gibell
I like to make puzzles. I am exploring the new world of 3D printing.
Expertise:
- Designer
by
gibell
This puzzle consists of three identical pieces which rather surprisingly interlock into an octahedron. Each piece is made from 3D printed spheres connected by cylinders, there are no notches, grooves, or latches holding it together! It is a fairly easy puzzle to put together, and by adding a thread on the top loop, it makes a nice addition to any Christmas tree. When assembled it measures 5 cm or 2 inches tip to tip. This is a joint design by myself and Rolando Pontalti.
One piece has a small loop on which to string it. String or thread for hanging not included. I recommend ordering it in the "Winter Red" or "Winter Green" color.
Follow this link for a 1-page pdf with assembly instructions.
One piece has a small loop on which to string it. String or thread for hanging not included. I recommend ordering it in the "Winter Red" or "Winter Green" color.
Follow this link for a 1-page pdf with assembly instructions.
by
gibell
Made from four iterations of the Koch Fractal, a fractal pattern which looks like a snowflake.
by
gibell
This is my favorite pyramid design. Four puzzle pieces interlock into a 20-ball tetrahedron (or 3-sided pyramid). Assembly of this puzzle is very confusing. Even when you understand where the pieces go, you still have to figure out how to get them there. Assembly is only possible for pieces with a little bit of flex, as these plastic pieces have.
The final pyramid is very stable, must be pried apart. Made from 12mm diameter hollow spheres.
See http://home.comcast.net/~gibell/puzzles/IT/InterlockingTetra.html for hints and a solution page.
I have stiffened this version by increasing wall thickness.
The final pyramid is very stable, must be pried apart. Made from 12mm diameter hollow spheres.
See http://home.comcast.net/~gibell/puzzles/IT/InterlockingTetra.html for hints and a solution page.
I have stiffened this version by increasing wall thickness.
by
gibell
A puzzle designed by Viktor Genel, who has approved it's listing here. Tom Lensch made the important modification of using small cubes. An unusual design using both spheres (2cm diameter) and cubes.
by
gibell
Three different solids of constant width 3cm. These are hollow and have internal stiffeners. Each is a solid of revolution from a different plane curve. You get a very rounded Reuleaux triangle, a rounded Reuleaux pentagon, and a Reuleaux heptagon. All of them have width 3 cm in any direction.
by
gibell
A 12 piece puzzle by Stewart Coffin. See
http://www.puzzleworld.org/puzzleworld/puz/twelve_piece_separation.htm
Comes undyed. This is a difficult puzzle to assemble, for experienced puzzlers only!
by
gibell
Can three screw-shaped pieces plus another with tri-lateral symmetry be assembled into an octahedron? It doesn't seem likely, yet the assembly even interlocks solidly. The assembled puzzle makes a nice top which spins smoothly without falling apart. Made from 13mm hollow spheres.
This puzzle is ideal for 3D printing. It would be very difficult to make it out of wood due to the complex 3D shape of the pieces and the slight flexibility needed. Wood pieces tend to break.
This was my exchange puzzle at the 30th International Puzzle Party in July, 2010.
This puzzle is ideal for 3D printing. It would be very difficult to make it out of wood due to the complex 3D shape of the pieces and the slight flexibility needed. Wood pieces tend to break.
This was my exchange puzzle at the 30th International Puzzle Party in July, 2010.
by
gibell
Two mirror image pieces assemble into a hollow polyhedron with curved faces. The final shape is the solid defined by the intersection of three cylinders at right angles, sometimes called a Steinmetz solid or tricyclinder. I call it a Pillowhedron, in reference to Stewart Coffin's Pennyhedron Puzzle which inspired it. This puzzle is surprisingly difficult to take apart. This version is printed in three colors.
The color sandstone works nicely for this puzzle. The fit is quite tight off the printer, I had to rub the joining faces together a bit to get it together. Then it goes together with a snap (literally). Definitely not trivial to get it apart, as the colors help to confuse the issue, and the joints are fairly well hidden.
This puzzle is the size of a ping-pong ball (4cm diameter). Play with this puzzle over a carpet because a drop onto a hard floor will chip or break the pieces.
The color sandstone works nicely for this puzzle. The fit is quite tight off the printer, I had to rub the joining faces together a bit to get it together. Then it goes together with a snap (literally). Definitely not trivial to get it apart, as the colors help to confuse the issue, and the joints are fairly well hidden.
This puzzle is the size of a ping-pong ball (4cm diameter). Play with this puzzle over a carpet because a drop onto a hard floor will chip or break the pieces.
by
gibell
Stewart Coffin's Peanut Puzzle, modified by starting from 3cm diameter spheres. Includes six different pieces (the Coffin puzzle) plus two "end caps". The standard puzzle assembles into many different shapes, with the end caps literally thousands of shapes become possible.
