UGEARS - MARBLE RUN MARBLE RUN - 3D WOODEN PUZZLE, MECHANIZED STEP HOIST We present the Marble Run with Step Hoist, the second in a series of Ugears modular marble runs. This fun and charming wooden marble run features an ingenious 3-stage alternating lift mechanism and a host of new features to hold your attention as you watch the marbles make their cyclical journey. Multiple tracks and elements are packed into a compact space in this DIY marble run. The model has a 3-stage alternating elevator that moves the marbles back and forth as they rise to the top. Which marble will take which track and which will go down first? The track features a 3-ball accumulator where the third ball opens the gates for the trapped first and second balls, sending all three along their divergent paths. There are three tracks: the first consists of a 2-ball accumulator and a coil, the second is a hammer swing inside a C-shaped cradle, and the third has a whirlpool or funnel. All marbles eventually pass through the collection tray and into the swing elevator. A rocker switch mechanism sends the marbles back down the track back to the 3-step elevator or (and this is where it gets really exciting!) into another connected Ugears marble run. We designed the Ugears line of marble runs to be modular, meaning each model works individually, or they can be connected frontally or laterally to other Ugears ball runs of the same or different design (2 or 4 models can be connected, in pairs, using the appropriate connectors included in the kit). The rocker mechanism at the end of the ride can send the marbles in one direction or the other, or both directions (depending on the weight attached), returning the marbles to the original lifter or sending them to a different ride. With adjacent marble runs you now have an amazing and complex system of interconnected elements, all operated by a single crank. It's like a miniature amusement park! Keep an eye on your favorite marble: who knows where it will end up, when it will return to its starting point or what rides it will take along the way! The step hoist is an exciting combination of art and engineering. It is both a beautiful kinetic sculpture and an intricate toy that teaches while entertaining. As you build this ingenious wooden marble run, you'll learn about the interaction between drive gears and driven gears and the function of counterweights. Turn the crank clockwise to set the machine in motion and prepare to be mesmerized as the alternating step ladder picks up, lifts and passes the marbles back and forth until they reach the top of the machine to begin their journey. Ugears marble runs are strong. Rigidity in the structure is achieved through a sturdy base and tightened frame parts. A powerful gear drive provides power to both lifts: the main 3-stage reciprocating lift and the auxiliary swing lift. The step hoist has 355 pieces, is rated "Advanced" level, and has an estimated assembly time of 8 hours.