World's Largest Virtual Rube Goldberg

Medium

This is an unique opportunity to be part of world's largest virtual Rube Goldberg project. We welcome our engineers to join in teams and make it an interesting project for people to follow and participate. Use your imagination and don't forget to add animations. If this machine gets long and complex enough, we're planning on applying for a Guinness World Record for largest CAD project ever!

Our goal is to build largest Rube Goldberg machine with as many engineers participating as possible. There can be several team entries with different approaches and CAD softwares used. The charm about this machine is that it is never ending.

The Idea is that everyone adds their own mechanism to the machine. So download the files, build the next mechanism(s) and when you are done post the new files on GrabCAD. Remember to add a comment if you are working on the next mechanism so others don't start building it.

There has been one similar project in GrabCAD: Rube Goldberg Experiment

So team up with engineers in your office, engineers you went to school with, or engineers already on GrabCAD and let's make this a fun challenge! Build build build!

Thanks to Scott Bruins for the original idea and http://www.youdopia.com/2012/01/17/the-coolest-rube-goldberg-machine-ever-caution-french/ for the picture.

________________________________________________________________________________________
All Rights Reserved. RUBE GOLDBERG (R) and RUBE GOLDBERG MACHINE (TM) are registered trademarks of Rube Goldberg Inc. www.rubegoldberg.com

Requirements

Parts designed by different engineers must draw a Rube Goldberg effect: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rube_Goldberg_machine
Each team needs to have a project manager responsible for sorting out the work order
Each entry needs to come out with an animation
Goal is to build largest Rube Goldberg machine with as many parts as possible
The model view of engineer designing the first part of the mechanism will be platform for the whole project
It is highly recommended each team to have "sign up" sheet to understand who is doing what and in what order

Rules

Competition is open to everybody
Team entries are welcome
You can submit several designs
Each entry will be counted as part
Models can be done in any CAD software as long as a STEP or IGES files are also uploaded
Only models uploaded through this challenge page will participate in the challenge
Tag your model to "rubegoldberg"

Prizes

T-Shirt: Each member of a winning team chosen by our jury will get GrabCAD T-Shirt
Rube Goldberg Badge: All participants will get Rube Goldberg Badge

About GrabCAD

GrabCAD is a community founded by mechanical engineers. It is also a place for engineers to share their talent, expand knowledge, find a dream project and work with tools and features that make life better.

57 comments

Manolis Theofilos about 1 year ago

So one has to make the starting model. I will start the project.

Manolis Theofilos has uploaded 83 CAD models & has left 596 comments.
Gabe Blanchet about 1 year ago

Awesome Manolis! Can't wait to see what you design as the starting platform for other engineers to build off of!

Gabe Blanchet has uploaded 3 CAD models & has left 271 comments.
Kira about 1 year ago

Lets win us a Guinness World Record!

Kira has uploaded 7 CAD models & has left 135 comments.
Kyle Reeder about 1 year ago

Im excited! already got my addition thought up. now it's up to the execution. Anyone got a good resource for solidworks animation tips?

Kyle Reeder has uploaded 7 CAD models & has left 11 comments.
William about 1 year ago

This is 100%WICKED can not wait to have another little blast @ this one :))))) Nice one Manolis on starting this one off :))))) Just an idea about the team entrys - an IV team - SW team - Pro E team - Catia team, ect..... :)

William has uploaded 104 CAD models & has left 7865 comments.
Ghioca Claudiu about 1 year ago

can i participate by my self without being part of a team????

Ghioca Claudiu has uploaded 73 CAD models & has left 178 comments.
William about 1 year ago

Hi Ghioca yes :))))) looking forward to seeing what you come up with

William has uploaded 104 CAD models & has left 7865 comments.
Manolis Theofilos about 1 year ago

I teamed up with William now.

Manolis Theofilos has uploaded 83 CAD models & has left 596 comments.
Allen about 1 year ago

I would like to participate in this. I'm on SolidWorks if anyone wants to team up with me. Here's an example of a SW animation that I made recently: http://youtu.be/ydDL0kwjhvE

Allen has uploaded 9 CAD models & has left 17 comments.
- - about 1 year ago

would I be able to participate even though I use inventor?

- - has uploaded 0 CAD models & has left 3 comments.
Manolis Theofilos about 1 year ago

Of course you can. You just need to upload a step or iges format of your experiment as well.

Manolis Theofilos has uploaded 83 CAD models & has left 596 comments.
Nicole Aggarwal about 1 year ago

How do you make stuff? WHAT DO YOU DOWNLOAD?!

