Here’s another good example of a semi-automatic Rolling Ball Sculpture. Load the queue at the top with as many marbles as it will hold, release one or a few to get things started, and the sculpture takes it from there.

When a ball reaches the bottom, it presses a handle connected to the release at the top, sending the next ball onto the tracks. Each arriving ball releases another, so it can keep running on its own until the queue is empty. No motor, batteries or electricity needed—just gravity and a little mechanical trickery.

This one has plenty packed into the frame: curving tracks, a tipping arm, horizontal zig-zag, a “balls on track” element and a loop d’ loop. I especially like these semi-automatic builds because you get some of the continuous action of a powered RBS without actually having to power anything.

100% stainless steel, TIG welded.