This TOMI type device construction, referred to as a SMOT, describes a
possible closed loop system. It was posted elsewhere but is so simple
to prove I thought folks here might find it worth tinkering with;
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At 10:49 PM 8/26/98 -0500, you wrote:
>At 11:54 AM 8/26/98 -0400, you wrote:
>
> Hello Richard....regarding your smot-popsicle-smot....any possibility
> of more details...I would greatly appreciate it. I have never seen one
> built so simply work and would like to try build one myself.
> thanks - mike slivinski
I will try to describe how in words. If that dosn't work I
will find some ambition and draw it up. It is simple so don't
try and make it complicated.
Get a bunch of magnets. I used some about 3mmx10mmx25mm.I glued
these to popsickle sticks end to end and touching so that
north poles were exposed on one stick and south poles exposed
on the other.
These magnets will try to push themselves apart as you glue
them on so use fast glue and patience. Set this aside for a
few minutes while you take 2 more popsickle sticks and glue
these to a small board not much larger than the sticks.
Glue them flat and with a small gap between them to act as
a rail for the ball to run on.
Now get your magnetic rails and glue them beside this rail
wood side in so the ball does not stick to the magnets if
it comes off.
Angle these magnetic rails open slightly. Make sure the ball
will fit on the rails without touching the magnetic sides.
Put the ball at the start and watch it roll.
Angle the whole thing up and watch the ball roll uphill and
drop off the end. Make 4 and maybe you can get a square
loop.
-- Jerry Wayne Decker / jdecker@keelynet.com http://keelynet.com / "From an Art to a Science" Voice : (214) 324-8741 / FAX : (214) 324-3501 KeelyNet - PO BOX 870716 - Mesquite - Republic of Texas - 75187