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Funding Successful
This project successfully raised its funding goal on July 4, 2011.
Pledge $10 or more Pledge $10 or more
Your name is listed on the list of official sponsors on the official website of the world's longest marble chute.
Pledge $40 or more Pledge $40 or more
and you get my smallest marble chute that can be built to a length of over 4 meters, with more than 72 parts. + your name is listed as an official sponsor.
Pledge $90 or more Pledge $90 or more
you get better value, with a marble chute that can already go right accross most living rooms, with a length of over 10 meters (approx 10 yards). + your name is listed as an official sponsor.
Pledge $120 or more Pledge $120 or more
once again, a distinct value increase. this time the marble chute will be over 15 meters long (approx 15 yards). + your name is listed as an official sponsor.
Pledge $121 or more Pledge $121 or more
10 meter set from the $90 dollar reward plus 6 meters of straight rails (this is for those of you with long flat bungalows, chris baker?)
Pledge $150 or more Pledge $150 or more
you get 12.5 meters of the rails I used to build the world's longest marble chute. Obviously there is a longer waiting time for this. First I have to build it, then, when the record has been broken, I take it apart, pack it into a special box which is inscribed with your name as an official sponsor, and that the contents were part of the world's longest marble chute. + your name is listed as an official sponsor.
Pledge $180 or more Pledge $180 or more
from a purely material viewpoint, this one has the best value. This gets you the 'delux' model, which can be built to a length of over 25 meters. This one might impress the grandchildren. + your name is listed as an official sponsor.
Pledge $250 or more Pledge $250 or more
you get 25 meters of the rails I used to build the world's longest marble chute. Like the $150 reward there is a longer waiting time for this. First I have to build it, then, when the record has been broken, I take it apart, pack it into a special box which is inscribed with your name as an official sponsor, and that the contents were part of the world's longest marble chute. + your name is listed as an official sponsor.
Pledge $300 or more Pledge $300 or more
you come and spend 3 days helping me build the world's longest marble chute. This will probably take place in berlin this summer, unless somebody takes the $6000 incentive, in which case it could end up happening anywhere in the world. Traveling and Lodging expenses are covered by you. As far as the date is concerned we can hopefully work a schedule out so that everybody can make it. If you can't make it you get two 25 meter marble chutes as compensation.
Pledge $330 or more Pledge $330 or more
Wholesale offer for toy store owners: spend this amount or more, and you get 30% discount on the current prices listed here. for example: 3 marble runs for $120 and 3 for $40 would total at $480. 30% discount would mean that you would pay $336, saving $144. orders from germany don't have to pay any shipping. orders from europe pay $30. everywhere else pays $60. All limited rewards are exluded from this offer.
Pledge $600 or more Pledge $600 or more
Wholesale offer for toy store owners: spend this amount or more, and you get 35% discount on the current prices listed here. for example: 3 marble runs for $180 and 3 for $120 and one for $90 would total at $990. 35% discount would mean that you would pay $643.5, saving $346.5. orders from germany don't have to pay any shipping. orders from europe pay $40. everywhere else pays $80. All limited rewards are exluded from this offer.
Pledge $900 or more Pledge $900 or more
Wholesale offer for toy store owners: spend this amount or more, and you get 40% discount on the current prices listed here. for example: 4 marble runs for $180 and 4 for $120 and 4 for $90 would total at $1560. 40% discount would mean that you would pay $936, saving $624. orders from germany don't have to pay any shipping. orders from europe pay $50. everywhere else pays $100. All limited rewards are exluded from this offer.
Pledge $1,000 or more Pledge $1,000 or more
You get the original prototype, which I cut out with a fretsaw on the kitchen table. AND you get a 'delux' 25 meter version. + your name is listed as an official sponsor.
Pledge $6,000 or more Pledge $6,000 or more
I build the world's longest marble chute in your house. You have to have a pretty substantial house for this. (It doesn't have to be your house either, you can arrange for me to hang it up in your local mall -that might just be big enough.) + your name is right at the top of the list of official sponsors.
