Rube Goldberg Machine
A Rube Goldberg machine is a machine that is made up of several complex steps to complete, at the end, a simple task. It is started by one motion, and the rest of the steps follow a domino effect to complete the task at the end. For our group, Nathan Criswell, Eryn Crafter, Dylan Falk and I, our end goal was to raise the UN flag. Our project has 10+ steps, and includes five simple machines and several energy transfers.
We started our Rube Goldberg with a lot of theme brainstorming, jotting down whatever ideas we had, whether or not it was a good or bad idea. At the end of our brainstorming, we chose three ideas we thought we would do: Netflix/technology or around the world. We decided on Netflix.
Next, we tried to brainstorm steps of the Rube Goldberg and how they would reflect our theme, but we couldn't think of anything substantial so we switched to around the world. we decided on a "flight-path", where we would visit the major continents in a linear order, with three levels: America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. In the next two days, we planned and wrote out our first blueprint.
Our construction log of what we did the next weeks looked like this:
Day 1: Plan out where the parts are going to be and gather materials.
Day 2: Measure and cut materials as needed, and attached track 1.
Day 3: Attached track two and Lombard Street.
Day 4: Tested and attached wheel, and attached track 3.
Day 5: Attached lever and planned ideas for screw.
Day 6: Attach screw and attach pulley parts.
Day 7: Attach pulley, test run, and paint background.
Day 8: Paint and print background and landmarks; plan lights.
Day 9: Paint and cut landmarks and attach LEDs and motor.
Day 10: Finalize lights, pulleys, and plans and test runs.
Day 11: Test runs and checks, finalize plans.
On day one, we worked on the layout and changed a bit of the original design and flipped certain parts' placements. We also gathered materials we needed. The next days, we gathered and cut wooden tracks as needed and screwed them in. Each piece was measured and was carefully placed to make sure that everything would run smoothly and nothing would be blocked.
On days five through eight, we attached moving parts: the wheel and axle, lever, pulley, and the screw (not a moving part). On day nine and ten, we painted the back of the board and also cut and pasted the landmarks. We also attached the LEDs and the motor that would pull up the UN flag. Throughout these last couple days, we also ran trial runs to make sure everything went smoothly and there were no hitches.
For the last couple days of construction, we checked all the steps and checked the electrical parts and practiced our presentation for Rube Goldberg Night. The presentations went smoothly, but a part of the motor fell off during transportation so it was working at half strength. Later, this Rube Goldberg project will be presented to 8th graders on family night to show them what STEM Marin does.
Reflection:
Overall, I was satisfied with how the final project turned out. Everything worked quite well, but unfortunately, did not work as well in front of people. Working in the makerspace was a new experience and I learned how to use many different tools. I think that throughout the process, I became better at communicating goals and needs, and also being flexible and thinking what would actually work in the end.
Cooperation was also a large part of the project; having everyone contribute whatever ideas they had definitely improved the project by a wide margin. But, I think that I could have done better with productivity and working on parts at the right time. During certain periods of time when we were drilling bits or attaching electrical parts, I did not contribute as much because of my lack of knowledge in those places; however, I think that I should have looked into it more and tried doing it so I could contribute and learn more at the same time. I also think that I could have done better with critical thinking; even though I have gotten better at it, I think looking outside of the box and listening to others is something that I want to improve in.