t just make a marble machine and expect it to work. It’s a lifetime commitment.

Came for the marble clock, stayed for Ivan's slow descent into madness

That troubleshooting at the end really really made me feel good about the "Everything was working, now nothing is" feeling I get with most of my projects haha

I love that this project embodies the idea of "Make, Fail, Repeat". Love to see the rapid iterations!

I'm getting dangerously close to building this.

So what I'm wondering... What's the difference between the diameter of the black balls and the diameter of the chrome balls, and how much rougher are they after they have been treated?

I couldn’t care less about a marble-based clock. But I’m riveted to these videos because I learn so much about the challenges of design and manufacturing. I have a whole new level of appreciation for it. And the designer!

I'm confused why you are cycling all the marbles at the same time and not just the ones that need to change the color

between this guy, and wintergarten, i've learned where the expression "losing your marbles" comes from

"After uploading the last video about the marble clock that can update every second, I realized that I didn't explain how it works" * proceeds to not explain how it works * 😂🤦‍♂

You need a magnetic floor sweeper. It's basically a magnetic bar with wheels on the ends, and a long handle in the center you can use to push it around like a broom. Your back will thank you. Though you might also need to demagnetize the marbles after picking them up.

You should use V-channels. The marbles will run much more reliably than on flat channels. On flat channels, the marbles tend to spin while rolling.

Sad to see another talented youtuber succumb to the curse of the marble machines. RIP Wintergatan, and now RIP Ivan. :)

6:00 I don’t know why but something about that company seems so wholesome and good like if I needed a PCB prototype for some reason I would buy it from them

This all seems very unnecessary as I notice you have a watch.

It seems like marble machines are really the 'final boss' of engineering lol, great video!

I'm starting to get some MMX vibes with this "seconds display" - it's complex, requires precise adjustment, and may never be completely reliable. It may make sense to think about a redesign. Here's a rough description of where I would start. Consider having two marble layers at the face. The front of the display is A (current) and then B (next digit) is staged while the display is static. Until the swap, layer A is retained by a frame that positively locks it into place, and layer B is resting against layer A. To eject layer A, an actuator would shift the frame (up/down/sideways, doesn't really matter) which would have a track shape that would forcibly eject layer A, while simultaneously shifting layer B forward partway, trapping it in place. The return stroke of the frame would then shift layer B the rest of the way in, locking it into place at the front of the frame. Effectively the mechanism would "step" the marbles forward in a controlled manner by moving part of the frame. Depending on the angles and friction, it would also be possible to use two actuators and two frame pieces to make it more robust. I haven't quite worked out the ideal geometry for the single actuator case (it's theoretically simpler) but the geometry is also trickier.

I'm so confused why you just don't raise the machine and have the marbles fall back into the bucket? lol

was just thinking about your saga! Can't wait to see more!

Ivan, I owe you a huge thanks. The orchestral song you played at the start of the video, I heard about 6 years ago. I loved it but I was never able to find it, until today. So thank you lol. Cool machine btw :D

So many things to love about you but the best must be how you demonstrate the super power of PERSISTENCE! Most outcomes are driven by skill and luck but persistence brings ever more of both.

I'm so glad I happened across this project. It's maddening, and when I have to make a thing at work that is a one off to fix a problem that doesn't occur in nature, I feel less alone in the land of solving an improbable puzzle.

The whole thing can possibly be a bit simplified using the fact that you Do not have to replace all marbles every second. It is enough to replace those that need to change color. That itself will only reduce the number of marbels used. The big advantage comes, by loading alternating marbels into the feeding channel: You no longer need two separate feeding channels (black and white) plus you also no longer need a marble selector! That 1) saves room and material (half the feeding channels) 2) requires half the solanoids (no more marble selection, just the release) 3) uses fewer marbles (less of a mess, more time to reload) Hope this helps!

yesssss! part 2!!!! Love your videos!

An electrical solution to the solenoid heating problem would be much easier to implement. Solenoids can be held-in with a fraction of the current required for the initial pull-in, there are many ways to accomplish this. The power dissipation can be dramatically reduced, with no performance sacrifice.

