Puzzle Box

myminifactory

Each outer ring spins at its own pace so that they only align perfectly once. It will take numerous turns to complete a full circle - specifically, 14,950 turns are needed. The core and shell can be printed together or separately if you feel confident in your calibration. To separate the ring gears, use a sharp object after printing (slicing at 0.2mm ensures a one-layer gap, making this step easy). Turn the knob to free up the gears. Some "peek" holes have been added to give you an edge. A rotary encoder can be created by marking significant locations on the rings, such as when a mark on the bottom ring aligns with one on the outer shell. Locations are being mapped out and a scale will be printed that can be glued or transferred onto the rings. Alternatively, you could keep it cryptic and just mark dots at the starting point - this feature is included in version 2 along with other refinements. Watch a clip of the gears in action - 14,950 turns are required for a full cycle.