The Joker

We have been instructed by MyMachine to design a dream machine from children in reality! In this case it's a joke machine. It's designed to be placed in a classroom and reward children with jokes. On the black sides can be drawn. This way the machine can be personalised by the whole class and becomes a part of the class every year again. To make the machine extra fun, a cotton candy machine is placed on top!

Step 1: Assembly Drawing

On the assembly drawing you can see all the different parts of the machine. In the next steps we will discuss the various steps in order to make and assemble the machine.

Step 2: Bottom Frame, Subassembly 1

First we make the bottom frame of the machine. Welding is used to join the beams.

Then we screw the base plate made of plywood on the fixed lower frame using M5 sunken head bolts.

Next we place a dowel support on or base plate. On the dowel support comes our center support. This is all glued together.

Then we put our slides, tucked into the right shape and we finish the subassembly with the distribution point on it.

In the next step we confirm our wooden plates on the lower frame with 3mm rivets.

In this video the previous steps are visualised:

Step 3: Technical Drawings Bottom Frame

Step 4: Distributing Mechanism, Subassembly 2

Now, we will make another subassembly which will be attached to the machine later.

First we start with the centreboard where a hole is provided in the middle for the balls.

We confirm the who guide beams along the outside of the centreboard.

Then we limit the running of our key system with two strips which are attached between the guide beams.

Next we put a bridge system on the guide bar.

Then we guide our key system under the bridge.

Our key fits into the groove of the key system.

By placing a cover on our key system the key remains on his place.

After this step, we place our funnel/resevoir on our distributing mechanism.

As a final step we screws a funnel support under the funnel.

All this is joined together using screws AND glue to make sure it won't break when children play with the machine!

These steps are visualised in the next video:

Step 5: Technical Drawings Distributing Mechanism

Step 6: Top Frame, Subassembly 3

At the top of the frame comes the top of the cover which is fastened with rivets 6mm.

Next, we attach the hinges to the frame using 3mm rivets.

Subassembly 2 is bolted on the frame using M6 bolts and nuts.

To finish this subassembly, we attach the side panels to the hinges using 3mm rivets.

Step 7: Technical Drawing Top Frame

Step 8: Final Assembly

In the final step, we connect the bottom subassembly with the upper subassembly. 6 M8 bolts and nuts are used to make this connection

Last but not least , we attach the cotton candy machine on the upper surface of the machine.

Step 9: How Does It Work?

Here you can see the operation of the internal mechanism of the distributing system of the balls.

By pushing and pulling the key a ball falls down. This ball will randomly choose an exit.

The key is the crucial element to handle the machine. It can be won by the children as a reward for good behavour for example.

Step 10: End Result

Now that the joker is ready for use! The fun can begin!