http://www.instructables.com/id/The-Gumball-Machine/

Food      Living       Outside        Play        Technology       Workshop

The Gumball Machineby stumitch on January 5, 2012

Table of Contents

The Gumball Machine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Intro:   The Gumball Machine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Step 1:   Cut out the Blank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Step 2:   Layout of the Holes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Step 3:   Drilling the Holes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Step 4:   The Dispenser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Step 5:   Making it Interesting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Step 6:   Some More Ideas... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Step 7:   Attach the Jar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Step 8:   Marking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

http://www.instructables.com/id/The-Gumball-Machine/

Author:stumitch    slidelongboardsCar buff, longboard builder and shop teacher. not enough time to build stuff.

Intro:  The Gumball MachineThis project is used often here in Langley BC for grade 8 Woodwork classes. I've been using it for the last few years. At first I thought the kids wouldn't be interested butthey are REALLY excited about this project and since than the kids have built 100's. This Instructable is meant for the shop class but anyone with a drill press can do it.

Here are the Learning Objectives:The student shall demonstrate the ability to Measure and Layout a design on wood.The student shall demonstrate the safe use and setup of a drill press.The student shall demonstrate the effective use of sandpaper with wood.The student will use creative design and problem solving to build a unique design with wood.

Materials:Wood Blank approx 3" by 3" by 5"Assorted pieces of 1/8", 3/8", 1/2" plywood or solid wood.1 piece of 1" dowel... about 4" long.Assorted dowel pieces... 1/2" diameter works well.1 Canning Jar. 500ml is best.

Tools:1" Forstner drill bit. (i have 3 set up on 3 different drill presses.)1/2" Forstner drill bit (for attaching leg dowels)3/4" Forstner drill bit (for drilling hole in gumball dispenser)Drill pressAssorted clamps (Jorgensen's work really well)Sandpaper 120G, 180GBand saw or scroll saw

Step 1: Cut out the BlankThe wood Blank I use is from cedar poles used in fencing. Don't use pressure treated stuff... it can be toxic. I put them through the jointer and planer so that they are 3"square. If you have higher level grades they can do this step but my students are a bit young to be doing this.

Set up the Bandsaw with a sliding fence and a clamp. Show the kids how to mark off 5" and cut. Encourage the students to take their time and cut slowly so the cut willbe straight. You can use any saw you want to but i find the band saw works well. I use the "5 rule" which is:

-Keep guard 5mm above workpiece-Keep fingers 5cm away from blade-Keep all 5 of the digits on each hand.

http://www.instructables.com/id/The-Gumball-Machine/

Step 2: Layout of the HolesPull out a ruler, pencil and square.Layout a centerline along the front face and top. The kids can choose at this point if they want the turning dowel that dispenses the gumballs coming from the side or thefront. I call it the "nose" (front) and "arm" (side). If you want you can limit the design variables to keep it simple or go all out. I once had a group of fine arts girls who madethe most amazing gumball machines with all sorts of creative designs. One girl did a gumball machine which was a tree... the turning mechanism was on the sidedisguised as a branch with a swing hanging from it. As she turned the dispenser the string wound up and raised the swing. Awesome design.

Once the kids decide, layout the hole centers. The Nose (or arm) are centered 11/2" down from the top edge and the mouth is 1 1/2" up from the bottom edge. Mark thetop hole where the gumballs go in centered in the middle of the top. I explain it all with drawings on the board than move the kids to a table and actually demonstrate. Ifyou have any kids in your class who are special needs and might find measuring tricky; set up before hand to use theirs as a demo. Just don't point it out... most kidsdon't want to be treated differently from others. Its all about inclusion!

http://www.instructables.com/id/The-Gumball-Machine/

Step 3: Drilling the HolesI set up 3 drill presses with all the clamps setup and ready to go with 1" forstner bits. Eases up on line-ups for tools. Don't want the kids to be idle!Jorgensen clamps are great for this... check out the pictures. The best sequence for drilling is to do the mouth starter hole... drill it in only 1/4" and than the nose (arm)hole next. The top hole can be done next and the angled mouth hole last.

Some details....Drill the nose (arm) hole in about 2 1/2". its okay if it goes almost all the way through the block.Drill the top hole in about 2"I've built a jig that holds the block at a 45deg angle for drilling the long mouth hole. What also works well is to rotate the drill press base 90 deg and clamp the block on atthe correct 45deg angle. I've also seen simple shims done but remember you're dealing with a 1" drill bit attached to a big motor being controlled by a kid. Might as wellmake it student-proof!When you drill the deep angled mouth hole be sure the kids put the top hole DOWN... every class i get a kid drilling in the wrong direction.. :-) The depth is kind of hit andmiss... just keep going until the drill goes through the nose(arm) hole completely.

http://www.instructables.com/id/The-Gumball-Machine/

http://www.instructables.com/id/The-Gumball-Machine/

Step 4: The DispenserThe 1" dowel is for the dispenser. To figure out the length push the dowel all the way into the nose (arm) hole until it bottoms. If it is really tight you can set the kids up onthe lathe and a piece of emery cloth and get them to turn it down until it spins smoothly in the hole. Keep an eye on them that they don't try to use the disk sander or beltsander. Disastrous results with dowels spinning at outrageous speeds.

Once the dowel is in place and spins easily you can mark a cutting spot depending on how much they want sticking out. Take this moment to also mark the center of thedowel through the top hole. This is where they will drill the 3/4" hole for the gumball to drop into.

Cut the dowel with a handsaw. Don't use the bandsaw or it will invariably spin a piece of dowel. not good.

