Cardboard Pinball Machine Design Build
Design and build a working pinball machine from a cardboard box with rubber band launchers and bumpers — engineering meets art.
What You'll Need
- 1Shallow cardboard box lid
- 2Small cardboard tubes and bottle caps
- 3Rubber bands
- 4Pushpins or small nails
- 5Hot glue gun (adult supervised)
- 6Paint, markers, and stickers
- 7Marbles
- 8Books for propping
What You'll Need
A shallow cardboard box lid or a cut-down box for the playing field
Small cardboard tubes, bottle caps, and folded cardboard for bumpers
Rubber bands for the launcher
Pushpins or small nails
Hot glue gun (adult supervised)
Paint, markers, and stickers for decorating
Marbles
Books for tilting the playing field
How to Play
Find a shallow cardboard box lid — about 12 by 18 inches is ideal. The sides should be at least 2 inches high to keep the marble inside.
Design the layout on paper first. Where will the marble launch from? Where are the bumpers? Where do you score points? Planning saves rebuilding later.
Prop one end of the tray up on a book to create a slope. The marble needs to roll from top to bottom by gravity.
Glue obstacles inside the tray using hot glue. Bottle caps make excellent round bumpers the marble bounces off. Cardboard tube halves create ramps. Folded cardboard strips create walls and channels.
Build a launcher at the bottom end. Stretch a rubber band between two pushpins stuck through the cardboard. Pull the band back with the marble and release to launch.
Decorate the entire machine — paint the surface, label score zones, add themed artwork. This is where the art meets the engineering.
Test with a marble. Adjust obstacle positions until the gameplay is fun. Some areas should be easy to reach, others hard.
Write point values in different zones and play for high scores.
Tips
The testing and adjusting phase is the most important part. Every bumper change alters how the marble moves through the entire machine.
Make obstacles varied — fixed bumpers, ramps that redirect, and narrow slots that are hard to hit.
This combines art, engineering, physics, and game design into one project.
Challenge friends to play your machine, then play theirs. It is even more fun as a design competition.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does this activity take?
This activity takes about 60 min, with 10 min of preparation time beforehand.
What materials do I need?
You'll need: shallow cardboard box lid, small cardboard tubes and bottle caps, rubber bands, pushpins or small nails, hot glue gun (adult supervised), and 3 more items.
What age is this activity for?
This activity is designed for 8-12 years. You can adapt it for younger or older children by adjusting the complexity.
Can this be done indoors?
This activity is designed for indoor play, making it perfect for rainy days or when you're staying inside.
How difficult is this activity?
This is a more challenging activity that may require advance preparation, special materials, or closer supervision. The extra effort is worth it for the learning experience!
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