They said it couldn’t be done! They said it would cost millions of lives! They said I was crazy to try! Well, I showed them! Mwa-ha-ha-ha! Model #360 is finally done: And here’s a picture of the top showing the logo with the blue ink that takes me forever to add: It’s pretty hefty by the way, 11 1/2 ounces (325 grams). I have enough metal parts to make a hundred in total but will […]
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Update on Model #808
I have a couple of things to report about my Model #808 puzzle. First of all, I’m sold out (!). I’m kind of in shock because I had expected to sell two or three of them a month for the next couple of years, not all 106 of them in eleven weeks. Second, if you’re trying to find one, I would suggest checking with these fantastic puzzle stores who have the #808 for sale: Eureka! […]
MoreModel #808 is Done!
Surf’s up! Dinner is served! Lift-off! Well, the day has finally arrived and Model #808 is now available for purchase. There are only 106 of them – that’s all I made – so if you’re interested please head over to my Etsy store. And here it is: I have to say, everything about this process took longer than I expected so it’s a great relief to have at last reached the finish line. I never […]
MoreFirst Batch of Puzzle #808
Since my last post on Model #808, I have learned a lot about machining and manufacturing. For one, I realized I needed a professional mechanical engineer to do the tolerancing of my design and prepare proper design drawings. I had previously tried to get by with the .STL files generated by my 3D design tools. For another, I learned that cost is not the only factor to consider when choosing a machine shop. I am […]
MoreProgress on Model #808
Model #808 continues to make steady (if slow) progress. I had some prototypes machined from aluminum by a fantastic machine shop, Cantabrigian Mechanics. They are gorgeous, if I may say so myself. Take a look: The prototype at the top of the picture was bead-blasted, then anodized in black. The one at the bottom of the picture was anodized in black and engraved with lettering, which I then infilled with red. Actually, only the top piece in the bottom prototype was […]
MoreMore Prototypes
Though I haven’t blogged in about a year, at least I have been making progress on my puzzles. Pictured here are Model #808 (the rectangular one with two holes), Model #518 (the multi-colored cube), Model #921 (the circular one), and Model #360 (the thicker rectangular one with the red logo). The internal design of Model #808 (formerly known as Model #873) continues to evolve and I’m hoping to get a prototype today that will confirm the reliability […]
MoreOn the Asymptote to Perfection!
I just received my latest prototype back from the 3-D print service I use (i.materialise – whom I recommend highly) and I’m very happy with this latest revision (the sixth I think!) The puzzle has two major pieces, the top and bottom, and the biggest design challenge I’ve had so far has been to keep the two pieces aligned while the puzzle solver is manipulating the puzzle. If the pieces move out of alignment, it can put the puzzle into […]
MorePuzzle Prototyping with 3D Printing
The summer was way too busy but I nonetheless was able to design and prototype my first mechanical puzzle. It even works! Building a working prototype turned out to be much easier than I expected now that 3D printing has become so affordable and so widespread. All I had to do was create .STL files (I used OpenSCAD) and take them to a local outfit called Einstein’s Workshop whose fantastically helpful staff (thank you Katy and Matt!) printed […]
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