Project By
Has not connected their Facebook account.
I'm English, but I've been living in Berlin for the last 10 years or so. It would probably be most accurate to call myself an artist, but I mostly earn my living doing construction work.
yours will be going out this week, stephen! (thx for the patience!!!)
The weather has just turned warm in the UK again, I hope that I'll get my set soon so we can put it up in the garden and confuse the local moggies:-)
No problem, just looking forward to it. :)
yours isn't out yet david, but it will be. give me one more week, and it'll be on its way (sorry that yours is among the very last sets)
Did all the expected shipments get out? I see your comment on March 26th about 3 weeks or so... but still waiting. Looking forward to it. Plus I want to see what Mark manages because the lift system sounds like an excellent idea.
great stuff, i hope you post photos and videos once its been built!
Quebec, Canada.
I received my box today, can't wait to unwrap and try!
I will try to make a lift using plastic blocks & electric motor to hoist the marble back to the start to initiate our 13 yr old, in his bedroom. Powered by a solar cell, so when the sun shines, the marble(s) run...
things are definitely moving along better than they used to be. i would say it is quite realistic that i will have shipped the last sets within the next two to three weeks -with the exception of course, of the marble runs that are part of what is still hanging here in berlin.
Walter, how are things going with this? Have you managed to ship all of the sets out yet?
I'm finally received my marble run !! gonna keep it till i move into my new house and hang it in a special corner, really loved the personalized message on the board and oso on the card. Took a piece of it out and felt very happy even without setting it up. Well worth the wait.
Great job there walter!! I'm from singapore in case any of ya were wondering..
Any updates? How's production going? Did you fix the ventilation problems?
i will definitely be shipping for the holidays! the laser company who i am working with has been having massive issues with the ventilation of their laser, which is very necesary when cutting mdf, so that has been holding me back most of all.
i will be posting pics of the sets this week, and if at all possible i will also ship some.
Do you plan on shipping only after the Christmas holidays?
If so, please produce a video before Xmas as I had planned on giving this as a gift, however, I could at last show the video, and say, Yes! It's on order...
There is a photo on the modulor blog: http://www.modulor.de/blog/… of the installation that mentions 220 meters of length.
Ho, dear ! The 30th September is back now… what happened ? Did it run well ? Any photos, vidéos, would be great to see.
video! yes, well i'm not officially in vacation, but my kids are (two of them), and i'm working full time, until the money gets to me, at which point i go into full time production mode, but i promised you a video of assembly didn't i?
hang in there, will you? i'll try and make it/ post it first thing in the morning!
Still nothing ? Not any news for us ? We trusted you, please think about us. Even just to say "I'm in vacations" :-)
i'll see if i can post some of that tomorrow -hang in there!
It’s the end of the fund period in a couple of day. No much news :(
Where are the pictures/videos about assembling the marble run ?
Congrats on reaching the goal!
This project just got a great mention IPwatchdog. IPwatchdog is a patent related blog frequented by inventors.
http://ipwatchdog.com/2011/06/01/funding-your-invention-get-started-with-crowdfunding/id=17527/
I just placed a comment on Boing Boing.
As Chris said, it really is very easy and take just a few moments. Worth every second in my view if it means this project will be funded.
Placing a comment on Boing Boing is very easy and takes only a few moments.
If there 51 backers on Kickstarter then there should be 51 comments on Boing Boing.
This project is only going to get funded if we can generate lots of interest so PLEASE, PLEASE take just a few moments of your time to comment on Boing Boing!
new videos on the way! i've been taking footage with my new nikon, and i will be posting them within the next three days...
good idea. here is the submission link
http://boingboing.net/submit/2011/05/buildling-the-worlds-longest-marble-run---kickstarter-project.html
On BB, it's at a score of 8, page 2 as of May 12 2011.
FYI...Whoever reads this and has pledged - BoingBoing.net is, IMHO, an all time Top 5 blog of blogs in the English language. In my mind #1 and Gizmodo #2, but that's me.