Nicole Aggarwal has uploaded 0 CAD models & has left 1 comments.
- - about 1 year ago

I use inventor, (from autocad) as I am an engineering student, however the majority of people here (from what I have seen) use a program called solid works- both programs cost money as they are used (I think solid works is) in the professional field. I honestly have no clue if there is another program you could use... blender???

- - has uploaded 0 CAD models & has left 3 comments.
jaydeep n about 1 year ago

Any Solid Works Designer...Wants To work With Me In This Project Me.....

jaydeep n has uploaded 5 CAD models & has left 23 comments.
Adam Pohl about 1 year ago

Hows it coming Manolis??

Adam Pohl has uploaded 84 CAD models & has left 1408 comments.
jaydeep n about 1 year ago

Any Solid Works Designer Would Like to Join My Group Please Send me E mail On jnd.mecher@gmail.com

jaydeep n has uploaded 5 CAD models & has left 23 comments.
Allen about 1 year ago

So wait. Is each team supposed to create their own "worlds largest Rube Goldburg devise" and then we link them all together after to make the real world record attempt? or do we just take turns adding steps on to whatever the previous designer posted?

Allen has uploaded 9 CAD models & has left 17 comments.
Gabe Blanchet about 1 year ago

@Allen- we take turns adding steps on to the previous submission. You can add more then one section if you'd like, though!

Gabe Blanchet has uploaded 3 CAD models & has left 271 comments.
Gabe Blanchet about 1 year ago

@Allen- Your section can be as long and complicated as you like, so long as it links to the previous section and leaves an obvious "end point" for the next engineer to start. The other factor is turnaround time- It's good to take turns, but when it's your turn, try to post your addition quickly.

Gabe Blanchet has uploaded 3 CAD models & has left 271 comments.
Nick Hampton about 1 year ago

I suggest you have a defined start/end point for the ball.
Just give a dimension on where the ball will end up.That way everyone can at least begin there models and add them when its there turn without waiting to see where to begin?You may end up with a lot more entries for the time frame.

Nick Hampton has uploaded 17 CAD models & has left 21 comments.
Collin Sturm about 1 year ago

I am not very experienced with inventor, but I will do my best!!! I might even get school credit for this!!

Collin Sturm has uploaded 4 CAD models & has left 29 comments.
Collin Sturm about 1 year ago

Does anyone want to be on my team? I use Autodesk Inventor 2011.

Collin Sturm has uploaded 4 CAD models & has left 29 comments.
Ajinkya Gotise about 1 year ago

the large projects doesen't made by single person...

Ajinkya Gotise has uploaded 0 CAD models & has left 3 comments.
Collin Sturm about 1 year ago

Ajinkya, I do not understand what you are trying to say.

Collin Sturm has uploaded 4 CAD models & has left 29 comments.
Nuno Felix about 1 year ago

I created an entry but its not listed here?

Nuno Felix has uploaded 298 CAD models & has left 213 comments.
Kaspar Kiis about 1 year ago

We are working on getting it fixed.

Kaspar Kiis has uploaded 3 CAD models & has left 1122 comments.
Nuno Felix about 1 year ago

Thanks

Nuno Felix has uploaded 298 CAD models & has left 213 comments.
Nuno Felix about 1 year ago

Can i get a prize for starting it?? :) I want a Grabcad Coffee Mug ;)

Nuno Felix has uploaded 298 CAD models & has left 213 comments.
Tomica Vukovic about 1 year ago

Some time long agoo is exist a game for small and big kids on comps, named, I think, Incredible machines - it was working on DOS and it had a amasing solutions. Really good game for brain.

Tomica Vukovic has uploaded 109 CAD models & has left 139 comments.
Kaspar Kiis about 1 year ago

Nuno, we will send you a GrabCAD coffee mug for adding the first part, no problems. Who is doing the next step? Looking forward to get this thing going. We definitely need several Rube Goldberg projects running parallel. Any Solid Edge, Pro E, Catia engineers?

Kaspar Kiis has uploaded 3 CAD models & has left 1122 comments.
Leigh Christie about 1 year ago

have any of you seen the life sized mousetrap? or the work of Synn Labs?

Leigh Christie has uploaded 0 CAD models & has left 8 comments.
Martha about 1 year ago

hmmmm

Martha has uploaded 3 CAD models & has left 8 comments.
Tobias Mattsson about 1 year ago

Heh, whats the meaning of making a private entry in this challenge? :)

Tobias Mattsson has uploaded 74 CAD models & has left 980 comments.
Elian Feenstra 12 months ago

Cool stuff... first thogh, I need to finish my graduation project before I will endulge myself in this.

