I remember watching the original review of Rosseros design and thinking "This solves all of Martins problems!"... And then Martin goes on to ignore it for 3 years xD
With 3D printing, there is no rule that says the divider must remain in 2D. In theory, you could take the tracks and arrange them in a rotary layout and achieve the same result. This would be even more compact, especially if the 'steps' were all oriented in the same direction.
Great! In software, which is my field, there is a 30-year old aphorism uttered by a past engineer: "It will take about a week to get it working, and another month to make it simple." The idea is that solving a problem in the simplest possible way is both difficult and the best way to go. ...which is SOOO true. Congrats on growing as an engineer.
Paring something down to it's bare essentials and keeping the functionality is what separates a great engineer from a good one. It's great when you see something and it's just perfectly refined into something as simple as it could be, but still works perfectly.
Definitely tracks in mechanical engineering also, prototypes are usually not too difficult to make, but making something reliable and simple takes time.
This is so true. I whipped up a prototype of a new application in 3 weeks by myself. Took almost 8 months to finalize the product with a team of 4 to finish it for customer deployment.
Dude, I've managed to finish two schools, spend two years in the university, change the major to another one and pass two semesters since the OG marble machine video was released, and the final marble machine is still not finished lol Gotta respect the dedication to continue this project for such a long time
There is a perverse incentive NOT to finish it, considering what the content of his channel is. That said, I believe he's genuinely trying his best with it. He's got to juggle a RU-vid career at the same time! Multi-talented!!!
This. A significant advantage of the old divider is how compact it was. For a large number of channels, a tree of y-splits will get quite large. Taking this levelling mechanism on its own removes the "height insensitivity" requirement and allows for an even better divider to be made
@@jameshogge You don't need a tree. The height sensitivity is gone, so you can use the MMX ramp design. It will be twice as wide because each track has a width of two marbles instead of one, but otherwise the same. Could probably make the whole divider in one machined / printed part, or have small identical pieces for every track.
@@jameshogge The less compact nature of the new divider is lkess of a problem, because it is no longer important that it looks good, so you don't have the limited front space but can hide away bigger parts of the divider. But that is also one point i don't like about the new criteria, I will still like the videos, but I don't think I have any interest in watching a perfect instument that does not look cool playing perfect musik. And even the example with starship, Form does not always follow function. For example the nosecone is only this pointy, because elon wants it to look more like a cool Rocket, and it is not significantly worse, but just a bit.
"The missle is too round on the top! It needs to be pointy! Round isn't scary, pointy is scary!" Aladeen was not supposed to be the inspirational character in that story, but really what can you expect from people who self identify as Atlas Shrugged characters.
So awesome! Got to say I nearly had a panic attack when you were thinking about bringing back the modular tracks. I'm so happy for you that the "Holy Grail" was found. It's incredible seeing the level of expertise and enthusiasm for this project from everyone here. LETS GO MX3!
It's sad to see Martin not only imply that Musk invented the "less dumb requirements" approach, but also not mention the hundreds if not thousands of real competent engineers that worked at SpaceX. The anti-semitic apartheid-profiting con man really sold his bs
@@jakubgwozdz2780Twitter never was more rentable. Most people have accept the limitations, and even the troll name. Tesla is still the best seller of electric cars. Yes it cost a lot and most advanced functions cost even more, and yes he struggle to keep the lines, but it's still the most selled car. SpaceX have the only reusable rockets of the planets, and launch more rocket per years that ALL the countries in the world put together. Yes, his biggest projects are stupid, but he still do better that everyone else. Musk make sh*t and tranform it to gold, but in the expense of everyone... He is a good biznessman, but in no way an artist.
@@jakubgwozdz2780tesla and spacex: have systems in place to protect themselves from musk’s stupidities, do relatively alright; twitter: hadn’t had time to develop these systems, because it was an acquisition, so: went to xit. (Pronounce the x with an sh, of course.) Now, how do we design systems to protect Martin from Musk’s stupidities and/or Martin’s own fanboying?
