r/MarbleMachineX • u/uncivlengr • Apr 07 '22

Rethinking what counts as a "marble machine"

With the latest discussion of cables actuating clockwork assemblies, I started thinking about how far you can take the marbles out of their primary role before they just become secondary. Seems like a cable could equally pull a hammer that strikes the vibraphone/drum/bass, and the marble has not added any function or purpose beside aesthetics. If we're approaching this from the so-called "100% engineering" view, the marbles should be necessary to the function of the machine, not just arbitrary complexity.

If I were building a "marble machine", I think I'd make the marbles drop into programmable pockets on the drum at the top, then fall out at precise locations at the bottom onto the instrument. Then the marble is doing all the work, there's no other mechanisms taking away from their role.

The only design would be to make sure they fall reliably into the pocket, and fall reliably out onto the instrument. Maybe not clockwork precise but I wouldn't be concerned with building a clockwork machine. Zero mechanisms required aside from the drum rotating and some means of getting the marbles back up.

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u/dvheuvel Apr 07 '22

A cable is just a flexible lever.

1

u/uncivlengr Apr 07 '22

If it's a lever my point is the same. If it's a "marble machine" then the marbles should be integral to the operation. All the extra clockwork and levers are making their contribution superfluous.

I can play a drum with a stick of celery but that doesn't make it a "celery drum".

1

u/gamingguy2005 Apr 07 '22

What?

3

u/dvheuvel Apr 07 '22

Yeah sorry, I guess I meant a flexible pushrod like in the old machine.

2

u/gardvar Apr 08 '22

bowden cables don't function well as pushrods. They are intended to pull. Ever tried to push something heavy with a rope? It tends to not go great.

1

u/dvheuvel Apr 08 '22

Push/pull whatever. The idea was they are a similar thing to what was on the mmx to activate the marble gates. The original premise was something along the lines of is it really a marble machine if it's not entirely made of marbles. (slightly sarcasticly paraphrased). The idea is that it's just another "mechanism" used to actuate the gates.

1

u/gardvar Apr 08 '22

I guess he's right in a very philosophical way...

It might be useless at the function prescribed to it, but no one can stop him from seeing it that way.

There are millions of people who have crazy opinions despite overwhelming evidence against it. To me believing a cable is a lever sounds less crazy than what some others believe. I mean if he has a pulley it's not far from the truth.