Included QR code plaques for accessing the videos for the solution to the puzzle as well as how to reset it. They are included in the new V1.3 file on the last plate. If you want these QR plaques, please download the latest file
V1.2 Update (Dec 17, 2023)
Removed QR rick-roll code from the standard 3MF file. The youtube account was apparently closed so I am just going to pull it from the design. I apologize for anyone who has printed the bottom piece to date, you will need to re-print plate #3 of the design
Added Videos for solution and how to reset
V1.1 Update
Included a tweezer into the build so that you do not have to purchase your own to include
Change 1 dimension by 0.5mm on the deadbolt, not a big deal, just a very very small amount of additional clearance in one direction when printing with a silk filament which is a nice to have
Decided to change the jewelry chain routing to only include 1 rear pillar. After many play testings, only including 1 pillar as the restriction felt like the right move. It draws peoples focus to that pillar and it is easier to get an accurate length on the chain. See last image below
Decided to copy/paste the instructions here so people know what they are getting into
This is a long term passion project of mine, creating puzzle boxes for D&D Adventures. This one is castle themed, and is a mechanically heavy solution. It includes hidden mazes, springs, magnets, and discovery by tear down. It also includes a few red herrings to throw people off.
Video for Solution:
Video for Resetting:
Puzzle Box Manual
V1.1 By: Mechengg
Planning
Filament Requirements
Type
Color
Model (g)
Flushed (g)
Total (g)
PLA (+)
Grey
596.49
0.02
596.51
Accent*
130.23
0.01
130.23
White
3.72
0.37
4.09
Black
0.49
0.35
0.84
731.67
Hardware Required
Brass Nut Insert
M3 x 6mm
x21
M5 x 6mm
x2
Hex Bolt w/ Washer
M3 x 8mm
x20
M5 x 12mm
x1
Threaded Rod
M3 x 60mm
x1
Spring
7.5mmD x 11mmL
x2
7.5mmD x 19mmL
x3
9.5mmD x 19mmL
x2
Washer
¼” Standard
x2
Binding Post
¼”D x ¾”L
x1
Magnets
15mmD x 3mmL
x16
Jewelry Chain
1mm link width
36”
Tools Required
Soldering Iron
Allen keys
CA Glue
Loctite (or use CA Glue in place)
Print Settings
Quality
Layer Height: 0.12mm
First Layer Height: 0.20mm
Ironing: All Top Surfaces
Print Order: Inner/Outer/Infill
Strength
Wall Loops: 3
Top Shell Layers: 5
Bottom Shell Layers: 5
Sparse Infill Density: 15%
Sparse Infill Pattern: Gyroid
Speed
All Standard Settings
Support
Enabled: Yes
Type: Normal (Auto)
Others
Brim Type: Auto
Prime Tower: Enabled
Print Time
1D 12H 35m
Print Orientation & Parts List
1
Bottom
2
Gatewheel
3
Pillars – Left Combined
4
Pillars – Right Combined
5
Shield 2
6
Side – Door – Box Rear
7
Side – Door – Deadbolt
8
Side – Door – Inside Box
9
Side – Door – Pin Lower
10
Side – Door – Pin Upper
11
Side – Door
12
Side – Maze
13
Side – Rear – Cover
14
Side – Rear – Slide Lock Head 2
15
Side – Rear – Slide Lock Pin
16
Side – Rear
17
Side – Shield
18
Top
19
Tower – Common Top Cap
20
Tower – Magnet High
21
Tower – Magnet Low
22
Tower – Magnet Plug
23
Tower – Maze 1
24
Tower – Maze 2
25
Tower – Maze 3
26
Tower – Tweezers
Not shown – Tweezers are now included on build plate 4
Assembly
Soldering Nut Inserts
Using soldering iron, inset brass nut inserts into the “Side – Door” until flush (M3x6mm x2)
Using soldering iron, inset brass nut inserts into the “Side – Door – Inside Box” until flush (M3x6mm x2)