Mount the dowel in a drill press mounted with the 3/4" forstner. Drill in about 5/8" of an inch. You want to go deeply enough that the gumball doesn't stick out and stop thedowel from spinning and spitting out the gumball.The kids love it if you explain what happens if you drill all the way through... you gently turn the dowel and OHNO the gumballs rain out all over the floor. Feel free toexaggerate at this point.

http://www.instructables.com/id/The-Gumball-Machine/

Step 5: Making it InterestingI've done this project usually with allowing the kids to paint. This works well but sometimes it really backfires. Kids that want to do the bare minimum will just paint thebare block with a dispenser sticking out he side. I've found that kids will often do this as a way of self-sabotage... "if I don't try than I won't be disappointed if it sucks"seems to be the idea. Well... I wont let kids do that. I've noticed so often that if I push kids to do well they will work to meet high goals. Set low standards, get poor results.So here's my plan.Don't let them use paints. Teach them how to make legs, feet, arms, eyes, mouths... whatever they can throw at you... out of wood. With a scroll saw the kids can cutreally amazing stuff.

Insist they come up with 10 simple sketches all using the same block proportions. Don't let them be the same theme... Talk about the designs, discuss what they likemost, make practical suggestions than send them back to the drawing table to draw a full-size sketch. When they come back to you, break down each piece into what itwould look like and how it will attach to the block.See what works for you... to paint or not to paint... I've seen great results both ways but I think the trend is to make more thoughtful designs if they can't use paint.

My basic method for attaching parts is to use a forstner bit of the same size as the dowel I'm using. In the drawings I've drilled 2 holes in the bottom of the block for legs...the same hole size is in the feet. This works well because the dowels can be glued in without being bottomed in their holes... allows the kids to not have perfect matchingdowel lengths.

A note about feet... Make them big. If they are small the gumball machine will be tippy...

http://www.instructables.com/id/The-Gumball-Machine/

Step 6: Some More Ideas...I like to Give the kids lots of ideas for stuff to add so heres some more details for you to share...

-Lay the block down with the wood next to it and trace out the details...-bandsaw or scroll saw the parts, sand them well.-Attach them to the body with dowels like in the last step or use an air nailer and glue. Obviously I don't let my students use the air nailer... "But why NOT Mr. Mitchell!!!!?"is what i get... I just look at them as though they had sprouted a new arm...-Detail with a sharpie.-Kids like to add on parts to the turning mechanism... The one in the middle has the moustache that turns...-Go weird with bodyparts... eyes of different sizes, arms with giant hands and wrong numbers of fingers... stuff like that...

http://www.instructables.com/id/The-Gumball-Machine/

Step 7: Attach the JarI use the 500 ml canning jars that have the center piece that pops out. That disk is great for squirting small amounts of glue onto for other projects... Buy as many of thejars as you can. I've noticed that they are really hard to get during the winter and spring... people are not canning as much than...

Unscrew the jar, pop out the center piece than use an airnailer to attach the lid to the block. Use low pressure or it will go right through the metal lid. Be sure to not do thisover the dowel... some nails will go in enough to stop it from moving.. :-)I've used small screws and nails before but this method is really easy.

I dole out the gumballs or they will be gone in a very short time... Just flip the block over onto the jar and screw it on... to test it turn the nose (arm) and one gumballshould roll out. If it jams the student will have to go and drill the 3/4" hole a bit deeper. If they rain out the kid has clearly drilled the hole all the way through... kinda funny,actually.

Thanks for reading through this instructable! I hope you try this with your students or at home just for the heck of it.

Step 8: MarkingI thought this would come in handy for the teachers in the audience... This is called criterion referenced assessment. ya i know... "WHAT?" All it is is a bunch of guidelinesfor grading. It works well with kids because they can look at the sheet and understand the grade and how to improve. I always give kids time to re-submit after makingchanges. Woodworking is pretty subjective so I think its fair to let kids change things in their favor.

This grade method is also very objective (i hope). In our district we are NOT allowed to grade in a subjective way which is tough in our area so this is as objective aspossible.

Gumball Machine Marking Sheet

NAME:_____________________________________DIV:____________TOTAL/60

AREA 0-10 11-15 16-20

Block

Construction

Missing holes, holes notdrilled on center, wrongsizes, unsanded, Block notto specified size

All holes drilled, fairly smoothfrom top to bottom. Centeredclose but not perfect..Okaytransition for gumball, sanding

Holes all 1”, All holes centeredperfectly, smooth flow in holes forgumball, sanded perfectly smooth,block exactly as specified, square,

http://www.instructables.com/id/The-Gumball-Machine/

okay…needs more…block sizedbut not square

well sanded edges

Gumball Distribution Does not work. Jams orallows flow of gumballs.Hard to turn

Works but needs to have blockheld while turning, gumball fallsthrough but roughly

Spins perfectly, no effort needed,smooth but not wiggly. Gumball fallsthrough perfectly

Decoration andDetails

None or very little managed,parts on weakly or uneven.

Parts all there as in drawing butnot exactly. Needs sanding orstraightening, base is tippy

Stable, smooth, exactly likedrawing. Sanded well, all piecesattached well… no glue-out, solid

Related Instructables

Child's WoodenCoin-OperatedGumballMachine by PhilB

GumballNecklace GiftIdea by FormalFringe

GumballMachineValentines (withfree printable)byThreeMoonBabies

GumballMachineCostume thatActuallyDispenses RealGumballs bymeganaking

Gumball Bowsby bagnitsch

Coin OperatedKnex Gum BallMachine!(Photos) byKnexFreek