Superstrings puzzle

pinshape

This puzzle was my entry for the 2011 IPP Puzzle Design competition, where it took home Jury 1st Prize in Berlin. "Two open-ended Superstrings with the right spin can be combined into a super-symmetrical cube." The concept behind this puzzle emerged while I was designing shapes based on two interlocked tetrahedra. Inspired by string theory and super-symmetry ideas, I started searching for shapes that were both symmetrical and as similar as possible. Although the two pieces appear identical at first glance, they have subtle differences. Print Settings Printer: Mendel90 Rafts: No Supports: Yes Resolution: 0.2 mm Infill: 30 Notes: The competition entry was printed in nylon by Shapeways and is still available for purchase on their site - https://www.shapeways.com/product/79EZ8M87R/superstrings. With good support material settings, it's also possible to print this at home using an FDM printer. Post-Printing Taking the two pieces apart isn't too difficult; reassembling them back into a cube can be more challenging. Hold one piece steady while moving the other through the correct sequence of lateral and rotational moves. The solution document can be found in ThingFiles.