So cool and beautiful with this kind of organic hexagonal pattern ❤🙏 I'd be interested in the math behind this. Ps: I learn a lot in design from your journey Martin, but pleeeease stop quoting Elon 😢
Mind blown emoji doesn’t do this video justice 🤯. Seeing journey to this design, as well as the fact that it was hiding in plain sight from 3 years ago, has been an incredibly interesting and satisfying watch. Huge props to everyone that contributed! Hopefully more “holy grail” moments are to come!
It's a good idea to be honest. I consider myself a decently smart guy and I know a lot about my field of work. However, there'll always be someone who has specialized their domain knowledge further than I have. Elon Musk is a businessman before he is an engineer, he understands things, but he can't necessarily make the things himself.
@@CottidaeSEA What do you think he understands? He makes very elementary mistakes on every field he is in bussiness and lies about what the product is capable of.
@@CottidaeSEA Who said I didn't? Can you actually not read at all? Do you think making mistakes is the same thing as making very elementary mistakes? I could understand him doing little mistakes here and there, but to make very elementary mistakes that literally undermine the whole bussiness is not a little mistake. He has done this over and over again. Also you did not address the lying part at all. He literally lies about most of his products to the point of fraud. You failed to answer the original question. So again what do you think he understands? What bussiness do you think he has a good understanding in?
It seems so ingenious to me that if 4 people came up with it in such a short time I think it must be something that's already known in the engineering community. Under how similar a context I don't know, but surely it's there.
It's probably similar to designing laminar flow setups in pipes. There's a good reason smoothed out Y pipes are so common, instead of just hard angles everywhere. Things that move fast don't usually like sharp bends and large velocity changes, so a step up/down process like this tends to be what is used.
@@nnelg8139 Factorio belt balancers are even more complex, because there are two sides of the belt that need individually balanced because the inserters grab mostly from one side of the belt ;P
Maybe those other people also saw the video from 3 years ago and realized that it could be used to solve a different problem (regulating height instead of pressure).
The presence of a calc textbook would also support that idea, in that Rossero is probably a mechanical, industrial, or mechanical systems engineer, or a student in one of those.
Not to be the Party Pooper but I am just waiting for Martin the Musician to take back over from Martin the Engineer…I miss Wintergatan. Going back to watch vids from the old days once again and be sad…😢
crewed starship missions to mars by 2024, hyperloop maglev trains in near vaccume going 750 mph, cybertruck by 2022 for $40k, tesla FSD(level 4) without useful tech like lidar by 2018, so on, so forth. "If things go according to plan, we should be able to launch people probably in 2024 with arrival in 2025" "Fast forward to August 2013 when Musk unveils his concept, claiming that for just $6 billion he could build a hyperloop between LA and San Francisco that could cover the distance in about 32 minutes at about 750 mph."
There are mechanical benefits to the starship being (slightly) pointy, remember the ship is bottom heavy when re-entering the atmosphere, this means the front needs to have less aero drag in order to fall horizontally, the balance is so bad without a payload they've opted to put the LOX tank at the front in order to try and balance it.
Yeah... I really hope Martin finds better role models to quote... Quoting from a rich a-hole who causes active harm to minority and economically challenged groups isn't a great look, even if that individual did contribute in some ways to the creation of something cool.
@@syber-space Utter nonsense. Mr. Musk is doing nothing wrong and is simply being smeared by the corrupt media and their political masters because he is against suppression of speech and goes against their party line.
I love that have spent years watching this channel and seeing you go from very overly engineered things to simplified effective and efficient things. It’s been an incredible engineering journey so far.
Something I've noticed regarding all this talk of dividers is that there's not been much on the topic of THROUGHPUT. Of course, no part is the best part in this ideal as well; having one lane for each channel is going to make for perfect throughput. However, I acknowledge your point about instrument proximity making 1:1 channel/belt ratios unlikely if not impossible. Therefore, to maintain maximum throughput, making decisions on the locations of your instruments and marble catch funnels on the final machine could take priority over the marble piping and divider logistics so that you can make only as many dividers as you need to maximize throughput and conserving material.
