All Tetra Pod Puzzle.

Boys and Girls,

I looked at my chronometer and asked it “what time it was”… 

it’s answer was paraphrased to, “Its’s a short PZL time... ready for publishing!”… may the gods forgive me… and me myself (for this brevity).

This puzzle was made quite a while back… not as far back as when I skipped Sunday school, but back enough when I had (and still have) issues about mitre cuts for puzzle boxes made out of solids/MDF without the use of my laser.

 

The way I try to design solids is to generate a 1:1 ratio base cutting template and extend appropriate dimensions by the thickness of the stock being used… an example from another puzzle measuring 50mm x 50mm,

 

which is then usually cut on my mitre saw or the Micro-Mark tablesaw, with clean lines/edges and butt joined using CA glue.

 

When mitre joins get involved I  laser cut using 6mm finger joins which generally creates protruding fingers

(different puzzle),  with the excess (6mm – timber thickness) are subsequently sanded off using my upside down belt sander

(different puzzle).  I find this method easier than designing the laser cuts to the exact thickness of the timber being used.  The same cut lines can be applied to stock anywhere between 3-6mm… except for this particular puzzle as it had some contradictory/difficult internal joins,

and  I couldn’t (have trouble to) get at some of the “internal protrusions” to easily sand off (if finger joined)… hmmm, maybe with my relatively new NeoBlade, 

it might be achievable... or just wait for my NeoSander, which at the moment is being prepared for shipment.

 

Consequently, I limited my production for this puzzle to laser cut MDF as the thickness is controlled and I don’t need to manipulate the extra internal lengths.

Don’t get sucked in, the darker box is stained and not from my sunburnt MDF forest.

 

The puzzle consists of the box and 8 different shaped pieces (gallery picture #2).

 

I must have been on one of my sabbaticals at the time of production as I didn’t make any progress pictures and the ones in the gallery have just been snapped and developed.

 

Only two made and both out of MDF… it’s a shame as it had one of the more interesting solutions… not so much the degree of difficulty, but as it was so open, you could actually see what was happening inside.

 

Having designed it in SketchUp, this was the start of the laser path,

I have no idea why I created the following packaging instructions 

as I haven’t made any to give away.

 

Nevertheless, for anyone interested, the 3DW model

and the obligatory A4 PDF Solution. 

 

Anyone interested in my puzzles (or other authors’), you can see them all here in my “Puzzle Collection” .

If interested in any of mine (LBD), measurements can be made available on request for anyone not familiar with SketchUp… though a working knowledge of SketchUp’s navigation (as opposed to its design/use features) and access to 3DW could be of benefit.

All the solutions to my puzzles can be found at this link...
*** Measurements and further details can be provided on request. ***
Christmas is coming and puzzles make a great stocking stuffer... for all ages. 
Kids love ‘em and most of us are still kids.

Thanks for looking... 

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