I wonder if the sudden issues are caused by introducing black marbles. It looks like the acid-finished surface of the black marbles is way rougher than the chromed ones, which probably introduces a lot of friction that wasn't there when you were testing with only chromed marbles.

I got to say. Learning about how this clock comes together while pissing my pants laughing is a great way to pass the time (pun intended). Your video presentation is first class.

11:04 Ivan: Why is no work? The Marble Clock: I gotta poop

Just remember, lots of us could badly model something in fusion360. But it takes a brilliant and experienced person to even attempt such a complex project. Take as many videos as you need to make it happen, it's all part of the learning process.

Your resilience to “failures” is inspirational. Like Edison and the lightbulb 😅. Can’t wait for next video, thank you !

I'ts yeeears since i watch your videos, and one thing I can say is "How patient you are !!!" Thanks for your teaching, always with the smile 😁

On the earlier video, I thought "why not load the digit patterns on a constrained track?" - no sorting required. But love the overengineering of this misadventure

Portrait of a man losing his marbles... but he's still brilliant enough to know where they all are at any given moment.

I cannot understand why I find this project the most interesting thing since sliced bread. I can't look away!

2-colored magnetic marbles. Electromagnets behind. Switch polarity, if needed, every second. No lost marbles. A marble fountain behind for assurance.

You could also use some thermalpaste between the solenoids and the aluminum heatsinks

I'm glad I found your channel. You have this "insane engineer" vibe, like "crazy scientist" but in a fun, informative way. Love your energy !

Also, why don't you print yourself a "shovel" that holds the right number of balls in the right spacing that you can just scoop out of the bucket and then pour into the seconds clock? If you put an alignment tab / pin / notch on the "shovel" and the second clock, lining them up should be easier and loading them should be faster for you too.

You have an epic amount of patience for failures! The last few minutes with the updating text were hilarious omg. I would need to have a punching bag hanging nearby to take out my frustration on to work on something like this.

Your dedication to this project is wonderful

Little advice that I heard on the Wintergattan chanel. If you want to save your back from picking all those marbles off of the floor, get a stick and attach a magnet to the end. That way you don't have to keep bending over.

Most enjoyable Content on YT rn. Keep it going. p.s. you should build an marbel sort machine

What a glutton for punishment, and always with a smile!

This is what internate was made for. I love you dude, your commitment to this useless thing is what made me suscribe. Especially since you show us the fails.

martin's (wintergatan) solution to floor marbles was magnet on a stick. fast and no bending

you can use a resistor in series with the solenoids to keep them pulled in but not draw so much current, to reduce the heating of same. you still need the full current to pull it in, but once it's pulled in, the current demands are much less. this does increase the complexity a little of the driver, though.

The amount of work you put in this project is insane, keep on !

the comment on the bong killed me! i love these videos, he's one of the best on youtube!

You could also print in ABS instead of PLA, which has a much higher temperature resistance (around 100°C or so) and strength. As others have already mentioned, the mechanism seems to work fine with the silver balls, indicating that something could be different about the black ones.

This clock is the best fucking journey on the internet.

I am always excited when I see a new chapter to the marble clock story! 😃

I hope this series never ends!

Your patience is astounding!

3:00 Salfumán, Aluminum foil and a soda bottle. Good memories 😂

I dont know how you stay so calm

Truly awesome. I can just image that in the future you'll create one that works in micro gravity! Thanks for the vid.

I'll bet Martins getting flash backs if he's watching this

2:57 "I remember when we were kids we used this to make bom-"

This video is the best demonstration I have for why I leaned away from experimental physics and into theoretical...

marble machines are the dark path to madness

You, sir, have an insane amount of patience. My iteration montage would have included me smashing the thing with a hammer to the tune of Yakety Yak

So glad you are making "science experiments" 😂

"The power of Lazy - Unstoppable!" needs to be a shirt or sticker!

I wonder if you could do a small side project of making a black/chrome marble sorter? A large box feeding down in to single file with a sensor and a small paddle to direct left or right in to other bins? I think this is something you could implement with little difficulty!

The most patient man in the world!