I don't know, it seems that he would need a single split for channel, at the most (like a fast double note on a hit hat). But again, maybe two or three fast marbles from the same channels would work anyway. I don't know if having a system-wide splitting system is really needed. Separate channels offer a better solution, and at least something worth exploring. But ehi, maybe he already tried. Not saying it's easy to implement, but it definitely offers many pros (MODULARITY -just add a new channel when you need it, EASY FIX - if a specific channel doesn't work you don't need to fix the whole machine, NO DIVIDER). Dunno, I feel he just dismissed the idea without testing, because, you know, a marble machine needs a marble divider, because it has always been the case. Maybe I'm wrong eh.
The different in performance between round and pointy nose cone is minimal so either would have been fine. The problem only arise when the design is actively creating problem that shouldn't be there in the first place.
Drag coefficient says hello. Sure, in space it doesn't matter, the performance difference is minimal in near vacuum. Unfortunately, in the real world, we have to lift off from the gravity well of earth, through a thick atmosphere, and are all subject ultimately to the tyranny of the rocket equation. Every kilo of fuel is 1.4 kilos of reduced payload. It really does matter when the cost is over a million per kilo. This amounts to a power move.@@broccolidiego2053
@@broccolidiego2053 And you think fuel efficiency on a space craft isn't a major problem? This man wants to go to mars. That already was never going to happen, but with dumbass decisions like that, it's impossible to take that goal of his seriously
I'm imagining the very last episode of MM design be like this: "We had the finished MM03 in front of us for five years! What were we doing?" Than, taking an angle grinder and reducing the entire thing into a Xylophone.🙆♂
Fun fact: Starship was originally designed with a rounded nose, but Elon told his engineers to make it pointy because he thought it looked cooler, even though it was slightly worse performance wise. So not exactly form from function.
Funny seeing a clip of Elon saying your design spec is too complicated a couple weeks after he just told his cybertruck engineers to machine their panels down to one onebillionth of a micron hahaha
That was my thought too, lol. But after the essentials are made and the machine works, I truly doubt martin won't be compelled to also make it look cool
A source for this claim would be appreciated, because I follow starship development quite closely and don’t remember any news about some original design with an even more rounded nose than the current starship design has. Or are you talking about the MCT or ITS days?
You can use the clear vertical marble columns even with the stepped dividers. You are not limited in just left to right zigzags. You can also go forwards or backwards, allowing for the best of both worlds. A great looking marble column, and all the benefits of the zigzag patterns reliability.
As a watcher of the channel since the old wooden machine, I love that you've given this concept one last chance! I'll be coming to see you on that world tour!! You can't forget California! So I'll see you there! Much love!
You're wrong about form from function with starship 😂 The nose cone was made pointy just because they wanted it to look cool. There's an interview with Elon where he says so
Yeah... It's really painful as someone with friends in the trans community to see Martin happily singing the praises of a man who has caused more pain and suffering for them than nearly anyone else... I hope he finds better role models and examples in the future... His work is so much better than that.
You do know you can separate someone’s achievements and insight from their personal shitiness right? Like Porsche, Einstein, VW, Walt Disney? Porsche and VW were Nazi companies that helped Hitler design the original bug. Einstein’s work lead to the deaths of millions. Walt Disney was a misogynistic and racist man. All of these are glossed over. An asshole is gonna asshole. Doesnt mean the asshole doesnt have a good idea.
@@Iangamebr cybertrucks being made of flat panels makes any tiny dent pop out, it makes the gaps between panels huge for modern cars, and it ruins any possible areodynamics. Also, its harder to make flat panels than curved panels. The truck is just flat for aesthetics.
@@cladaes9127 rockets admittedly don't, and i don't have much to say about that, just about the things his companies are doing that are really really stupid.
