Hand-Cranked Machine Plays Catch With Itself

There’s something that’s oddly hypnotic about watching this hand-cranked machine slice, drop and catch these small spherical rare earth magnets one at a time. The little 5mm ball magnets start out as a connected string, and are continuously fed through the contraption in a loop.

As the video goes on, you get to see views from different angles as the balls are tossed around and the machine hands off each tiny silver globule like it’s playing catch with itself.

The apparatus is entirely hand-built, created by inventor Dave Johnson for his father-in-law’s 75th birthday. Pretty neat stuff. I don’t know how this thing wouldn’t score any points in ol’ daddy-in-law’s eyes. [Laughing Squid]