Week 1: Design and Laser Cut Interlocking Puzzle Pieces

Design #1: (Squares slotted on an angle)


These where designed using Inkscape. 2.5" squares with 0.169 inch slots placed on diagonals. The slots could be a little longer so items interlock closer to being "matched". The slots could also be a little narrower for a tighter fit.



The pieces interlock a bit randomly so it would be hard to construct anything preplanned. First I will try and smooth the edges of the pieces first.

Here is the original puzzle piece design from Inkscape (puzzle.svg)

Design #2: I switched to Antimony since the export bug was fixed. Here is the new 2" piece with smooth edges. Antimony allowed for easier rounding of the edges since you can start with a rounded rectangle. I decreased the channel length so the puzzle "squares up", and the slots are narrower (.14")


A piece of tape can help remove cut pieces with out disturbing the entire stock sheet.

Here is the original antimony file (antimony_puzzle.sb)

It can be exported as a .png (antimony_export.png)

This is not ready to print. I used the following instructions in inkscape to get it ready to print:

    *Start with Antimony png file
    *Go to "image" - "bitmap"
    *Select the item: "path" - "trace bitmap"
    *Show the fill and stroke menu
    *Eliminate the fill
    *Add stroke
    *Select: "path" - "break apart"
    * Remove unwanted path and save as svg

The final cut file is here (puzzle_2nd.svg)

Here are the final pieces assembled. They organize better due to deeper slots, but still lack some fun factor.
 

Next I assembled some similar pieces that do not have angles slots. Hopefully this allows for some more interesting shapes to build. I also included a center slot to help store the pieces on a rectangle and perhaps allow for the puzzle to be connected by horizontal bars.

Here is a picture of the new pieces......


and the Antimony file: squares.sb   and the Inkscape file: square.svg

Now combined the squares and the diagonals.....



And finally with a cross bar inserted to allow parallel structures.