Awesome work finding the perfect marble divider! It's great how the simple design came from your fans. Can't wait to see it in action on your next machine! Keep it up!
So happy for this outcome, and also for this process - calling for solutions to a specific problem has focused the feedback you're getting into something you can use. I hope you use this more going forward.
My dear Brother loved this channel and watched every Wednesday without fail, with admiration and in awe of you and your wonderful creations. Sadly this episode was the last he would ever watch as he lost his battle with life on Monday 27th. I wish it was a Time Machine, not a marble machine as I’d be banging on the door to borrow it
This is by far the coolest Channel and community to ever be. The way we are all watching and working towards this one beautiful goal is amazing. And the idea of being able to come see it when you are on tour is so amazing. There is just no way that I would miss it. After all the years of watching you build this thing, we all have an obligation to go and make sure you sell out!!! Good luck Martin and I know I will see you on tour one day soon!!
I'e been watching these videos for so many years now and it always amazes me how something that looks so simple is so amazingly difficult. Very Well Done!
Martin, you are amazing! I have been watching all your videos since day 1 and I have seen the way you made and still making and I wanted to thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything. You inspired me to continue my fight for a degree in neurobiology to study Alzheimer’s disease and maybe help to find the cure. My grandfather passed away in January this year of it. So thank you again and please don’t give up, we all here for you and with you till the victorious end. Much love ❤
Sometimes this channel is frustrating, watching Martin try to invent the bearing housing for example. But then a video like this comes along and beautifully illustrates a bunch of cool concepts. Bravo!
Note: Elon Musk isn't actually a designer, or even an individual contributor. People he hires do all the work. Remember, he thought a water deluge system was a dumb requirement.
Actually he has made considerable contributions to the design and engineering of products both for SpaceX and Tesla. Especially in the area of simplifying things, which has paid dividends in both companies. He's a clever guy and studied the fields his companies are active in (and by studied I don't mean read a few "for dummies" books). But he's not infallible and he has been stubborn about some decidedly silly decisions. Like "no LIDAR, ever" in his self driving car.
@@kaasmeester5903 actually he bought Tesla from someone else, and maybe he contributed to SpaceX in the very beginning but that's certainly not the case now. Unless you count 80 hour work weeks and forcing welders to use I injection to stay hydrated as contributing. Let's not forget his contribution to transportation, the hyperloop which was definitely a real idea and not a scheme to derail California's High-speed Rail plans
Only downside of this design is that it's not going to be very silent, because the marbles aren't moving smoothly along the track. You'll have to find a way to isolate the noise.
@@Square1production Martin has stated several times that the noise from the tracks, the divider etc. is unwanted. Therefore Martin has used silicone along with other material in order to reduce noise.
@@Square1production He has mentioned multiple times that he would like the marbles to move and be caught silently, It's also one of his "nice to have" design requirements. The point of using marbles it's the visuals and the design challenge. not the noise they make, The noise making part is left to the instruments.
Its weird he hates the sound, since I feel like most of his original viewers are here because of the marble machine song. And the machine noise is an instrument of its own.
SWEET!!!! can't wait for a new machine to be up and running!!! Talent you have to make any song amazing, now that this problem is solved im also excited for the new wonders you will come up with!
"You literally told them to make the Starship more pointy because of the movie 'The Dictator?'" a chuckling Rogan asked. "Yep. And they know it, too," Musk replied with a laugh. "It's not like they're unaware of it. I thought it would be funny to make it more pointy, so we did."
Thank you... Musk's junk is all form over function... look at the stupid Cybertruck. Huge cringe when Martin quoted Musk as if this is a good source of engineering wisdom... 🤮
@@ofsinope You're jealous of someone who's far more creative than you, and it shows. You have no other reason to hate him, even though he's tackling problems no one else is bothering with because it's too difficult. Get a grip...
