Designed for Creality's "Timepiece Design" contest, this amazing, versatile timer relies on gravity to count (almost) exactly 3 seconds. The uses for this are innumerable:

-- refereeing a basketball game? drop the marble in the chute when a player steps in the key, if they're still there when it hits bottom, call a violation!

-- about to explode at a co-worker? drop the marble first, it's just like counting to 3 except you don't have to actually count, it does it for you!

-- need to enter a timepiece design contest but your artistic/design skills are sorely lacking to do anything impressive clock-wise? build this!

-- and many more, probably!

What's even better, the design is such that you can stack as many layers as you need to increase the timer's duration. Each layer adds a half-second or so. Need a one-minute timer? No problem -- just print 120 layers, stack them up, and you're set. Need an hour? Same answer, just get yourself a nice tall step ladder and stack 7200 layers. It couldn't be simpler!

The model comes with the base, the entry funnel, and an additional chute, supports, and a curved backstop you can print for as many layers as you need. It also comes with a "ball", that miraculously prints egg-shaped even though the design is a perfect sphere. You can even print the ball with 100% solid inside, in which case the printer will get about halfway through before the print adheres itself to the print head instead of the plate and you get what essentially looks like a bowl of spaghetti!

DISCLAIMER -- the designer of this magnificent device offers no guarantee, or even hope, that this measures any amount of time accurately, consistently, or at all.

We'll let AI tell you the rest.

Design Concept

This marble timer is crafted to function as an engaging kinetic sculpture that visually counts time through the movement of marbles. It draws inspiration from classic hourglasses, with a playful mechanical twist.

Purpose

Primarily used as a decorative desk piece or a playful time-counting mechanism, it's great for environments like classrooms, study rooms, or offices. It provides a tangible interaction with time, making it both aesthetically pleasing and educational.

Printing Advice

Use high-quality PLA or ABS to ensure durability and smooth operation of the marbles through the tracks. Consider printing the funnel separately for better quality and then attaching it to the structure.

Assembly Instructions

Ensure each track piece fits precisely before final assembly. Glue or connect using screws as needed, making sure all pipes are aligned for smooth marble flow. A slight inclination will help maintain an even flow.

Marble timer

0.2mm layer, 2 walls, 10% infill