Thread: A Puzzle Box - My first project post

My understanding of how it works is you have the 2 marbles behind the dividing wall (on the flat side) which prevents you being able to slide the base over, and in this position 4 of the magnets align with magnets in the lid keeping the lid captive. Once you tip it up and get the marbles out through the hole in the wall it allows you to slide the base, the wall and the 2 end pieces towards the side of the box. This moves the magnets in the end pieces with them. The 2 inner magnets are installed upside-down to the other 4 and the movement causes these to align with 2 in the lid and they reject each other popping the lid up allowing the lid to be lifted off.
I hope that is the correct interpretation.

Ah! I get it.

The BASE slides once the marbles are out of the confined area.

The movement of the base to the side also moves the guts to the side. The change in magnet alignment flips the lid up.

Clever.

Here you go, a drawing as promised of the components. Please let me know if you see any errors.
I have saved it as a pdf so everyone can open it.

Puzzle box.PDF

The rebate was equal all round and believe it was 13mm. I only had 1 mm of then base in the rebate in either position, (open or closed).

The base width being: Internal box dimension + 14mm

This would mean the magnets could technically be 12mm centre to centre.

Originally Posted by Treecycle

Please let me know if you see any errors.


Puzzle box.PDF

Looks great, the only differences with my build is follows:

I built a raised panel lid and the taper on the base of my lid is only on the opening side. This is so that when the lid pops open, it also sides forward giving it a bit of wow factor. The fact that there is a taper on both sides is not and issue

The rebate on my build is 10mm deep. The raised paned lid is 8mm thick on the edge meaning the lid sits 2mm below the top of the side panels. I cut the lid on the table saw vertically setting the fence at 8.5mm and blade angle at around 8 degrees from memory.

My rebate for the base is only 5mm from the bottom of the sides. Even though there is a lot of meat (13mm out of an 18mm wall thickness) being removed for the rebate, three sides are always fully supported by the base at all times and forth always has 1mm of support. I feel more depth internally is critical as the current 50mm renders only 10mm above and below the hole in the dividing wall. Run a 22mm marble along either edge and the 11mm centre line of the marble will find the hole every time. Reducing the top rebate to 10mm and base to 5mm means you pick up 13mm. This then provides for 16.5mm at the top and base meaning the centre line of the marble will not find the hole when the lid or base are being used as a guide in conjunction with the dividing wall.

I hope all of this makes sense?

Thanks for the extra info and clarification. I am just a little confused with the lid dimensions. In post 10 you said the lid was 18mm thick but now you say the rebate for the lid is only 10mm deep and the lid sits 2mm below the top. Maybe this was a typo or maybe I'm reading it wrong. Could you just hand sketch a side view of the lid please so I can picture it.
I have updated the dimensions of the other components as per your suggestions, so once I get my head around the lid I will post the plans again.

My apologies, the photographs do not represent this very well. It's a raised panel lid so 8mm along each edge and 18mm in the centre.


This is a photo of another box demonstrating the lid, albeit the bevel being on a more severe angle. The angle is not critical of course, It can be built to taste.

Here is the latest version. I will now leave it up to anyone who wishes to have a go at this to make up their own mind on some features that may be a bit vague.

Puzzle box.PDF

Originally Posted by Treecycle

Here is the latest version. I will now leave it up to anyone who wishes to have a go at this to make up their own mind on some features that may be a bit vague.

Puzzle box.PDF

Looks accurate to me thanks Dallas.


If anybody makes one, please share the pictures as I'd love to see them.