
In this project we were tasked with splitting the class into about 4 or 5 groups of about 3 or 4 people each in an attempt to create a Rube Goldberg machine through combining each of the 4 or 5 groups' 3 part mechanism to put a pizza in an oven. There were many challenges along the way which most notably was the logistics and communication with the various groups as well as the time management. Our 3 part mechanisms consisted mainly of pulley systems as well as a see saw and gear system. When the final few days came around to build our ideas and test them, we all really felt the stress of the possibility of failing the task or worse, not even having a machine to attempt the task. We finished (as we were setting up in the auditorium) however the machine was not completely autonomous which was a big dissapointment, but the fact we had something finished was a real accomplishing feeling. Overall this project was challenging, stressful, but overall it was fun!
Rube Goldberg Project








The test day where Liam finkle is showing how the final pulley system shuts the pizza oven door to complete the task
This was our connecting piece between the group before us. It is a see saw with a platform for a car to hit, lifting the back (left side in picture) up and pulling the string attached to it.
That string is attached to this contraption, a scissor held up by zip ties. When that string is pulled it cuts the string for our triangle contraption seen below.
Posterior view of our scissor mechanism
Our gear system without track and wheel connected. Wheel starts on top and falls with the force of gravity. The wheel has another string connected to it for the next pulleysystem/final mechanism
Closer view of our triangle mechanism
The string on the triangle mechanism is very taught and when cut by the scissor releases the wheel on the track through the gear system of the next mechanism
The string from the wheel is looped through the pulley over the top of it where when the wheel drops pulls on it and closes the pizza oven door.
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![]() Rube Goldberg | ![]() Rube Goldberg | ![]() Rube Goldberg |
![]() Rube Goldberg | ![]() Rube Goldberg | ![]() Rube Goldberg |