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Previous Sculpture
"The Mechanical Demonstrator"
The Mechanical Demonstrator is currently on display on the Virginia Tech campus in Randolph Hall, the location of the Mechanical Engineering Department.
If you have engineering ambitions, be sure to check out Virginia Tech!
The Mechanical Demonstrator is a very complex system which touches on every aspect of engineering in some way. The demonstrator operates between
class changes and on-demand using an exterior switch. The display has been in operation for 4 years.
An ever-present topic of conversation, the Mechanical Demonstrator has become a part of the department and continues
to inspire young engineers to think more creatively.
The following video files show various sections of the Mechanical Demonstrator in action. For the best viewing of this streaming video,
be sure to have your speakers on and select the file that matches your connection speed. You can also "right-click" the link and "save
target as" if you wish to view the video later. Enjoy!
Let us begin my looking at the Screw Lift. This video shows marbles entering the lift and traveling to the top of the sculpture. Once at the
top, they travel through the track to the circle Gate. The Circle Gate distributes the marbles to four separate tracks. In this video,
I highlight everyone's favorite track section, the Loop-the-Loop. Once through the loop, the marbles return to the lift for another trip.
Screw Lift Video for High-Speed (512Kbps, 5.12MB WMV file)
Screw Lift Video for Dial-Up (48Kbps, 547KB WMV file)
This video highlights the geartrain that powers the Screw Lift, the Circle Gate, and the Plinko Gate's randomizing platform. Be sure to notice the large amount of
continuous motion. The gears, linkages, and shafts all make a visually appealing display, even when no marbles are running.
Motor 1 Geartrain Video for High-Speed (512Kbps, 2.67MB WMV file)
Motor 1 Geartrain Video for Dial-Up (48Kbps, 288KB WMV file)
The other primary lifting device is the Disk Lift. Just like the Screw Lift, the Disk Lift moves the marbles to the top of the sculpture, but in a
completely different way. Once at the top, the marbles pass through the Plinko Gate. The Plinko Gate distributes the marbles to five separate
tracks using random distribution. In this video, I highlight three popular track elements. The marbles then collect at the bottom
and return to the lift for another trip.
Disk Lift Video for High-Speed (512Kbps, 5.3MB WMV file)
Disk Lift Video for Dial-Up (48Kbps, 554KB WMV file)
This video highlights the geartrain that powers the Disk Lift and the VT Link. Both the VT Link and the Disk Lift require a good amount of speed reduction,
which also increases torque. Be sure to take note of the worm gear that drives the VT Link, and remember the motion of the brass gears
when you view the VT Link video.
Motor 2 Geartrain Video for High-Speed (512Kbps, 2.64MB WMV file)
Motor 2 Geartrain Video for Dial-Up (48Kbps, 290KB WMV file)
This video shows the complete journey of one marble through the VT Link circuit. When the Link is at the bottom of its movement, be sure
to notice how it stalls briefly in Virginia Tech's famous trademarked logo. Notice the gating systems required to allow the marbles to enter
and exit the platforms. This is a very unique mechanism, unlike anything seen before.
VT Link Video for High-Speed (512Kbps, 4.15MB WMV file)
VT Link Video for Dial-Up (48Kbps, 433B WMV file)
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If you are visiting Virginia Tech, check out the sculpture! Click on the map for location information and directions
by Mapquest.
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