3D puzzle patterns

[Ron Caudillo]

I just finished this butterfly for a friend who requested it. It is about 2 inches tall and was made from credit card sized PVC that I printed using a card printer that our company manufactures. Best Regards,

[elliott]

That's a beautiful butterfly Ron. Did you happen to watch it flutterby? Sorry, I tried to resist but just couldn't help myself.

[Ron Caudillo]

Originally Posted by elliott

That's a beautiful butterfly Ron. Did you happen to watch it flutterby? Sorry, I tried to resist but just couldn't help myself.

LOL. I'm not sure about everyone else, but I appreciate the humor. But then my wife says I should stop telling my lame ones!

[elliott]

You too, huh?

[KandJ]

Hi Ron... just joined the forum due to your thread (My first post ...ever ...so not sure where to "Post an introduction" ... hopefully here is as good as any). In the past I have done some intricate Origami but now with family ... that hobby has waned in lieu of other priorities. However, this year did manage to do my boys (4 & 6) a semi-scary house/maze out of cardboard in the basement (400 Sq ft, 8ft high walls, even had a staircase with glowing toxic ooze spilling down, a graveyard, and obligatory candy stations, etc). The first attempt outside got "moistured" and deformed under its own weight, so on the second attempt did it in the basement but with only 3 weeks to work with - wasn't up to the level I wanted. Would love to enlarge some of those models you've indicated and have them in one of the sections in next year's "Scary house". At moment planning a larger than 7yr olds' 3-D dinosaur skeleton area (so I have those templates) but was hoping you could send me the file with the models for some other areas (wasps, scorpions, etc).
[email protected]

[davmormej]

Hi Ron,
i was wondering if you could send me these files, my email is [email protected]
Thanks

Originally Posted by Ron Caudillo

Hi All,
I have been collecting 3D cut out patterns for a while. I first ran across them when a company I used to work for bought a sheet metal laser cutter. They had provided some AutoCAD files for demonstration that would cut out various demonstration parts; one of them cut out the pieces for a 3D frog puzzle. We had a lot of fun trying to figure out how the thing assembled and I wish I still had the pattern- it looked really great! I had given mine a away since then.

Since then, I have run across a lot of AutoCAD files for various 3D creatures and objects (Thanks TAZMAN for helping to provide the first few- the hornet in the first picture). You may recognize some of them as the various dinosaur "bones" puzzles cut out of thin wood.

I have converted some of the AutoCAD files into PDFs that you can use to make these out of wood, foam, or whatever else you can think of. For those of you fortunate enough to have access to a laser cutter, I have the original DXF files they use.

I am a technical support specialist for a company that designs and manufactures card personalization equipment. That's a fancy term for a a machine that embosses credit cards or an ID card printer. I have printed out one of the puzzles (a hornet) onto the plastic cards our machine uses, cut it out, and assembled it (see the first picture). I use this to show the versitility of our card printers to our customers.

The other pictures show a few of the other 3D patterns I have. I guess I have about 40+ patterns so far and am always looking for more (such as the frog). Any help would be appreciated.

If you e-mail me, I can send you what I have. The zip file is about 7 meg so I can't post it here.

Best Regards,

Great Info,
I was wondering if you could send me the files?
My email davmormej at gmail dot com
Thanks Ron
have a good day!

[Ron Caudillo]

Hi all,
The response has been very good to this thread and I thank you for the continuing interest.

For those of you who are just posting for the first time to get me to send you the files (I now have right around 50 MB of puzzles and am getting new ones all of the time), PLEASE post an introduction of yourself and become an involved active member of this wonderful community.

To post an introduction, simply click on the HOME tab at the top of the page, then click on the FORUM tab. In the top section (General Information and News) there is a link called, The Welcome Desk. This is where you can post your introduction. I think you'll find this community to be very accommodating, friendly, and helpful; I sure do.

Whenever you build some of these, please share! I'd love to see what you can do and build.

Here are two of my latest builds. The goldfish was printed onto orange PVC credit card blanks, and the eagle was printed onto white PVC credit card blanks:

[rmks2000]

Ron,

How do you cut such intricate holes in the card? especially the small arcs?

Bob

[Ron Caudillo]

Hi Bob,
A LOT of patience!!!!!! Thanks for the comments.

I used to just use an X-Acto knife with a #11 blade. After breaking off the tips of probably 20-30 blades there had to be a better way. 0.030 inch PVC is tough stuff to cut!

I now have a 1/16 inch drill bit that has a hex base. I put this in a finger ratchet to drill holes at specific spots on inside curves, cut-outs, small arcs, etc. I use a jeweler's file to shape the cut-outs and holes.

I have an X-Acto saw blade that almost perfectly cuts the slots and finish then with a metal nail file. This makes a perfect slot for the 0.030 thick credit card stock.

I cut out as much as I can with some small sharp (fairly tough) scissors. This REALLY cuts down on the time it takes to cut out the pieces. I finish the edges with a jeweler's file.

It still takes me about a week or so to cut out and assemble one of these. I can take this with me on my trips to work on because it travels well and is small.

Best Regards,

[Ron Caudillo]

Hello KandJ and Davmormej,
I've just sent you both e-mails with the files I have.

Best Regards,