Machined a couple of simple puzzles

[RichR]

I decided to have some fun and machine up a couple of puzzles.

The first one usually has a captive nut but I just went with a washer. The rod is aluminum and the washer is stainless steel:



This one is a brass cube inside an aluminum cube. It only fits one hole and only when correctly orientated:

[PStechPaul]

I got a sample of 3-D printing which was a ball inside a box like that, but it was formed inside the box and cannot be removed. A friend showed me a carving he got in china which was a series of concentric intricate carvings made from one piece of wood. I tried to find an example and came upon this fascinating book about wood carving, including some puzzles, and perhaps could also be done in metal:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/45652470/1...nd-Woodcarving

Here is an example of concentric carved spheres made of ivory:
http://traditions.cultural-china.com/en/16T138T556.html



And this is fascinating as well:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wood...=9781565235236



And this:
https://thre3d.com/3dprints/arcam/q10-155/191



Some for sale on eBay for $20:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-NATURAL-GR...item19eeec0751



Found this, too, from way back when right here on HSM:
http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/thr...n-a-Cube/page6

[Dan Dubeau]

Nice, I like the brass cube. I wonder if you could cast a brass insert into aluminum that would reveal itself once you machined the windows.

Here's my keychain for my work keys. It's 1" square.

[RichR]

Hi Dan

I wonder if you could cast a brass insert into aluminum that would reveal itself once you machined the windows.

Funny you should mention that because I was thinking about something similar while I was making it. My idea is to mill a hole into the aluminum, insert a
piece of brass, then pound in a close fitting plug to seal it.

Here's my keychain for my work keys. It's 1" square.

Mines a little smaller. The brass cube is 0.44" and the aluminum cube is 0.74".

[krutch]

When I was in Hong Kong in the early '70's I missed a chance to buy a carved ivory figurine on the order of the sample in post #2. There were several tusks I looked at which fascinated me on how they carved details so deep in the background. They were really exquisite. I hesitated too long and ran out of time to decide. They were illegal now cause of the ivory laws, but would have been OK then.
Probably would have not made it to today having gotten broken after all this time and moving around. They sure were works of art and talent.

[darryl]

I once made a few oddballs like that for gifts. One was a bent bolt- two parts of the bolt were at right angles, and turning one turned the other as well. No gears, but there was a flex shaft connecting them. Once assembled it could not be taken apart.

Another was a bolt that got longer or shorter as you turned it.

[RichR]

Hi darryl
Yes, I saw those:
http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/thr...586#post322586
Good stuff.

[jimsehr]

My 2014 balls in a cube made out of solid piece of metal. 3/8 ball in 5/8 ball in 7/8 ball in 1 inch cube.

jimsehr

[RichR]

Very nice Jim. Did you use a specially shaped cutter for that?

[jimsehr]

Very nice Jim. Did you use a specially shaped cutter for that?

RichR
I made the hss form tools in my home shop by hand then lapped the tool radius on my lathe.

jimsehr