Alarm Clock Style Rube Goldberg

When I saw this competition, I started to think about what would be a good example of applying many simple machines in a Rube Goldberg style task and I decided to make an alarm clock that at the sunrise, a mechanism that contains a magnifying glass, concentrates the sun's rays on a matchstick, that when it burns releases a lever mechanism that through a string removes a support that makes a hammer fall on a switch, which, when closing an electrical circuit, turns on a hair dryer, the air flow drives a small sailboat, which after crossing a pool, reaches the other side and activates a lever that through a string releases a small cart that, slides on a wooden slat that serves as an inclined plane, at the end, the small cart activates a mechanism that launches a dart that crosses a window and activates a lever that releases a ball that descend on a slide, and at the end of this activates an audible alarm (a pan and a spoon) and, at the same time releases another car that slides on an inclined plane and at the end activates a lever that releases a mechanism that by means of a counterweight and pulleys causes small ropes that are attached to the sheet to be retracted, achieving this way to wake you up.

As I am a fan of LEGO TECHNIC, I decided to take out all my pieces and started to build this funny system.

PDF instructions for the construction of all models are included. Inside each instruction is the list of parts that are required to assemble them.

LEGO pieces can be purchased at www.bricklink.com

At the end of this INSTRUCTABLE, there is a LEGO ENGINEERING FUNDAMENTALS section where each of the simple machines is described.

IMPORTANT: English is not my first language.
If you have a suggestion to improve it, please let me know.

I hope you enjoy this INSTRUCTABLE as much as I enjoy doing it.

Step 1: A.- MAGNIFYNG GLASS

This was the most fun to build. Build a mechanism that through a magnifying glass concentrates the sun's rays on a matchstick that when it burns releases a piece of string that releases a lever mechanism that pulls a string that activates the following mechanism.

I decided to mount this on a rail system in such a way that by means of a pulley system and a steering wheel we can adjust the inclination of the magnifying glass, which allows us to select the time (between 6 and 9 in the morning, due to the inclination of the sun at sunrise) at which we want the system to activate.

The distance between the magnifying glass and the matchstick was experimented with until the exact length was determined to allow the matchstick to always be in the focus of the magnifying glass.

Step 2: B.- THE HAMMER

The hammer has the function of energizing the electrical circuit that feeds the dryer.

Step 3: C.- THE DRYER

A hairdryer is used as a source of wind energy to propel the sailing boat.

Step 4: D.- THE SAILING SHIP

The sailing boat is made up of a thin tubular structure made of LEGO elements, which allows holding two plastic bottles that function as floats.

The sail of the boat is made of a plastic bag. The bow of the boat has a high-height flexible extension that allows the activation of the gate mechanism located on the edge of the pool. The sailboat is propelled by the air coming from the dryer.

To level the sailboat, I use a pair of bolts and a small brass coupling placed at the stern of the boat.

Step 5: E.- THE GATE

This gate is designed to receive the impact of the sailing boat and by means of a lever pull the string that activates the next stage.

It consists of a frame covered with a transparent acrylic plate that allows you to see through the impact area.

It has a base that allows you to put a weight on it and keep it firm next to the pool.

Step 6: F.- THE CAR

The car is made up of three pairs of tires. One pair is made of thick tires and they are placed vertically and they are the ones that support the weight of the car and slide on the wooden strip. The other two pairs of wheels are thinner and are placed horizontally on each side of the cart and their function is to keep the cart centered on the wooden strip.

It is designed to impact the system that throws the dart.

Step 7: G.- THE DART

This device is activated when the car that descends through the wooden slat hits a lever that releases the dart, which crosses the window and activates the next stage.

The system has a worm gear that allows you to adjust the firing angle of the dart.

Step 8: STRUCTURES

In the following sections, we are going to occupy a type of structure that allows us to place the mechanisms of the system at different heights and with different configurations, so in this step, we are going to learn how to build a type of modular structure that can be used for many other projectors. (maybe a traveling crane).

Step 9: H & I.- THE SECOND GATE & RAILS

This is a mechanism with many functions.

It is based on a two-section high structural tower. In the upper part, the gate from the previous step is placed. Supporting axes for the rail guides are placed along the 4 sides. The rails are constructed of rigid plastic coated wire. At the bottom is placed the mechanism that activates both the audible alarm and the release of the car that activates the last phase.

Step 10: SUPPORT 1

Step 11: J & K.- AUDIBLE ALARM & CAR 2

This mechanism is one of the funniest. At the end of its travel, the ball falls on a plate that releases through a lever a counterweight that when falling causes a drum to unwind, which when rotating transmits its movement to a gear train, which at the end has a piece with three cams that exert an up and down motion on the spoon, which hits the pan, causing you to wake up.

Attached to the release mechanism is a lever that when activated causes the stopper to be released and allows the car to descend onto the ramp and activate the next stage.

Step 12: SUPPORT 2

Step 13: L.- FLAT SHEET REMOVE MECHANISM

This is the last mechanism and is in charge of pulling the sheets. It is made up of a lever that, when activated, makes a counterweight (bottle of water) fall, which pulls a string that, passing through a pair of pulleys, unwinds the string from a coil, which when rotating transmits its movement to a system gear of pinion and crown. This system in turn rotates a 40 tooth gear mated to an 8 tooth gear. This 8-tooth gear turns the wheels that are responsible for pulling and winding the strings that pull the sheet.

Step 14: LEGO ENGINEERING FUNDAMENTALS

Step 15: REFERENCES