V1.3 (Dec 21, 2023)

• 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

Hardware Required

Tools Required

• Soldering Iron
• Allen keys
• CA Glue
• Loctite (or use CA Glue in place)

Print Settings

1. Quality
   1. Layer Height: 0.12mm
   2. First Layer Height: 0.20mm
   3. Ironing: All Top Surfaces
   4. Print Order: Inner/Outer/Infill
2. Strength
   1. Wall Loops: 3
   2. Top Shell Layers: 5
   3. Bottom Shell Layers: 5
   4. Sparse Infill Density: 15%
   5. Sparse Infill Pattern: Gyroid
3. Speed
   1. All Standard Settings
4. Support
   1. Enabled: Yes
   2. Type: Normal (Auto)
5. Others
   1. Brim Type: Auto
   2. Prime Tower: Enabled

Print Time

1D 12H 35m

Print Orientation & Parts List

Assembly

Soldering Nut Inserts

1. Using soldering iron, inset brass nut inserts into the “Side – Door” until flush (M3x6mm x2)

1. Using soldering iron, inset brass nut inserts into the “Side – Door – Inside Box” until flush (M3x6mm x2)

1. Using soldering iron, inset brass nut inserts into the top and bottom of the “Side – Maze” panel until flush (M3x6mm x4)

1. Using soldering iron, inset brass nut inserts into the “Side - Rear” top, bottom and interior face until flush (M3x6mm x8)

1. Using soldering iron, inset brass nut inserts into the top and bottom of the “Side - Shield” panel until flush (M3x6mm x4)

1. Using soldering iron, inset brass nut inserts into the bottom of “Tower – Maze 2” until flush (M3x6mm x1)

1. Using soldering iron, inset brass nut insert into the side of the “Pillars – Right Combined” assembly until flush (M5x6mm x1)

***Note larger M5 size***

1. Using soldering iron, inset brass nut insert into the “Gatewheel” until flush (M5x6mm x1)

***Note larger M5 size***

Assembling Bolts & Rods

1. Using Loctite, secure the threaded rod (M3 x 60mm) into the “Tower – Maze 2” assembly

1. Using Loctite, secure the bolt (M5 x 12mm) into the “Gatewheel” assembly from the direction shown below

Assembling Shield Panel

1. Insert “Shield” into pre-assembled “Side – Shield” assembly

1. 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

1. Install Spring (7.5mm x 19mm) then washer (1/4”) onto the “Side – Rear – Slide Lock Pin” in the below order

1. 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

1. Install Magnets (15mm x 3mm) inside the assembly as shown below

1. Repeat for the second required Rear Locking Pin Assembly

Assembling Rear Panel

1. 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

1. Install 2x “Side - Rear Cover” and secure with bolts and washers (M3 x 8mm)

1. Press fit springs (9.5mm x 19mm) into the holes that are shown

Assembling Maze Tower

1. 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

1. 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

1. Insert tweezers into the cavity in the “Tower – Tweezers”
2. Thread the “Tower – Common Top Cap” onto the top of the tower. ***Do NOT use CA glue on this pillar***

Assembling Magnet Towers

1. Insert 5 magnets (15mm x 3mm) into the sockets in both magnet towers (Tower – Magnet High/Low).

1. 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

1. Repeat for both Magnet Towers
2. 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

1. Install spring (7.5mm x 19mm) “Side – Door – Deadbolt” into the rear of the deadbolt, then install into the rear of the “Side – Door”

1. 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

1. 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)

1. Install the “Side – Door – Box Rear” onto the assembly as shown using 2x bolts with washers (M3 x 8mm)

Assembling The Box

1. 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

1. Insert the shield assembly between the left pillar assembly and bolt the bottom in place with 2 bolts (M3 x 8mm)

1. Repeat for the “Pillars – Right Combined” and the maze assembly, noting the direction of the maze assembly (star at the bottom)

1. 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)

1. Place the “Top” of the box between the installed pillars, and bolt to all of the side panels with 6 bolts (M3 x 8mm)

1. Insert the tower assemblies into their correct pillars

1. Test the magnet pillars by swapping the 2 rear pillars, ensuring that both of them pull their respective rear locking pins
2. Insert the maze tower assembly through the quick reset channel with spring return

1. Thread the gatewheel assembly into the M5 nut insert on the right hand pillar assembly

1. Press the door assembly into the remaining side, heading an audible click as you press firmly

1. Separate the door locking pins (upper goes up, lower goes down) at the same time to release the deadbolt and lock the door

1. 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

1. Find Tweezers
   1. Unthread the gatewheel from the right combined pillar assembly
   2. Remove front right pillar by pulling straight up
      1. Unscrew pillar from top cap, remove tweezers
2. Lengthen Chain
   1. Use tweezers to remove 1 of the 2 chain sections within the shield peek-hole
   2. 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
   3. Rotate the shield around the circle (clockwise or counterclockwise will depend on which chain section that you pulled up)
   4. The chain should be able to now be pulled through the bottom of the puzzlebox
3. Remove rear pillars
   1. Now that the chain has been lengthened, there will be sufficient room to lift the rear pillar inserts out of the rear pillars
   2. Swap the pillar inserts (left to right, right to left)
   3. The magnets will automatically unlatch the back of the door

Retract door deadbolt

1. Remove front left pillar by solving rotational maze (maze is shown on the side of the puzzle box as a reference)
   1. Remove lower end cap from the rotational maze pillar
2. Insert M3 threaded rod into hole that is created in step 1 from removing the chain hoist
3. Press the door lock to “unlock” the door