Without any hesitation, we're totally awestruck and simply have to introduce the greatest blog post ever - crowdbuilding the most amazing Goldberg machine, by all Grabcadders. 100% of the credit goes to Scott Bruins, one of the community's most active and talented engineers who just came up with the idea and the starting version of the machine.
The Rube Goldberg experiment ground rules are simple, as Scott writes:
The Idea is that everyone adds their own mechanism to the machine. I have created the first 2 mechanisms to start. Download the files, build the next mechanism(s) and when you are done post the new files on GrabCAD. Please add a comment if you are working on the next mechanism so others don't start building then have to adapt to your new mechanism.
And a couple of useful tips before getting your hands on the project:
- I (Scott) will upload files in SolidWorks 2011 and include a STEP version of the current project.
- Files in any solid format are acceptable (e.g. IGES, STEP, X_T)
- Please use Basic Motion/animation only (if using SolidWorks)All files are SolidWorks 2011
- Please use Basic Motion/animation only
- Be as creative/elaborate as you like!
- Please do not change earlier mechanisms unless you absolutely have to.
- Have fun!
Scott has already posted the first video of the machine as well, it's great and just waits for the next engineer to come up with something ingenious:
UPDATE: Esteban Martinez added his share today, the next mechanism includes Lego planes. (Full video is being updated by Scott)
Update 2: Adam Pohl is working on the next mechanism, stay tuned!
Update 3: Adam's machine's got some balls. His part has been added and looks like this:
For those who are not sure what this machine is all about: A Rube Goldberg machine, device, or apparatus is a deliberately over-engineered machine that performs a very simple task in a very complex fashion, usually including a chain reaction. The expression is named after American cartoonist and inventor Rube Goldberg. (Source: Wikipedia).
Shoot!
