Ell of a Puzzle

thingiverse

This is a challenging packing puzzle created around 1986 by Leonard Gordon. In its original form, the puzzle consists of four spheres connected in an L-shape. I have modified this design to replace the spheres with truncated rhombic dodecahedra, allowing these pieces to be printed without support. Print eight copies of the puzzle piece, which are sized to fit into a clear acrylic box. The inside dimensions of the box are 48 mm, making it cubical in shape. Alternatively, you can print the box and lid I provide, which are colored green in my photos. This puzzle is highly demanding. There are three possible solutions, all of which appear similar, but most people struggle to find even one. A helpful tip: once you understand how the pieces fit together, try building the solution on top of the upturned lid rather than inside the box. I have included a pdf file with the solution. As an added bonus, try finding a way to interlock four puzzle pieces into a truncated tetrahedron. This assembly can be placed inside the box. Known as "Blossom," this puzzle was invented by Bernhard Weizorke and requires the 50 micron offset pieces for optimal interlocking.