Arista Puzzle Box

https://youtube.com/shorts/CacS4sZ8A-g?feature=share

Hi Folks,

Ahhh, isn't it great to be busy in the shop!  I love the warmer days with more windows open.

Taking on the Skool platform has been rewarding all around.  Different challenges, but all good ones.

This is a push-button combination locking system.  Lots of fine details to pay attention to to get it to work perfectly.

Much of what I teach on Skool is single mechanisms that keep a lid locked.  In this module students learn how to add new mechanisms that may be unconventional as compared to what they have learned so far.  They all receive instruction on how to build the combo lock, but are encouraged to design further.  Not for the weak of heart, this is level 4.

The mechanism they are working with is what I call The Gauntlet, which means that the inner dial seen in pics is locked by three different locks as the notch in the inner dial is rotated.  Finally, the notch will align with the red pin you see in lower front and you can push it in.  With that solved you can now get to the combo part.

To make it simplest, I like to use a word already on the box: in this case its Arista.  How to translate?  The vowel letters in the word Arista are 'push-in' buttons.  The consonant letters are to be left out.  If you push a consonant button, it will only lock it.  If you don't tell the solver how many in vs out, it can take a long time to find the solution by luck, ...or not, lol.

There is much to challenge one who likes to tinker, ...to patiently work the mechanism into being until it works perfectly.