The pieces will fit tightly out of the box. I recommend scrubbing them with a toothbrush in soapy water for a perfect fit. One nice finishing technique is to dye them 7 different colors.
The pieces will fit tightly out of the box. I recommend scrubbing them with a toothbrush in soapy water for a perfect fit. One nice finishing technique is to dye them 7 different colors.
by
gibell
A tricky two-piece puzzle invented by Tom Jolly. Tom receives a share of the profits in the sales of this puzzle. Made from 1cm cubes, the completed puzzle is a 4cm cube.
The puzzle pieces are hollow but have "extra thick" 1.5mm walls for greater stiffness. This prevents "illegal moves" that can be done by flexing the pieces.
The most difficult task is putting this puzzle together, and unfortunately it will come unassembled. Somewhat easier, but still tricky, is taking it apart.
The puzzle pieces are hollow but have "extra thick" 1.5mm walls for greater stiffness. This prevents "illegal moves" that can be done by flexing the pieces.
The most difficult task is putting this puzzle together, and unfortunately it will come unassembled. Somewhat easier, but still tricky, is taking it apart.
by
gibell
Three pieces assemble into a symmetrical shape. This was my exchange puzzle for IPP31. Please contact me if you would like to purchase the wood exchange version. This version is plastic and the fit is perfect. This puzzle is also much easier to disassemble when you color each piece differently.
Notes: Offset 0.03, Two 1.2 mm thick pieces
Notes: Offset 0.03, Two 1.2 mm thick pieces
by
gibell
A smaller version of Five Intersecting Tetrahedra without an icosahedron inside. There is just enough space between the pieces that it will print as 5 separate objects. The edge length of the tetrahedron is 5cm, it stands 5.7 cm high. Without the inner icosa, this version will allow more movement of the pieces. I have also rounded the tetrahedra corners so they aren't so sharp.
The photos show the model printed in white and colored by hand using fine point felt-tipped pens. I inserted small pieces of paper to protect the other pieces while coloring one, I was somewhat successful. I was able to color each piece completely on the outside, but I didn't try to color the insides as you can see in the photos.
The photos show the model printed in white and colored by hand using fine point felt-tipped pens. I inserted small pieces of paper to protect the other pieces while coloring one, I was somewhat successful. I was able to color each piece completely on the outside, but I didn't try to color the insides as you can see in the photos.
by
gibell
Four puzzle pieces assemble into an interlocking octahedron. This puzzle is similar to my "Screwy Octahedron" except it uses three identical screw-shaped pieces. This puzzle would be difficult to make in any way other than 3D printing due to the complex 3D shapes of the pieces. Assembly requires coordinate motion.
Notes: Uses 13mm diameter spheres. Screw piece have offset 0.1mm, Y piece has offset 0.0mm.
Only a single copy of this puzzle exists. It is quite expensive and I am not sure if the tolerances in metal are good enough to reproduce it reliably.
Notes: Uses 13mm diameter spheres. Screw piece have offset 0.1mm, Y piece has offset 0.0mm.
Only a single copy of this puzzle exists. It is quite expensive and I am not sure if the tolerances in metal are good enough to reproduce it reliably.
by
gibell
A version of the Koch fractal ornament designed for the frosted ultra detail material.
by
gibell
A tetrahedron puzzle to go with your Christmas Octahedron. This puzzle has two pieces which can be snapped together. You just need to find the correct orientation and rotation to assemble it.
The tetrahedron is about 4 cm or 1.5 inches in height. The spheres are 15 mm in diameter. I have added a loop to the puzzle, but you will have to supply a loop of thread for hanging.
Follow this link for a 1-page pdf with assembly instructions.
The tetrahedron is about 4 cm or 1.5 inches in height. The spheres are 15 mm in diameter. I have added a loop to the puzzle, but you will have to supply a loop of thread for hanging.
Follow this link for a 1-page pdf with assembly instructions.
by
gibell
A box packing puzzle invented by Leonard Gordon more than 25 years ago. This is the original version of the puzzle, made from joined spheres. The eight pieces are identical and sized so that they fit in a golf ball case.
It is possible to pack 6 of these pieces into the box in a way where it appears completely filled, with no room for any more pieces (or even one more sphere). This is an interesting way to present this puzzle to someone, can they add not one but two more pieces and close the box?
by
gibell
A box packing puzzle invented by Leonard Gordon more than 25 years ago. Originally devised from pieces made from joined spheres, here I use truncated rhombic dodecahedra or edge beveled cubes. The eight pieces are identical and sized so that they fit in a golf ball case.
Four of the pieces can also be interlocked to form a truncated tetradedron. This is a second puzzle, called "Blossom".
