Play School rolling ball calendar

[Mitchell11]

like this

do you think that you can build the play school rolling ball calendar?

when the ball rolls down those three rampsand when the ball hits the spring the day of the week pops upso they pick different coloured mini ballsso you put the ball in the thing and you pull a blue thing and the ball realeses down the three rampswhen the ball hits the spring and the day of the week pops up like that

[EricL]

Hello @Mitchell11 

Yes, the rails are smooth, after observing the last video you posted it appears that the humps and teeth are just for display and not actually attached to the ramps.

Eric

[Mitchell11]

yes because i hope your still working that on my play school prop 

[Mitchell11]

so how is the rolling ball calendar prop is coming along? can you show me some photos

[JacobZ]

Hi @Mitchell11,

We are happy to assist with guidance on how to build your own, but we do not build and ship custom-made projects to our members.

 Jacob

[Mitchell11]

i know but what i mean is you can make some parts of the rolling ball calendar play school prop and then get the method and ship them to my house or my dads house and then i can put them all together when i follow the method

[JacobZ]

Hi @Mitchell11,

Our community is about empowering our users to get stuck in to their own D.I.Y. projects and offering advice when they reach hurdles.

Have you got any tools? Or maybe your dad has some tools that you can use to make it.

We are happy to help you with advice on how to construct it yourself, but unfortunately, we can't build it for you.

You might like to start with the ramps. You could use a handsaw to cut some designs into 42 x 19mm Pine then attach them together in a U shape to create your ramps. 

Once the ramps have been built, you can grab some sample pots of paint and paint them to any colour of your choosing.

The great thing about D.I.Y. is you can make it your own. Choose your own colours, choose your own design, make it yours.

Let me know if there are any specific questions you have about how to build your own rolling ball calendar. I am happy to help.

Jacob

[Noyade]

Hello @Mitchell11 

As per @JacobZ 's thoughts above - we're all very happy to help in the ideas department and hardware source, but I for one will not be building this.

You definitely need to source what balls(s) you want, especially to determine the diameter and get a couple of mousetraps to experiment with.

Personally I would ditch the plastic idea completely and go with screwed wood - unless there is a very strong reason for you to reverse-engineer the Play School one? I think a plastic factory cutting everything on a CNC machine and possibly assembling it for you will be cost prohibitive?

I think I do see a mousetrap's spring and simple hinges?

There is also a demarcation line showing that the back has a 'reach in area' to insert the day of the week card.

If you make it outta wood - no front is required.

Note also the ball 'bounces' off the yellow triangular piece and hits that yellow rectangular section which must trip the spring/trap. I originally thought the triggering occurs as the ball passes under this - but my eyes say no - see what you think.

Also note the release rod for the ball/balls changes position from the images above and the YouTube/s you provided.

Please keep us informed.

Cheers.

[Mitchell11]

yeah i know i will ask my media teacher dennis about it or my dad about it

[Mitchell11]

also did you guys ever watch play school when you were young

[JacobZ]

Hi @Mitchell11,

I sure did. I have fond memories of it from the late 90s and early 2000s.

Jacob