Stan's Tetrahedron

cults3d

This brain teaser was born in the 1980s, likely conceived by Leonard Gordon. Stan Isaacs claims he discovered the interlocking pieces and it has become synonymous with his name. Typically crafted from spheres, I opted for rhombic dodecahedra instead. The puzzle consists of two main components (red in the images), each accompanied by its mirrored counterpart (yellow).\n\nThe pieces can be arranged to form an order 4 tetrahedron in two distinct ways. One solution locks seamlessly together, allowing it to be inverted without coming apart. In contrast, the second solution comprises two half-pyramids. If you mistakenly produce four identical Right pieces, you will only be able to assemble the second configuration.\n\nA wooden version of this puzzle is available from Kadon Enterprises, marketed as the Surprising Pyramid.