Shapes Puzzle

thingiverse

Puzzle Board for Tiny Hands: A Delightful Project for Young Minds. Dimensions: 8.5" x 11". Crafted with Precision Using a Laser Cutting Table. How I Brought This Vision to Life: Step 1: Cutting with Laser Precision There are two key components to this puzzle: the front board, which also generates the puzzle pieces, and the back support board. For the front board, I recommend using 1/4" plywood, while the back support board benefits from 1/8" plywood. The included Illustrator file features two artboards (1-front, 2-back). Artboard 1 will cut entirely through the plywood (red vector lines) to provide the puzzle pieces and the front board perimeter. Meanwhile, Artboard 2 will cut the perimeter of the board and etch the shapes. Why This Approach? It's Simple: When the two artboards are combined, you'll have a perfectly aligned front board with beautifully crafted puzzle pieces. Step 2: Sanding for Smooth Fit Depending on your laser power/speed settings, you might need to sand the puzzle pieces to ensure they fit easily inside the front board and remove any char from the edges. Step 3: Adding Colorful Touches My wife and I prefer the natural wood look, so we decided to paint only the puzzle pieces themselves and not the top board. To make it easier for our kids to identify where each piece goes, we also painted the holes the same color as the pieces. This is why we etched the shapes on the back board - so we could paint the holes before assembling the two pieces. Step 4: Assembling with Care Apply wood glue to the back of the front board, then place the front and back together and clamp them securely for a while. Step 5: Finishing Touches I haven't reached this stage yet, but you can sand the edges to ensure the front and back boards are flush together. That's It! Now You Can Enjoy Your Handiwork.