Love your commitment to see it through, well done 😊

this feels much more like my project developments. 1 full month of non-stop work to just to end up where you started haha you're inspiring me to show more of my failures along the way

Good luck with revision 3!! You’re doing amazing work!

You're a patient guy. In my shop the whole apparat had already got many flying lessons.

Now that you have switched from glass to metal, you really should make an electro-magnet on a broom to help pick those up off the floor, save your back

Dude, im so glad your detumend to make this work, and I'm digging your outro!

I respect the will power you posess

Wow; that looks like such a frustrating project, but I'm sure you're learning a lot and at least you have some good content for RU-vid. Thanks for the entertaining video!

11:10 one must imagine Ivan happy

Those black marbles are not the same size as the silver ones... idk if its paint or anodized but they look to be slightly bigger and i am almost certain thats why everything is sticking now when it worked with just the silver marbles... But Keep at it!

Two things. "The power of lazy" should be on a shirt.. :) The power of lazy should design a marble color sorter so you don't have to manually sort the marbles. I'm sure the sorter would be worthy its own video.

I think a ball sorter machine would be a good idea. 😀

I'm quite sure you are one of the most positively freaky guy on the world! Your films are like hitchcock: in the beginnig there is an earthquake, and then the tension increases. I love you and keep my fingers crossed for your marble clock! 😍😍😍

Yeah, the chemical you got to dissolve stainless steel ball bearings dissolved your stainless steel tub. I'm not even making a joke - I legitimately love that segment :)

this series is awesome. Hard challenge but very entertaining.

Ivan is my all time best Crazy Inventer.

At this point I feel like you need to make a separate marble sorting machine

Making either the black or silver marbles out of a different material might be worth considering. That would permit separating the marbles by magnetic properties a possibility (Austenitic stainless versus ferritic steel being one option).

So cool everything! Love this journey!

I'm surprised you have not made a side project to make a marble sorter.

Still working on a 5X3 matrix, you only need 5X2. Right column 1,3&5 are always shiny, Centre column 2&4 are always black. 33% less marbles to sort and feed.

I'm invested, I need part 3 asap

If the black marbles are small enough after the acid, you may be able to sort them physically by size. A little bumper that knocks the white marbles off a track to the lower track, but allows the blacks to pass since they're not big enough to hit the bumper. Just a thought, I know they may not be consistent enough in size so you may need to switch to ball bearing balls or something besides marbles.

I think the marble display could work more reliably if the release mechanism for the next set also pushed the current set off its pedestal. That would remove the need for the ramp to be balanced that precisely. Just an idea in case the problem comes back up in the future, though right now it's looking pretty amazing with that part working.

A magnet on a handle would help the gathering... maybe one magnet after the fall off of the display tray? Cover it to prevent chipping?

This is way more work than my usual work, but the process of engineering this reminds me of a bit of when things go wrong in software engineering, and you can't figure out why things change when you didn't expect things to change.

your mental fortitude is amazingly strong.

I love the power of lazy, also amazing job, I would've given up sooo much sooner than you

Instead of kinetics to bump marbles off, I'd go with clocking gates to let the queue move up one position at a time and use the chute to store prepared digits. Instead of each marble position needing its own black/chrome queue, the sorting system would directly send marbles directly to the next queue position that needs the color or into a stack channel if no position requires that color at the time.

Ivan, Much respect my friend. I would have launched that out the window so many times. Tick tock tick tock tick.................. Smash.

I was wondering if you built transparent channels in the front, you could recover the marbles in the same order as they fall out and reload them in the back without the need of sorting individually. You would just need 10 marbles for each pixel, in the correct display order, and feed them back at the back. It could be 3 vertical channels, which would dispose of each row of the previous digit in the same order, so you just need to separate them out to the five rows in always the same order (the first one that rolls out goes to the bottom row, the last one will go to the top row). I'm not sure I explained it clearly enough...

You are crazy 😄 Don't give up, I love your work.

I’m amazed you haven’t used the same sensors from the big clock to make a sorter!

Did you add a bit of thermal paste to the heatsinks so that the heat can transfer to them?

Can't wait for this to finally be finished so i can tell the time. Id say how long I've been waiting but i dont have a marble clock so i have no idea 😢