NOS Burr Series - Interlocking puzzles by Gregory Benedetti

thingiverse

## ## NOS Burr Series ### Interlocking puzzles by Gregory Benedetti The NOS Burr Series is a set of seven highly unusual interlocking puzzles by Gregory Benedetti. The goal of each puzzle is the same: assemble six pieces into the familiar shape of an ordinary six-piece burr. These are no ordinary six-piece burrs, however. Instead of the usual rectilinear cuts found in traditional burr puzzles, the NOS ("New Old School") burrs feature unusual diagonal cuts, yielding an astonishing variety of solving experiences that will continually surprise you. Each one is unique; among them you will find triple and quadruple coordinate motion, multiple consecutive coordinate motions, surprising reversals, and an unusual rotation thrown in for good measure. These are some of the most delightful puzzle designs that I have ever encountered. Be advised that these are quite difficult puzzles, and they are likely to challenge even experienced puzzle solvers. If you are unfamiliar with burr puzzles, I strongly advise starting with simpler designs such as those in the [Starter Burr Set](https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4387531). However, if you feel up to the challenge, you will not regret embarking on this journey. They are all solvable without hints or computer aids, and if you get desperate, Kevin Sadler has created solution videos for all seven; search for them on YouTube. These puzzles are quite sensitive to tolerances. If printed too tight, they have a tendency to lock up and become frustrating to use. Therefore, I have modeled them all to be slightly on the loose side (each puzzle had to be individually tested due to differences in fit). If you want to try printing them tighter, you can print the "`tighter`" variants instead (`benedetti.nos.nos1-compressed-tighter.stl`, etc). Similarly, if you find they are too tight for comfort, try the "`looser`" variants. You can find more information about these fascinating designs in an article published by Frans de Vreugd: [New Old School (NOS) Burrs](https://www.gathering4gardner.org/g4g13gift/puzzles/DeVreugdFrans-GiftExchange-NewOldSchoolBurrs-G4G13.pdf) ### Printing Instructions For puzzle #1 and #2, print three copies of `benedetti.nos.nos1-compressed.stl` and `benedetti.nos.nos2-transfer.stl`, respectively. For each of the others, print just one copy of the appropriate `stl` file (`benedetti.nos.nos3-round-trip.stl` through `benedetti.nos.nos7-seizaine.stl`). Most of the puzzles can be printed without supports, though you will probably want supports for the pieces in #1 and #4 that have unbridged edges near the build plate, and definitely for the piece in #7 with an unbridged overhang. However, I specifically recommend _not_ using supports for the pieces in #4 and #6 with a bridged overhang; I'd expect better results from the printer's natural bridging feature. Puzzles #1 and #2 use "snap joints" to model pieces with non-bridgeable overhang. After you print it, first connect all the joints before attempting to solve the puzzle. Snap each male connector into a corresponding female connector (for example, the male connector labeled "A" should connect to the female connector with a matching "A" label on the interior). The joints are designed to be tight, and depending on the printer and filament used, you may need to hammer them into place. If they come out too loose, a drop of superglue will make them more solid (in most cases this shouldn't be necessary, but unfortunately tolerances vary across printers and filaments). The snap joint concept is discussed further in this tutorial: [Getting Started with Puzzle Printing](https://www.puzzlehub.org/tutorials/getting-started). ### The Printable Puzzle Project The [Printable Puzzle Project](https://www.puzzlehub.org/ppp) aims to make available high-quality open-source models of many puzzle designs. All of our models are posted with the generous permission of their designers and are licensed for __non-commercial use only__. Anyone may print copies for their own personal use, but selling or otherwise monetizing them is not permitted, and puzzle designers retain all rights as copyright holders of their work. Our puzzles are modeled using the open-source [puzzlecad](https://www.puzzlehub.org/puzzlecad) library. The `.scad` file is included with this model in case you want to modify any of its design parameters; more information on how to do this can be found in the PPP [Puzzle Modeling tutorial](https://www.puzzlehub.org/tutorials/puzzle-modeling). ### About the Designer French designer Gregory Benedetti has created some of the world's most inventive interlocking puzzles, often employing rotational moves, coordinate motions, or unusual combinations of geometries. They range from moderately challenging to "brutally difficult," in the words of Eric Fuller, and many of them are absolutely unique in the puzzle repertoire. Benedetti's designs are well-regarded in the puzzle community, and in 2011 and 2012 he was recognized with back-to-back Top 10 awards at the International Puzzle Party. Happy puzzling!