Nan Ma
My latest coordinated-motion model is flat and based on a hexagonal tiling, with all the identical pieces moving in and out simultaneously. Naturally, assembly is very easy on a flat surface. It's too simple to be considered a puzzle. The mechanism is the same as in the classic Magic Disc and my Blast-hedra puzzles. I can make as many pieces as I like. I created this model more for the sake of completeness. Does anyone have ideas for making it more interesting? Thanks!
May 24 at 7:19pmWeb
Show threadNan MaMay 24
More photos
Show threadEmre Sokullu May 25
@nanma80 cool! can we 3d-print it? Do you have Public access to the STL files?
Show threadJocelynMay 25

@nanma80

Nicely auxetic!

I guess it locks if you don't pull exactly along the correct axis?

Seems there can't be a curved version (bending the sides in the plane), but what about having them tile a spherical cap?

Show threadJocelynMay 25

@nanma80

Oh I see that's what you did back in January! Nice!

Show threadIris Young (he/they/she) (PhD)May 24
@nanma80 more interesting? It's magnificent as it is!
Show threadfuricleMay 24

@nanma80 cool!

If the centers were punched out, it would get kinda like lace expanded?

Show threadNan MaMay 24
@furicle I think so. If there is a hole at the center of each piece in the middle layer, when the pieces are all the way in, you won’t see the hole.
Show threadJargogglesMay 24
@nanma80
Seems like it would be possible to make it so they have a different number of trapezoids on any given side so that there's only one configuration where they all slide together like that and connect in one solid-looking piece in the middle.
Show threadJargogglesMay 24
@nanma80
Or it doesn't have to be a puzzle, per se. If you just give them different numbers of trapezoids on each side, the middle should come together in different shapes, right? It could be fun to just make different designs.
Show threadTripTilt /// ttMay 24
@nanma80
very cool. maybe bringing in colors makes it more interesting. flat colors or 3 colors per tile or 6 colors per tile :)
Show threadbruce obergMay 24
@nanma80 really cool. is the 3d model available anywhere?
Show threadMike SpoonerMay 25
@nanma80 Print a picture onto a set, making it into a kind of "jigsaw" puzzle.
Show threadNan MaMay 25
@shelldozer good idea!
Show threadJonasMay 25

@nanma80
I wonder wether a #origami paper version/variant would be possible

cc. @neauoire

Show threadvillonMay 25
@nanma80
Dreidimensional?
Show threadMartin GriderJun 3
@nanma80 Mesmerizing! As others have said, a puzzle could be fun.