Non-standard solving strategies for the compound Atwood machine problem have been proposed. The
present strategy is based on a very simple idea. Taking an Atwood machine and replacing one of its
bodies by another Atwood machine, we have a compound machine. As this operation can be repeated, we
can construct any compound Atwood machine. This rule of construction is transferred to a
mathematical model, whereby the equations of motion are obtained. The only difference between the
machine and its model is that instead of pulleys and bodies, we have reference frames that move
solidarily with these objects. This model provides us with the accelerations in the non-inertial
frames of the bodies, which we will use to obtain the equations of motion. This approach to the
problem will be justified by the Lagrange method and exemplified by machines with six and eight
bodies.