Using soldering iron, inset brass nut inserts into the top and bottom of the “Side – Maze” panel until flush (M3x6mm x4)
Using soldering iron, inset brass nut inserts into the “Side - Rear” top, bottom and interior face until flush (M3x6mm x8)
Using soldering iron, inset brass nut inserts into the top and bottom of the “Side - Shield” panel until flush (M3x6mm x4)
Using soldering iron, inset brass nut inserts into the bottom of “Tower – Maze 2” until flush (M3x6mm x1)
Using soldering iron, inset brass nut insert into the side of the “Pillars – Right Combined” assembly until flush (M5x6mm x1)
***Note larger M5 size***
Using soldering iron, inset brass nut insert into the “Gatewheel” until flush (M5x6mm x1)
***Note larger M5 size***
Assembling Bolts & Rods
Using Loctite, secure the threaded rod (M3 x 60mm) into the “Tower – Maze 2” assembly
Using Loctite, secure the bolt (M5 x 12mm) into the “Gatewheel” assembly from the direction shown below
Assembling Shield Panel
Insert “Shield” into pre-assembled “Side – Shield” assembly
Using Loctite, install Binding Post (1/4” x ¾”) through the center hole, the blank pin on the outside and the slotted side on the inside of the panel. Tighten then loosen just enough to allow for the shield to turn with light resistance
Assembling Rear Locking Pins
Install Spring (7.5mm x 19mm) then washer (1/4”) onto the “Side – Rear – Slide Lock Pin” in the below order
Using CA glue, secure the “Side – Rear – Slide Lock Head 2” into the “Side – Rear – Slide Lock Pin” assembly above, ensuring to align the flat surfaces of the pin and head parallel to each other
Install Magnets (15mm x 3mm) inside the assembly as shown below
Repeat for the second required Rear Locking Pin Assembly
Assembling Rear Panel
Install 2x Rear Locking Pin Assemblies into the “Side – Rear” panel, making sure that the washer is slotted into the recessed channel and flat against the shown side, and the direction of the 45 degree angled holding pin is the correct orientation
Install 2x “Side - Rear Cover” and secure with bolts and washers (M3 x 8mm)
Press fit springs (9.5mm x 19mm) into the holes that are shown
Assembling Maze Tower
Glue the “Tower – Maze 3” into place on “Tower – Maze 1” with CA glue, making sure to only apply glue to the first ½” of the locking spring and the bottom of the pocket
Screw the “Tower – Maze 2” assembly onto the bottom of the maze tower, keeping in mind that these threads are reverse thread. Thread the “Tower – Common Top Cap” onto the top of the maze tower assembly and secure in place with CA glue on the last thread
Assemble the Tweezer Tower
Insert tweezers into the cavity in the “Tower – Tweezers”
Thread the “Tower – Common Top Cap” onto the top of the tower. ***Do NOT use CA glue on this pillar***
Assembling Magnet Towers
Insert 5 magnets (15mm x 3mm) into the sockets in both magnet towers (Tower – Magnet High/Low).
Push the “Tower – Magnet Plug” into the press fit socket to hold the magnets in place. Thread the “Tower – Common Top Cap” onto the top of the tower and secure in place with CA glue on the last thread
Repeat for both Magnet Towers
During the main box assembly phase, test the polarity of the magnets in step 6. If the magnets do not pull the rear locking pins (and push, or the tower is hard to press down) then reverse the polarity of the magnets inside the tower.
