Mayer's Puzzle - Printed in one shot.

prusaprinters

<h3><strong>Intro:</strong></h3><p>In the 80s I was exposed to this puzzle formed out of wood, that with the years it got broken. (wood that got deteriorated and a friend that tried to solve it broke two of the pieces of it)</p><p>Today you can find this wooden puzzle shops under different funny names like <strong>Mayer's Puzzle</strong>, <strong>Mayer's Cube</strong>, <strong>Konzi Cube</strong>, <strong>Koncy Puzzle</strong>, etc. The name I knew was <strong>“</strong><i><strong>Hexacube</strong></i><strong>”</strong>.</p><p>Now I got a new 3D printer, therefore I decided to design it and print it.</p><p><br>If you want to print the puzzle piece per piece which is much easier (without the challenges that can happen when you print it at once), look at my <a href="https://www.printables.com/model/224483-mayers-puzzle-printed-in-pieces">Mayer's Puzzle - Printed in pieces model</a>.&nbsp;</p><p>Otherwise: <i><strong>Please read the disclaimer below!</strong></i></p><p>&nbsp;</p><h3><strong>The Challenge:</strong></h3><p>I took the challenge to design it using the broken cube, opened <a href="https://www.tinkercad.com">ThinkerCAD</a> to design and joint all parts so they become printed in a single piece. It was not easy to calculate the exact distances and required space between the moving parts, but it worked for me. (First time designing) &nbsp;</p><h3><strong>Printing:</strong></h3><p>I used my original Prusa Mini+ printer, with eSUN PLA+ that surprised me with the performance, because I discovered that there is one small cube that is missing inside the big cube, a place that I could not put support otherwise it will be impossible to dismantle the cube.</p><ul><li>Printing time: ~15 hours.</li><li>Layer Height: 0.2 mm (Quality Settings)</li><li>Vertical Shells - Perimeters: 4</li><li>eSUN PLA+ (Generic PLA profile)</li><li>65 meters of filament..</li><li>I used 5% infill, but I guess this was to exaggerated. Suggest you use your regular value (15%?)</li></ul><h3>Possible problems:</h3><p>The cube consists of 63 small cubes that are joined in 6 different solid pieces, when the big cube consists of 4 by 4 &nbsp;by 4 small cubes = 64 small cubes… that is, inside the cube there is an empty space for the missing small cube, this space is required for moving the 6 pieces when arming or taking the cube apart. The layers that come above this empty small cube do not have support and can not have support from three walls, therefore it can be difficult for the printer to print it I was lucky enough to print it (beginners luck?). Look at the two screenshots at layer 299 and layer 303 from the Prusa slicer application to see the missing cube and how the layer above it is printed.</p><p>Below is the photo of the part where the upper layers did not have a place to join, no bridging, because it had an U shape.:<br><img src="https://media.printables.com/media/prints/222332/rich_content/40bd33b2-3ef9-4e96-82be-8091d19f0555/2022-06-08-172851.png#%7B%22uuid%22%3A%221b3a9786-9d38-4db4-b51c-85ee335a99b7%22%2C%22w%22%3A2268%2C%22h%22%3A2268%7D"></p><p>The second problem is after printing, the faces of the 6 different pieces that need to be separated but they were printed together, therefore, they can glue together during the printing session, you may need to knock with a hammer in the the correct places in order to make them move, in the correct order for taking it apart for the first time. (After 2 or three times you take it apart and assembly it back, the cube pieces will work perfectly.&nbsp;</p><h3>Hints:</h3><p>The following video provides a hint on how to take the cube apart (you will need it for using the hammer in the correct place for separating the possible glued surfaces inside the big cube.. or to assemble it back.<br>&nbsp;</p><figure class="media"><oembed url="https://youtu.be/bKqUVYlHl0g"></oembed></figure><p>Hope you enjoy this model.</p><h3>Disclaimer:</h3><p>I take no responsibility if the printing goes wrong because the layers may get glued together or that the missing roof in the inner small cube for the upper layers may go wrong. Print it on your own risk. (I guess it is worth)</p><h3>Comments:</h3><p>You are welcome to provide comments, suggestions on how I can improve this model. I will be posting a second model some day that can be printed in 6 parts, one with a different color :)</p><h4>&nbsp;</h4><h4>Please give a like it if you like it</h4><p>I hope you like this model and maybe you may find it useful. Please give me a like, it will make my day.</p><p>Happy printing, greetings from the Galilee.</p><p><br>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>