Anyhow, creating an account there to be able to comment, is worth it, and you can vote UP the marble run post. It will only make it to the main page if it warrants one of the 4 mod's attention. Lots of votes counts for that.
how strange! you know i visited boing boing, and considered submitting my project about an hour ago -i guess great minds think alike!
anyway, i'm gonna tell my friends to like the submission. oh yes -thx a mill!
I've submitted to Boing Boing, fingers crossed...
itsjesseyo: i'll definitely go into production if this project is financed: that's the main point of this project, but backing this project now will get you more for your money. i could certainly upload the drawings to ponoko, but their pricing would make these 2 to3 times as expensive...
Peter Takacs: thanks for yr pledge! i can assure you that this will be perfect for a children's museum!
Nice work! I signed up for one of these to put in our local children's science museum. We have a wall-mounted ball chute that is a 2D version that gets a lot of use. This would be an interesting addition.
These are very well designed kits.. I'd like to buy more as time goes on, even after your project is finished. Is there somewhere you are manufacturing them that I can order from? Ponoko or something similar?
thanks mark, way to go! you know, i think that if only this project would get that kind of attention, it would be funded overnight, but at the rate its going it will make its goal anyway -slow and steady wins the race...
Facebooked & sent to friends. Wonderful project. This needs to get on BoingBoing.net as they are fans of Rube Goldberg; one could incorporate a marble run in one.
Reminds me a bit of the car tracks I'd spend hours building as a kid. Good luck Walt.
that would be cool, we should definitely collaborate!
Beautiful project! Maybe we could collaborate? I'm looking for nice applications for when I motorize Blocklets-I could design a marble elevator for this.
thanks evan!
you know, its a funny thing, but it was completely unintentional that my project is to end on independence day :) -i only realized that it would after i relaunched it, but in hindsight, i'm really glad it worked out this way!
Hi Walter --- I'm excited for your project relaunch! We'll all be watching over here on (American) Independence Day to see how far over your goal you get.
i think that's a good idea. ultimately i hope that other designers/inventors/developers will help out with this kind of thing...
I was wondering of the possibility of adding a lift or escalator type thing to it so it could be used in areas like lobbies etc. I think it would be an area of opportunity if there was a way to keep marbles loading without having to do it manually so you would have a artwork in motion so to speak. amazing work
sorry for the delayed reply, yes, the marble chute is shipped with marbles, yes i've tried various marbles, mostly marbles that are 16 - 17mm in diameter, and because glass marbles vary in size, there is always a slight difference in speed -not because of the density, i believe, but because a bigger marble sits higher on the rails and rolls faster because of it...
you can certainly slow a marble down if you make it go uphill after it has gained too much momentum. like i said; i just have to post more footage, and that definitely will happen in may, but not before then..
About 1:24 seems good. I like the thought of a steep incline, and wonder if you have any good or recommended way to slow it down again, so that you could do a steep incline, followed by something involving lots of curves.
I was seeing your pictures that all seem to be from strings, which prompted my support question. I suppose a little sag between chairs shouldn't be a problem.
Yes, you answered those questions, and raised more. :-)
Do the sets come with any marbles? Have you tried different sizes and densities of marbles?
I hope the project succeeds this time.
--David
um, hard to say. if the marble run built very straight, then it can be quite steep, but otherwise it is generally built with a very gradual incline, say half an inch for every foot of track, maybe less...
the support requirements are anything really, from a chair, to a nail in the wall to a bunkbed, to the bannister of a stairway. in a couple of weeks i hope to post more photos and videos.
does that answer your question?
So what is the minimum and maximum incline?
And what are the support requirements?
actually its easy enough for a five year old child. i need to post a video showing how its done, and i will in a couple of weeks, but you can see on the photos at the bottom of this page that the marble chute consists of two components; connectors and rails. all the connectors are identical, and the rails are either curved or straight.
the hardest part is adjusting the incline.
How difficult will this be to put together?
just design also a lift for the marble to start again the run...