Puzzle Design
Problem Statement
A logical office furniture manufacturing company throws away tens of thousands of scrap 3/4" wood blocks that result from the furniture construction process. The material is expensive, and the scrap represents a sizeable loss of profit.
Design Statement
Build a puzzle using the left over blocks.
Constraints
-must be made of 27 3/4" puzzle cubes
-puzzle system must contain 5 pieces
-each puzzle piece must be 3D
-no puzzle piece can be the same
-5 or 6 pieces must form a 2 1/4 cube
-puzzle pieces should inter lock
-puzzle system must contain 5 pieces
-each puzzle piece must be 3D
-no puzzle piece can be the same
-5 or 6 pieces must form a 2 1/4 cube
-puzzle pieces should inter lock
Brainstorming
The pieces shown here were ideas that I had for using 6 blocks. (Left Picture) The other pieces were ideas that I had for using 5 pieces. (Right Picture)
Technical Drawing
These two puzzles were ideas that I had, but i decided on the puzzle to the left. (Left Picture) This was the puzzle that I had chosen to work on and make. The picture to the right is the key for the cube witch shows how to build the cube.
Modeling the Cube
When I was Modeling the cube I used a program called inventor. I created each piece/part separately then combined them in a different file. Using "Standard.ipt"s I was able to make each individual part. I was able to assemble them with "Standard.iam". To explode the assembled cube I "tweaked components with a "Standard.ipn". Using the "ICAT DRAWING TEMPLATE" I made multi-views of each part. I used a different sheet for the exploded view and assembled view. One of the tool that I constantly used throughout the project was the Dimension Tool. The Dimension Tool allows you to "control the size of a part (line on a sketch). It also allows you to express dimensions as numeric constants or variables.
Final Results
The challenge we were given was to make a puzzle out of leftover 3/4" cubes. The cubes were the result of the furniture making process at a local business.
I first started with the brainstorming of the puzzle pieces and some design of the puzzle. Then I began making the technical drawings for the cube. Such as the design of the cube itself and the "key" (how to solve the puzzle). After that I decided which one of my puzzle drafts I would want to work with.
I then built my puzzle pieces on Inventor and assemble the puzzle as well. To do all of this I used 5 basic features of inventor. The "Standard.ipt" to make the individual pieces, "Standard.iam" to assemble the pieces, a "Standard.ipn" to create the exploded view, the "ICAT DRAWING TEMPLATE" used to make the multi-views of each puzzle part., and the Dimension Tool. The Dimension tool allowed me to control the size of a part/line on a sketch.
I first started with the brainstorming of the puzzle pieces and some design of the puzzle. Then I began making the technical drawings for the cube. Such as the design of the cube itself and the "key" (how to solve the puzzle). After that I decided which one of my puzzle drafts I would want to work with.
I then built my puzzle pieces on Inventor and assemble the puzzle as well. To do all of this I used 5 basic features of inventor. The "Standard.ipt" to make the individual pieces, "Standard.iam" to assemble the pieces, a "Standard.ipn" to create the exploded view, the "ICAT DRAWING TEMPLATE" used to make the multi-views of each puzzle part., and the Dimension Tool. The Dimension tool allowed me to control the size of a part/line on a sketch.
Reflection
Personally I really liked this project. It challenged me to make something but it also taught me new skills and new concepts. For me it was particularly hard to get all to come together. I also learned more about the design process and brainstorming. Another thing that I learned was the importance of not losing your ideas that you jotted down and your drawings. Mostly because they were good reference sheets and gave me more ideas that I could branch off of. Those documents were also good to prove that it was your idea and not another persons.