https://youtu.be/O-FKcK0vzgY
I designed this model to mimic the operation of a few new "perpetual motion" devices that have yet again been appearing in my suggested video feed. "Marblevator, Perpetual?, Version 2" like "Marblevator, Perpetual?" is not perpetual motion, but it sure is quiet with the only noise being that of the marble as it swooshes around the track.
The 3D printed portion of the model consists of only three components, the base, top and a sloped track. Without any assistance, the marble (ball bearing) when placed at the high point of the track will roll down the track slope until it comes upon the track uphill portion, where it will stop and reverse direction thanks to gravity and a few other thermodynamic law things ( :) ).
To overcome gravity and those thermodynamic law things, I've hidden an infrared transceiver, an electromagnetic coil and some electronic circuitry in the base to accelerate the ball bearing up the hill. As the ball bearing reaches the low point of the track, the infrared transceiver senses the ball bearing and generates a pulse into the electromagnetic coil which accelerates the ball bearing fast enough to overcome the uphill climb. Once over the uphill climb, the ball bearing rolls down the track, crosses over the infrared transceiver again, and the process repeats.
Our six year old grandson almost figured this one out the first time he saw it, which makes us proud!
Designed using Autodesk Fusion 360, sliced using Ultimaker Cura 4.12.1, and 3D printed in PLA on Ultimaker S5s.