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Here is something similar ("useless" complex machine made from wood) that somebody made to create music: "Wintergatan - Marble Machine (music instrument using

Here is something similar ("useless" complex machine made from wood) that somebody made to create music: "Wintergatan - Marble Machine (music instrument using 2000 marbles)" https://youtu.be/IvUU8joBb1Q https://youtu.be/IvUU8joBb1Q The video shows the details pretty well too, and the piece being played is of quite good quality. One can see that the machine can just play a pre-configured song, but the operator can add and/or change a lot while running it to create variations of that pre-configured song. The machine is programmable, so that song could be changed.

jrimbault 5y ago
Checking the youtube channel, the operator of the machine has continued to refine his design, in the last video it barely shakes (https://youtu.be/ZddqSR1wXkE?t=3025 https://youtu.be/ZddqSR1wXkE?t=3025), if it shakes at all. Weird fun dedication to a passion project ^^
- wincy 5y ago
  He live streams all of his work too, which is absolutely amazing to watch four or five hours of him refining small parts of the complex machine he’s working on. I watched him make small adjustments to a tube the marbles drop into so they’d travel at just the right speed to the next point, but without binding. Slightly too loose messes everything up, and slightly too tight makes the marbles get stuck. He’s supported by Patreon fans, which is truly amazing that such a skilled and niche project can be put together from the funding of random people who believe in him.
- pininja 5y ago
  He’s so openly collaborative too, it’s inspiring! There’s a vibrant discord community of makers, 3d designs, and engineers helping Martin solve problems and prepare a “Manufacturable CAD.” Like, there are dozens of ideas linked in the video description for a contraption to divide one stream of marbles into four: https://youtu.be/U4B0i0VzXuA https://youtu.be/U4B0i0VzXuA
thanhhaimai 5y ago
This song is in my audiophile test tracks list. It sounds amazing on a well calibrated HT system. The wood "scratching" of the machine operation adds so much realism to the track; it makes you feel like you're just there in front of the machine. I'm half waiting for him to redo the track again with his latest marble machine. Only half waiting though, since there is no "stopping point" for a hobby project :)
Zababa 5y ago
I'll take this opportunity to post the Death Grips mashup https://youtu.be/gSQyPdYz4f4 https://youtu.be/gSQyPdYz4f4, which the creator of that machine really likes!
kevin_thibedeau 5y ago
Not exactly useless. Wooden clocks used to be mass produced as an affordable option for the middle class.
- AussieWog93 5y ago
  It's "useless" in the sense that you can go to IKEA and buy a small, easy-to-read, reliable, accurate clock for $2. Even though wooden clocks were once useful, this was not designed to accurately keep time but more to just be beautiful.
  - hellbannedguy 5y ago
    Wooden clocks were made up until the early 20th century. They were more accurate than people think. If anyone comes across a wood movment, don't use oil on the pivots, and bushing (usually just a smooth hole in a piece of hardwood.). Just dust, and use graphite.
bayindirh 5y ago
That guy creates a lot of instruments, including portable ones. He's a very passionate woodworker and a great collaborator, it seems.

jrimbault 5y ago

Checking the youtube channel, the operator of the machine has continued to refine his design, in the last video it barely shakes (https://youtu.be/ZddqSR1wXkE?t=3025 https://youtu.be/ZddqSR1wXkE?t=3025), if it shakes at all. Weird fun dedication to a passion project ^^

wincy 5y ago
He live streams all of his work too, which is absolutely amazing to watch four or five hours of him refining small parts of the complex machine he’s working on. I watched him make small adjustments to a tube the marbles drop into so they’d travel at just the right speed to the next point, but without binding. Slightly too loose messes everything up, and slightly too tight makes the marbles get stuck. He’s supported by Patreon fans, which is truly amazing that such a skilled and niche project can be put together from the funding of random people who believe in him.
pininja 5y ago
He’s so openly collaborative too, it’s inspiring! There’s a vibrant discord community of makers, 3d designs, and engineers helping Martin solve problems and prepare a “Manufacturable CAD.” Like, there are dozens of ideas linked in the video description for a contraption to divide one stream of marbles into four: https://youtu.be/U4B0i0VzXuA https://youtu.be/U4B0i0VzXuA

thanhhaimai 5y ago

This song is in my audiophile test tracks list. It sounds amazing on a well calibrated HT system. The wood "scratching" of the machine operation adds so much realism to the track; it makes you feel like you're just there in front of the machine. I'm half waiting for him to redo the track again with his latest marble machine. Only half waiting though, since there is no "stopping point" for a hobby project :)

Zababa 5y ago

I'll take this opportunity to post the Death Grips mashup https://youtu.be/gSQyPdYz4f4 https://youtu.be/gSQyPdYz4f4, which the creator of that machine really likes!

kevin_thibedeau 5y ago

Not exactly useless. Wooden clocks used to be mass produced as an affordable option for the middle class.

AussieWog93 5y ago
It's "useless" in the sense that you can go to IKEA and buy a small, easy-to-read, reliable, accurate clock for $2. Even though wooden clocks were once useful, this was not designed to accurately keep time but more to just be beautiful.
- hellbannedguy 5y ago
  Wooden clocks were made up until the early 20th century. They were more accurate than people think. If anyone comes across a wood movment, don't use oil on the pivots, and bushing (usually just a smooth hole in a piece of hardwood.). Just dust, and use graphite.

bayindirh 5y ago

That guy creates a lot of instruments, including portable ones. He's a very passionate woodworker and a great collaborator, it seems.