From: Zachary Vance <za3k@za3k.com>
Date: Sun, 3 Nov 2024 00:43:32 +0000 (-0400)
Subject: Soma cube failure
X-Git-Url: https://git.za3k.com/?a=commitdiff_plain;h=edad066f54c956fd15bf01026cee9ba197501403;p=blog.git

Soma cube failure
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+---
+author: admin
+categories:
+- Technical
+date: 2024-11-02
+tags:
+- hack-a-day
+title: 'Hack-a-Day, Day 02: Acrylic Soma Cube (FAILED)'
+---
+
+![caption: The Soma Cube is a 3D, tetris-like puzzle](soma-cube.gif)
+
+Today I tried to design a laser-cut set of Soma cube pieces. The pieces (shown above) are (conceptually, and sometimes actually) made of 3D blocks glued together.
+
+I've seen a particular style of joinery for acryllic, called finger joints. Those looked easy to cut and easy to put together (if hard to design).
+
+![caption: Acrylic box made with finger joints](acrylic-joints.png)
+
+I wrote a python script that takes a description of a piece, like this:
+
+    Piece E
+    xx x-
+    x- --
+    -- --
+
+And draws all the flat faces I need to cut.
+
+![caption: Flat faces for the soma cube](soma-pieces-flat.png)
+
+I was already running far behind, time-wise. I ran out of time before I could get the joinery working. Honestly, I don't think I'm very close, either.
+
+![caption: Finger joins drawn incorrectly with turtle graphics](finger-joint-attempt.png)
+
+How to do a three-piece corner join was especially confusing me.