[Matthias Wandel] has come up with another awesome machine, this time a machine that sets up neat rows of dominos. If you’ve followed [Matthias]’s work over the years then you’ll know that this is a wooden version of one he made out of LEGO® back in 2009.
In true [Matthias] fashion he uses just the one motor both for moving the machine along and for pushing the dominos in place. Not satisfied with that efficient use of parts, the rubber band belts that transfer rotation from the motor shaft to the wheels (bearings) double as the rubber surfaces for those wheels. One of many joys from watching [Matthias] work is seeing how he forms wood into shapes that most people would have trouble sculpting from clay. In this case he does this when he needs parts for reaching over his domino magazine to hold a guide rail in place, and of course the parts are well-rounded and clean-looking.
You might also ask, where did he get all the wooden blocks for dominos? He made them of course, all 300 or so.
Be sure to check out the video below of both the build, and of it in action.
Interested in more of [Matthias]’s creativity? How about a wooden escalator for a slinky? Or perhaps a wooden binary adder?
Nice idea, great woodworking!
Potential upgrade would be a limit switch to idle the machine right when it sets the last domino rather than endlessly continue but being unable to set more dominoes.
The impressive part to me is that it drives dead straight. This guy must be a master craftsman.
Even then, wood is difficult to get close tolerances on. These dominoes line up. Mostly.
Neat little machine. Would making it out of metal mean that it could be made more precise?
3D print it
Nah! You’d be surprised the tolerances you can get with wood! Just use a hardwood…but moisture isn’t your friend!!! Maple is pretty stable if you can keep the temperature and humidity constant…
Materials that require one to keep the temperature and humidity constant lest they lose precision or warp or mold or decay are not terribly suited for precision. There’s a reason that wood is rarely used for any metrology equipment. Sure, with precision tools you can get something remotely precise with a hardwood but it isn’t going to stay that way for long.
Now that’s just the best. I salute you sir. That’s some good work.
Saw it on reddit today, awesome work.
Version 2 should have a funnel at the front so it can collect those stacks of spare dominos and guide them into the hooper for seamless laying.
OK, this is an amazing machine but it takes half the fun out of laying out thousands of dominos, laughing your ass off at the guy who has set up all but the last few and then accidentally knocks them over.
Things I learned today, this guy is a genius, wooden floors can be incredibly shiny and I don’t need a lathe.
for sale, 1942 leblond lathe and a raglan 5inch capstone lathe
I’ve followed him on YouTube for years know and have built several of his machines. He is a true master of woodworking on the cheap!
now
It needs an Arduino to steer it then it can make half adders, full adders and other ALU bits, pretty soon we have a domino PC.
Hmm we had that topic a few days ago.
[Matthias Wandel] is like a demi-god in woodworking circles. And for good reason!
I love that someone was crazy enough to design and build this thing. We really need a dose of “silly” and caprice now and then. Well done.