Unique One Way Invisible Maze Puzzle

prusaprinters

This maze puzzle is a little different from the tube type maze puzzles you may have seen in the past. For my puzzle design you only have to work it in one direction. In the past for these puzzles you have to first figure out how to put the two tubes together by following the maze. Then you had to reverse the procedure to separate the two tubes. This resulted in working the maze twice. In my design the tubes go together using a different method. You insert the inter tube into the outer tube from the end, going in a straight line directly to the bottom, and then doing a half turn to lock the inter tube to the bottom of the outer tube. This avoids having to work the maze once just to get the parts together. Now the puzzle is ready to work, and will not come out in the same direction it went in. Be careful not to twist the two parts too hard or you may break something.Instruction for printingDuring the printing of the inter tube you have to pause the print at 13 mm to insert the maze lock. This may not be a very easy procedure for some people, and they may need a little practice at inserting the lock. I have provided a sample to use for practice. I’ve also provided a video of the procedure “Lock insertion into outside_test.mov”. First print out the test file “outside_test”. Assuming you’ve already printed the lock, practice inserting it into the “outside_test” part you printed. Once you’ve got the hang of how to insert the lock, you’re ready to print the full height “outside_tube”. By the way, you could just print the “outside_tube”, and stop the print at 13 mm height. Then use that print as your test piece.When the “outside-tube” is printing, the printer will pause at 13 mm. You insert the lock into the print while the print is still on the print bed, and continue with printing. I’ve included a video showing the procedure. At the bottom of this description is another video that shows in more detail how to insert the lock.Using this method to insert the lock is one way, but I think another way is better, and avoids a visible blob of filament on the side of the printed part. First, remove the pause command from the source “outside_tube” at 13 mm, and re-slice the part. Then during print, when the printer gets to 13 mm, put the printer in pause while it’s printing the center column infill. Insert the lock (you had some practice doing this earlier I hope). Take the printer out of pause. While the printer’s reheating be sure an remove any oozing filament from the print head.I print the inner and outer tubes in PETG, 0.20 mm layer height. The lock is printed with supports, layer height of 0.15 mm, and 100% infill for added strength. Be sure to remove all the support residue, and any burs left on lock print. Doing this will make the lock insertion process easier. I smoothed mine with sandpaper. The maze could be printed in PLA, but I would still recommend printing the lock in PETG.  PETG is more flexible, and the lock needs that flexibility to work properly.Above is a drawing of the lock. It goes in the bottom of the outside tube. You insert it during the printing of the outside tube by pausing the print at 13 mm, insert the lock, and continue printing. A video of the procedure is provided.    This is the maze route. Notice the lock. It only opens one way. Once the “inside tube” is inserted down the long straight tube path and turned a half turn, the tube is locked, and will only come out through the maze. Don’t try to force it back out the way it went in, as it will break either the lock, or the point on the tube.   This video shows you in a little more detail how I insert the locking mechanism.Note: Be sure you know how to insert the lock, and have an idea of how it works before you insert it in the final print. If it's not placed correctly the puzzle will not work, and you'll end up printing another lock and outside tube. The one you just made cannot be repaired.