Embedded Files
Rube Goldberg Machine
Rube Goldberg Machine
Project 4 due November 11, 2025
Rube Goldberg Machine vRender
Rube Goldberg Machine vRender
Rube Goldberg Machine vPlayblast
Rube Goldberg Machine vPlayblast
Storyboard
Storyboard
The Story
The Story
A ball drops onto a tilted platform and rolls through a couple more before falling onto an uneven floor, followed by a series of ramps. It continues rolling until it hits a standing domino, causing it to topple. The falling domino strikes a small candlestick, knocking it over so that the candlestick lands on a light switch. The switch flips off, turning off all the lights and ending the chain reaction.
5 Objects
5 Objects
0.5 Ball
This ball was created using a sphere as the base shape. I applied a checker texture to give it a patterned black-and-white appearance, which helps emphasize its rotation and movement. The sphere’s smooth geometry makes it ideal for simulating rolling or bouncing motions in the scene.
1. Turning Platforms
These platforms were created by flattening several blocks to make them thin and flat. Each block was then given a hinge constraint, allowing them to rotate or tilt individually.
2. Ramps
The ramps were created by flattening several blocks and angling them at different inclines to guide the movement of the ball from the turning platforms to the domino. Each ramp was carefully positioned to ensure a smooth transition as the ball rolls from one to the next. By adjusting their angles and placement, I was able to control the ball’s speed and direction, helping it continue the chain reaction naturally. The ramps add variation to the motion and serve as a key part of the scene’s dynamic flow.
3. Domino
This domino was made by starting with a cube, which I scaled down to make it thinner and longer, forming the main body. I then created three spheres, scaled them down, and placed them on the surface of the cube to represent the dots. To divide the two halves of the domino, I elongated and flattened one of the spheres, turning it into the center division line. Finally, I adjusted the alignment and proportions to make the design clean and balanced.
Inspiration for domino
4. Candlestick
This candlestick was created by modeling and grouping several basic geometric shapes. The base, body, and top were each made using cylinders. To create smoother transitions between these sections, I added two cones and a squished sphere between the bottom cone and the body for a more natural curve. The candle itself was made from two cylinders, one forming the wax body and a smaller one for the wick. Once each element was complete, I grouped all the parts together to form the full candlestick.
5. Switch
This switch was created by grouping two flattened blocks together to form the top movable part. After grouping them, I added a hinge constraint so that the top section could rotate like a real switch. The base (the black section) was made from a single flattened block, providing a solid foundation for the hinged part above.
Lighting Setup Explanation
Lighting Setup Explanation
The lighting setup for this scene was created using three spotlights, one ambient light, and one point light to achieve a balanced and realistic illumination.
One spotlight is positioned above the scene to provide general overhead lighting and highlight the tops of the models.
The second and third spotlights are placed to the right, angled downward to add contrast, emphasize the shapes with light and shadow, and enhance visibility by bringing out fine surface details.
An ambient light is positioned at the center of the scene to softly illuminate the entire environment and reduce overly dark areas.
Finally, a point light is placed inside the lightbulb, creating a localized glow that mimics the natural behavior of a real light source.
Together, these lights produce a well-balanced scene with clear highlights, soft shadows, and realistic depth, ensuring that every object is evenly and naturally illuminated.
Explanation
Explanation
The sequence begins with a ball that drops onto a rotating platform and rolls across several more rotating platforms before transitioning onto a series of ramps. The ramps guide the ball’s movement and control its speed and direction as it continues forward. After rolling down the final ramp, the ball continues rolling until it collides with a standing domino, causing it to topple. The domino’s fall then knocks over a candlestick, which lands on a light switch. As the switch flips, it turns off all the lights, signaling the end of the chain reaction.
Each object in the scene was carefully modeled from basic geometric shapes and grouped to create more complex forms. The ball was made from a sphere with a checker texture to emphasize its rolling motion. The turning platforms were thin blocks with hinge constraints, allowing them to rotate dynamically when the ball passes over them. The ramps were created by flattening several blocks and angling them at different inclines to guide the ball from the turning platforms to the domino. The domino was built from a scaled cube with small spheres for the dots and a flattened sphere as the dividing line. The candlestick combined multiple cylinders, cones, and a squished sphere to achieve a detailed, layered design. Finally, the switch was made from two flattened blocks grouped together with a hinge constraint so it could realistically flip when struck.
The lighting setup enhances the realism of the scene and guides viewer’s attention. It includes three spotlights, above, and two on the side, to create depth through highlights and shadows. An ambient light positioned in the center of the scene ensures even illumination, while a point light inside the lightbulb provides a realistic glow. This arrangement maintains visibility throughout the animation and supports the final moment when the switch turns off, causing the lights to go dark and completing the chain reaction.
The cool (in my opinion) models I made
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