Marble Portal Illusion

Intro

About a year ago, I made a ball teleporter illusion. On the video, I got a comment that described an idea for a similar illusion, but instead of it just teleporting one time, I could add a track underneath so it is continuous almost like a portal. I liked this idea, so I decided to build it. I would recommend watching the video for this project to help with assembly.

Materials:

3D Printer
Filament
Computer
Arduino
Cord for Arduino
Stepper Motor
Stepper Motor Control Board
Power Supply for Arduino
Dupont Wires
Super Glue
Steel Balls (About 1/2 inch)
Optional - 2 LEDs with Resistors (I used 220 ohm)
Optional - 2 M4 Bolts and Square Nuts

STep 1: 3D Print Parts

The 3D files can be found here: https://makerworld.com/en/models/1004102

No supports are needed when printing.

Step 2: add Stepper motor

Put the stepper motor through the hole. You can either glue the motor on, or bolt it on. If possible, I would recommend bolting the motor, so it is not permanent. If you do bolt it, the square nuts go into the indents, and then you put the bolts in from the other side.

Step 3: add axles to wheel

Put each axle in one of the holes on the wheel. Either axles can go into either hole. I would recommend attaching the axles with a little super glue because after the motor turns for a while, the plastic can start to ware off.

Step 4: Attach Wheel to motor

Attach the wheel to the motor.

Step 5: Connect sections

Use the pegs to connect all four 3D printed sections. I would recommend first connecting the sections 1 and 2, with the wheel and LED closed in between. If you are adding LEDS, solder a resistor to one leg of both. Then strip and solder a Dupont wire to both legs of both LEDs. I would then test to make sure the ball pump mechanism is working. If it is working, you can connect sections 3 and 4 with the other LED closed in between, and then connect 1 and 2 with 3 and 4.

Step 6: Wire up

The diagram is helpful if you are adding LEDs. There was no stepper motor or board to add, so you will have to imagine it. Connect the stepper motor to the stepper motor board. Connect IN1 of the stepper motor board to pin 8 of the Arduino. Continue this with IN2 to pin 9, IN3 to pin 10, and IN4 to pin 11. Connect GND and VCC of the stepper motor board to GND and 5V of the Arduino. Plug your desired power supply into GND and VIN of the Arduino. If you use LEDs you will have to use a bread board or split the GND and 5V pins of the Arduino because you will need 3 of each for both LEDs and the stepper motor, and there is only one 5V and two GNDs.

Step 6: Upload Code

Upload the code to your Arduino. If the balls enter to quickly, lower the RPM in the code and reupload. If the balls exit to slowly, raise the RPM in the code and reupload. You want the ball to exit at the same exact time as the next ball enters. I currently have the RPM set at 13 which is what looked the best for me. This number might change slightly for you base on factors like the weight of your ball.

Copy Code

#include <Stepper.h>

const int stepsPerRevolution = 2048;

Stepper stepperName = Stepper(stepsPerRevolution, 8, 10, 9, 11);

void setup() {

// Fine tune RPM of stepper motor

stepperName.setSpeed(13);

}

void loop() {

stepperName.step(stepsPerRevolution);

}

Step 6: Done

I hope you enjoy your portal illusion. After testing out the illusion for a bit, I found that adding more marbles helps the motor from jamming. Help me out by subscribing to my YouTube channel. If you have any questions, feel free to comment on the video.

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