Already having mad plans that will never see the light of day :s

Elian Feenstra has uploaded 26 CAD models & has left 178 comments.
Kaspar Kiis 12 months ago

Hey, any change to see something new soon? Who is working on what and how is it going? :)

Kaspar Kiis has uploaded 3 CAD models & has left 1122 comments.
William Pendleton 11 months ago

what is the last submission? is anyone working on the next?

William Pendleton has uploaded 7 CAD models & has left 33 comments.
Juan Cárdenas 11 months ago

is there a software where I can simulate the sphere's circuit?

Juan Cárdenas has uploaded 1 CAD models & has left 5 comments.
Cullen Williams 11 months ago

I'll start on one, Which of the entries was the last one?

Cullen Williams has uploaded 15 CAD models & has left 35 comments.
Kaspar Kiis 10 months ago

As there hasn't been no reply who is next I propose William Pendleton is doing the next bit on Rube Goldberg part Please reply within 3 days if you are willing to do that. If no, either Juan Cárdenas or Cullen Williams will take it over. We need to start get moving as the time is running out.

Kaspar Kiis has uploaded 3 CAD models & has left 1122 comments.
Kaspar Kiis 10 months ago

@Juan Cárdenas can you make another bit?

Kaspar Kiis has uploaded 3 CAD models & has left 1122 comments.
ann saint 10 months ago

Who's idea was this? It's fantastic! But I think it is worthless without motion animation in the end, so all entries should be required to be jointed in realistic ways.

ann saint has uploaded 3 CAD models & has left 3 comments.
Mohomed Nusry 10 months ago

I would like to take the next turn. By the way, where can I find the latest model?

Mohomed Nusry has uploaded 21 CAD models & has left 63 comments.
douglas sobers 10 months ago

I have been a fan of Rube Goldberg for over 5 years ago.His designs inspired me to create my own in a 3D software.Before I even think about beginning though,I would like to know if .max files (3ds max files) can be converted to STEP or IGES files?

douglas sobers has uploaded 1 CAD models & has left 1 comments.
Hardi Meybaum 10 months ago

douglas sobers great to see you involved. Based on this you can convert.

http://grabcad.com/questions/can-we-convert-the-shelby-cobra-file-to-stl

Hardi Meybaum has uploaded 5 CAD models & has left 1288 comments.
Kaspar Kiis 10 months ago

@Mohomed all the related files should be together with the original (very first) Rube Goldberg part. You can also ask engineers involved in this project directly if you have any questions. Looking forward to see your entry.

Kaspar Kiis has uploaded 3 CAD models & has left 1122 comments.
John Richardson 9 months ago

I'de like to contribute to this project but it looks like everyone is doing their own thing. Which file should I download and add to?

John Richardson has uploaded 6 CAD models & has left 5 comments.
Kaspar Kiis 9 months ago

John, continue with this one: Rube Goldberg part and let us know if you are working on it.

Kaspar Kiis has uploaded 3 CAD models & has left 1122 comments.
William 9 months ago

Hi John, now that I have a little more time on my hands rather than working 24/7 LoL'ss could you let me know how you are going to finish yours and I shall make a little start in a few days for another section please? If so that will be great :P

William has uploaded 104 CAD models & has left 7865 comments.
Ibrahim Sanih Ahmed 9 months ago

I'm guessing you'll need a pretty powerful machine to execute a large enough collection right?!

Ibrahim Sanih Ahmed has uploaded 12 CAD models & has left 84 comments.
ged M 9 months ago

I'm excited to see how this will turn out!

ged M has uploaded 1 CAD models & has left 36 comments.
Surajmal 8 months ago

My entry
Virtual Rube Goldberg

Surajmal has uploaded 100 CAD models & has left 474 comments.
Fateh MERRAD 8 months ago

when the result will be displayed ?

Fateh MERRAD has uploaded 76 CAD models & has left 620 comments.
Silvio Arcanjo 8 months ago

when the result will be displayed ? two!

Silvio Arcanjo has uploaded 126 CAD models & has left 298 comments.
J E Paz 8 months ago

looking forward to the results!!

J E Paz has uploaded 62 CAD models & has left 1044 comments.
Tomas 8 months ago

:) Congratulations! Really good team! :)

Tomas has uploaded 41 CAD models & has left 737 comments.
braham 3 months ago

Congratulations

braham has uploaded 39 CAD models & has left 903 comments.