Puzzle-box gift cube

thingiverse

This is a gift box of sorts, made of six identical parts that go together in a somewhat puzzling manner. There are three styles, each held together by a combination of tabs and/or slots. Boxy #1 - Each part has two projecting tabs and two slots; the box is held together by arranging the parts so two tabs on each side lock into the slots of two adjacent sides while two other slides lock into this side's slots. This version works requires material with a balance of flexibility and rigidity. Boxy #2 - Each part has to projecting tabs like #1 plus tabs that lock together in groups of three at the corners. This version works best with fairly flexible material. It's the most secure version, but also the most complicated. Boxy #3 - Each part has tabs that can lock pieces together at the corners. This version works best with fairly rigid material, but needs sufficient flex to get the corners into place without breaking. This is probably the simplest box to assemble. (Undoubtedly it could be adapted to laser cutting, but I haven't translated them.) More pictures and description in my blog at http://mysd300.blogspot.com/2010/12/puzzle-box-gift-cube.html Instructions Build six copies of your choice of models: boxy1.stl, boxy2.stl, or boxy3.stl. Use your sleuthing skills to assemble the six pieces into a cube. For an added challenge, try assembling it with something inside! Default model size is 16cm x 16cm x 1.2mm but it can be scaled at will, provided the material is sufficiently strong (or flexible). If you have a Solido SD300 or 3D Systems Invision LD you can use the files Boxies1.stl, boxies2.stl, or boxies3.stl to build a stack of six parts at the same time. These files have six copies of the model stacked with a 0.175mm gap between them, which will build as a single stack with a layer of unused support material between them.