I want to say, as someone constantly looking for videos with an awesome element of science enquiry & genuinely brilliant, awesome, entertaining & meaningingful content, this video, along with all of your videos (which is why I'm a longstanding viewer) was amazing. Specifically when you acknowledged the submissions that went 'The best solution is no problem.' There was such a genuine, heartfelt understanding and compassion in your responding to them, and this is definitely something that I would try to find messages in to show students in classrooms, on-par with my growing playlist of 'Learning from Failure'.
When you get an understanding for why these clever designs work, they become beautiful in their own way. A kind of learned aesthetic rather than an immediately apparent one. A form from function design will look deeply beautiful to anyone that has followed this channel and understands why things look the way they do.
I started watching while not even understanding the problem. As you went along, showing the problems I never knew existed with your other designs, I started to understand just how much thought went into this design. Very cool engineering project!
Hi! We can see the little bounce at the divider position when it's empty of marbles, is there any risk of that hapening at high bpm, preventing free flow? and propagate upward... Btw, hexagon is the BESTAGON!
multiyear watcher here: what i'm fearing the most is that "it must look cool" requirement will bite back, this new machine is not shaping to be cool at all. i mean you don't need marbles to play music, you do because marbles are cool. i hope this design process goes full circle and attacks the main shape of mm WHILE looking cool
this reminds me a lot of belt balancers in Factorio. The way spitters work reminds me of the way this design splits the marbles evenly to each lane allowing each one to pull evenly from the source.
It was really funny that 10 people sent in Factorio gifs. I've played it several hundred hours but I don't really know how you would translate belt balancer behavior to a physical marble divider!
The starship is not 100% form from function. Elon is on record saying he asked for it to be more pointy specifically to look less phallic. They would gain a fraction of a percentage point more payload to orbit if they went for a more blunt body design, lol.
i dont know how many years, i dont know how long it had taken, im following you since the beggining of the marble machine X. Im really happy to see you are resolving issues, your will to continue is just an engine for me, im lost in my life, with no job, but watching this vid reminded me that it is ok, that i can do it, i just need to put time in constructing my life. I dont even know if that was understandable... sorry for my poor english...
So this is no longer a genuine attempt at making music, but an infinite project that will never finish. Its been many years and hes still endlessly developing.
@@taliesinriveriirc that's not all about it. Some people has poured donos and time to help him with marble machine X because that was his original goal, then suddenly he took a sharp turn, started to cites Elon Musk, and dropped the MMX project to pursue "perfection". While it's within his rights to do whatever he wants, but doing it that way has made many who supported him in his original pursuit of touring with MMX disappointed, again, after they supported him to that extent only for him to change the course so abruptly. At least that's how I remember what happened because I was only watching from the side the entire time and stopped when he suddenly changed the project, though it's still somewhat related to MMX. Correct me if I'm wrong.
hey martin, I've been following your journey from the start of marble machine x, and i realized that I'm learning so much interesting stuff just by watching you, so thank you!! seeing you this happy puts a smile on my face
Function first, then cool. Cool can definitely be an important requirement! But it has to come after the product being functional. I'm so happy to see you back at it! I've really missed you!
I did not expect to be impressed by this. But I was impressed by this. That's amazing! Well done to you and the clever community you've surrounded yourself with.
Martin I really worry that in your quest to build the perfect marble machine, you've forgotten that its primary purpose to make music. The machine only needs to work for a tour. Then like any machine you can take it back into the shop, perform maintenance and refit it for the next tour.
Congrats on your re-discovery of this solution. So excited for the progress. I can feel the MM3 getting closer and closer. Can’t wait for the world tour. Keep up the good work.
I like that 3d printing is a big part of the prototyping process. CNC plywood is tough and all but painless physical models being tested with actual marbles with all the variations being reality tested, is awesome. I hope you make a version of the next marble machine with a good number of 3d printed parts and maybe swap them for pretty parts selectively. I have learned so much from your journey, even though I will probably never make anything that manages marbles.
"The starship is 100% form from function" would be a lot more believable if Elon wasn't on record saying that he told the engineers to make the tip more pointy because he watched The Dictator where they made their rocket pointy because "round is not scary".
