3D Printing Pen Marble Maze STEAM Activity

Get the Free Instant Download of the Marble Maze Templates!

This week we have a special STEAM activity for all you who revel in a tech design and engineering challenge!

Marble mazes (or marble runs as they're also called) take the principles of velocity, angles, design and, well...patience to the ultimate test.

Want to try the best engineering challenge? Put the creativity in your own hands by designing your tracks, ramps, chutes and levels with your MYNT3D printing pen.

3D Pen Marble Run

Supplies:

• MYNT3D pen

• Filament colors from the Super 32 pack of ABS

• Marble Maze Tracks free project template

• Shallow box

• Hot glue gun

• Pencil

• Marble

• Scissors or utility blade

*Adult supervision required

1. Find a shallow rectangular box to use as your frame. Cut a hole in the top for the marble to enter.

2. Download and print the marble maze free project template from MYNT3D.

3. Pick out your filament and heat up your MYNT3D pen. ABS = 210°C / PLA 170° - 175°C

4. Trace and fill in the ramp templates, or modify them to your own design specs.

Pro Tip - Have a plan for angles and lengths before you start drawing.

5. Add sides to the ramps to keep the marble on track. Draw over a pencil to create scallop edges.

6. Get creative adding speed bumps, tunnels and vertical chutes. Roll a piece of paper, that's wider than your marble, draw around it to make a chute.

7. Attach track pieces together with the 3D pen.

8. Hot glue track pieces into the box frame.

9. Test ramps as you go. Note: You may need to add supports, taller sides, or readjust ramp angles.

With your 3D pen it’s easy to add modifications as you go.

For a real challenge, time your marble – the slower, the better!