Puzzle Pieces

An area to upload images of pieces cut using VCarve Pro
Post Reply
Mobius
Vectric Wizard
Posts: 413
Joined: Wed Jul 09, 2014 1:19 am
Model of CNC Machine: CRP Pro 4848 Custom Build
Location: Drumheller, Alberta, Canada
Contact:

Puzzle Pieces

Post by Mobius »

A client asked if I could make and engrave some tiny puzzle pieces (1.2" x 0.75" x 0.625"). I cut these two out as a test, and engraved my kid's names on them. Right one is Cherry, left is Mahogany with one coat of Danish oil.

Engraving is 0.09" - 0.11" tall, and came out a little cloudy. Wish I had a laser to see if that would work better.

Anyways, I'll probably make a necklace for my wife out of these 'test' pieces.

Image
Connor Bredin
Distinctive Dimensional Concepts Ltd.
www.distinctive-concepts.ca

Mobius
Vectric Wizard
Posts: 413
Joined: Wed Jul 09, 2014 1:19 am
Model of CNC Machine: CRP Pro 4848 Custom Build
Location: Drumheller, Alberta, Canada
Contact:

Re: Puzzle Pieces

Post by Mobius »

Client liked them so I cut a bunch. No engraving.

Image

Put a few of the leftovers together and put some epoxy on one side (with a little gold in it for sparkle) to hold it together. I'll probably engrave something on the other side and epoxy that as well.

Image
Connor Bredin
Distinctive Dimensional Concepts Ltd.
www.distinctive-concepts.ca

ThomasScott
Posts: 16
Joined: Thu Jul 14, 2016 1:52 am
Model of CNC Machine: Probotix Nebula

Re: Puzzle Pieces

Post by ThomasScott »

Mobius, Those came out great. I 've been trying to cut some examples since I saw your
first post with no luck. I tried some online piece generators that seemed to work well as
far as generating the piece vectors. I tested a 4 piece group, separated them into individual
parts and profile cut them on the outside, but they don't fit, close, but I'm missing something .

Can you share how to cut these as you seem to have a perfect fit!

Thanks, Scott

Mobius
Vectric Wizard
Posts: 413
Joined: Wed Jul 09, 2014 1:19 am
Model of CNC Machine: CRP Pro 4848 Custom Build
Location: Drumheller, Alberta, Canada
Contact:

Re: Puzzle Pieces

Post by Mobius »

Hi Scott,

I found a puzzle piece shape I liked through an image search and vectorized it using Inkscape. I then imported the vector into V-Carve and copied it a few times to test virtual fitment.

My first test cuts didn't fit either, the vectors just didn't quite match. I ended up rebuilding the piece, starting with the 'female' sides. I offset the 'female' sides outwards 0.001", which gave me new 'knob' or 'male' sides which matched the 'female' sections closely and were slightly smaller in order to fit together.

I then took those new 'male' sides and replaced the 'male' sides on the original vector. After a little node editing and copy pasta, they now all appeared to fit together in any orientation. And so it was for the physical pieces as well.

I've attached a .dxf of my puzzle piece for your convenience.
Puzzle_Piece.dxf
(52.75 KiB) Downloaded 390 times
Connor
Connor Bredin
Distinctive Dimensional Concepts Ltd.
www.distinctive-concepts.ca

ThomasScott
Posts: 16
Joined: Thu Jul 14, 2016 1:52 am
Model of CNC Machine: Probotix Nebula

Re: Puzzle Pieces

Post by ThomasScott »

Connor, Thank you for the info and the example file, very helpful. Didn't think it was a
quick and easy solution, i will have to play around with node editing the vectors I have
and testing them out. This would make an awesome gadget if someone smarter than I
could figure out a mathematical solution to this !

again thanks for the info

Scott

Mobius
Vectric Wizard
Posts: 413
Joined: Wed Jul 09, 2014 1:19 am
Model of CNC Machine: CRP Pro 4848 Custom Build
Location: Drumheller, Alberta, Canada
Contact:

Re: Puzzle Pieces

Post by Mobius »

Just put a little clip regarding these on YouTube if anyone wants to check it out:

Connor Bredin
Distinctive Dimensional Concepts Ltd.
www.distinctive-concepts.ca

User avatar
mtylerfl
Vectric Archimage
Posts: 5865
Joined: Thu Jan 29, 2009 3:54 am
Model of CNC Machine: -CarveWright CNC -ShopBot Buddy PRSAlpha
Location: Brunswick, GA

Re: Puzzle Pieces

Post by mtylerfl »

Cool video, Connor! Thank you!
Michael Tyler

facebook.com/carvebuddy

-CarveWright CNC
-ShopBot Buddy PRSAlpha CNC

User avatar
Xxray
Vectric Wizard
Posts: 2300
Joined: Thu Feb 17, 2011 8:47 am
Model of CNC Machine: CAMaster Stinger 1
Location: MI USA

Re: Puzzle Pieces

Post by Xxray »

So, what bit did you use to profile them ?
Doug

Mobius
Vectric Wizard
Posts: 413
Joined: Wed Jul 09, 2014 1:19 am
Model of CNC Machine: CRP Pro 4848 Custom Build
Location: Drumheller, Alberta, Canada
Contact:

Re: Puzzle Pieces

Post by Mobius »

Xxray wrote:So, what bit did you use to profile them ?
A 1/16" 2 flute downcut bit from ToolsToday.
Connor Bredin
Distinctive Dimensional Concepts Ltd.
www.distinctive-concepts.ca

Post Reply