Assembling the Door
Install spring (7.5mm x 19mm) “Side – Door – Deadbolt” into the rear of the deadbolt, then install into the rear of the “Side – Door”
Install the “Side – Door – Pin Upper” and “Side – Door – Pin Lower” deadbolt release pins. It will be necessary to adjust the position of the deadbolt to fit both of these in. Install springs (7.5mm x 11mm) behind the upper and lower deadbolt release pins
Install the “Side – Door – Inside Box” to the back of the door assembly and secure in place with 2x bolts with washers (M3 x 8mm)
Install the “Side – Door – Box Rear” onto the assembly as shown using 2x bolts with washers (M3 x 8mm)
Assembling The Box
Hold the “Pillars – Left Combined” assembly against the “Bottom” of the puzzle box, noting that the additional hole is on this side of the box and the QR code is facing down, and the non-hole side is to the right of the pillars
Insert the shield assembly between the left pillar assembly and bolt the bottom in place with 2 bolts (M3 x 8mm)
Repeat for the “Pillars – Right Combined” and the maze assembly, noting the direction of the maze assembly (star at the bottom)
Install the rear panel assembly, keeping in mind the orientation should leave the bottom spring against the bottom of the box, and bolt in place with 2 bolts from the bottom (M3 x 8mm)
Place the “Top” of the box between the installed pillars, and bolt to all of the side panels with 6 bolts (M3 x 8mm)
Insert the tower assemblies into their correct pillars
Test the magnet pillars by swapping the 2 rear pillars, ensuring that both of them pull their respective rear locking pins
Insert the maze tower assembly through the quick reset channel with spring return
Thread the gatewheel assembly into the M5 nut insert on the right hand pillar assembly
Press the door assembly into the remaining side, heading an audible click as you press firmly
Separate the door locking pins (upper goes up, lower goes down) at the same time to release the deadbolt and lock the door
Use a chain or string and route it in the following orientation. You do not want a lot of slack in this loop, it should not stretch, and the rear towers should not be able to be removed with this orientation until the shield puzzle is solved.
Gatewheel loop should be secured to itself with a circlip or similar so that the gatewheel can turn, but the loop cannot be removed
The shield puzzle will need to be solved in reverse to loop the chain/rope/string correctly into the shield
The rear pillar should rotated so that there is as little slack in the chain as possible, then use a circlip threaded through the end of the chain to secure it in place
Solution
Unlatch the door
Find Tweezers
Unthread the gatewheel from the right combined pillar assembly
Remove front right pillar by pulling straight up
Unscrew pillar from top cap, remove tweezers
Lengthen Chain
Use tweezers to remove 1 of the 2 chain sections within the shield peek-hole
With 1 of the 2 chain sections outside the peek-hole, make sure 1 half of it is in the stationary section, and the other half is in the rotating section
Rotate the shield around the circle (clockwise or counterclockwise will depend on which chain section that you pulled up)
The chain should be able to now be pulled through the bottom of the puzzlebox
Remove rear pillars
Now that the chain has been lengthened, there will be sufficient room to lift the rear pillar inserts out of the rear pillars
Swap the pillar inserts (left to right, right to left)
The magnets will automatically unlatch the back of the door
Retract door deadbolt
Remove front left pillar by solving rotational maze (maze is shown on the side of the puzzle box as a reference)
Remove lower end cap from the rotational maze pillar
Insert M3 threaded rod into hole that is created in step 1 from removing the chain hoist
This was a fun project for me and a frustrating gift for a couple of my family members. I needed to make adjustments as not all the parts listed were available to the exact specifications. For example, some of the springs were not flexible enough for a magnet to fully activate. So I found a weaker spring that was too small to fit around a post but did fit in the space available. One request: enlarge the holes for the chain to allow for a larger chain. Overall I love this. Keep up the great work!
Thanks for the feedback and comments Mike! Really appreciate the in depth nature of the comments and photos. Sorry that the spring availability wasn't available in your region, I should put some Amazon links for what I use but likely won't help you outside of Canada. Glad you found a reasonable solution to the problem though 😊
I'm printing this as we speak! Thank you so so so much! I can't download the assembly instructions, unfortunately, but I'm so excited to build it blind! :D I am so glad this is up and I can't thank you enough!
In your previous comment you rated the print profile a 4/5 stars without even printing it out? I didn't know that this was possible...
This design prints fine for myself and I am not going to optimize it any further. I have spent so many hours going in and tweaking everything I found necessary to print it to my own standards and acceptable supports that I am not going to be doing any further redesigns on it sorry.
If you would like to make your own print profile for yourself absolutely feel free to try and optimize it on your own for your own needs