Updated 08/01/2024 - See Change Log Below

The puzzle parts include a set of maze path tiles, a tray in which the tiles are placed to create the maze path and a removable lid that aligns the tiles and holds them in place when an assembled maze is turned upside down.  The tray can include embedded path tiles to provide hints about the maze path.

The example maze... stl files create path puzzles.  The tray is usually printed in one color and the path tiles and lid are printed in a different color.  This makes the start and end point tiles obvious.  The ballPathRules.pdf file has suggested rules for solving the puzzle.

The example kit5x5 stl files create a tray, path tiles and filler tiles to make a maze construction kit.  The filler tiles allow a user to create 3x3, 3x4, 3x5, 4x4, 4x5 and 5x5 mazes.  Adding two "EndTile"s printed in a different color provides a clue to the start and end of the maze path.  This or a larger construction kit could also be used to design new mazes for my published Ball Maze or Cylinder Maze openscad programs.

An scad file is created to define the ball maze matrix and define fundamental parameters. This “ball path specification file” includes the ballPath.scad file that contains the modules that render the puzzle parts based on the contents of the specification file. The ballPathSpec.pdf file shows an example and describes the structure and components of the ball path specification file. The ballPathExam.pdf file contains images for the maze paths of the example mazes.

To design a new maze, I first sketch a solution path and then I add the dead end branches. The mazePlan.pdf file is a form that can be used to do the sketch. Next, I create the ball path specification file. Finally I look at the path that is generated by the maze specification when the part is “Path” and make adjustments to the specification as needed.  This maze path dictates the set of path tiles that are rendered.  But it is usually possible to create other maze paths using this set of tiles.

The examples were printed with a 0.4 nozzle, 0.2 layer height, two bottom and three top layers, three perimeters and 20% rectilinear infill.  No supports are needed.  I usually print he tray and fill tiles with no bottom layers to save plastic and reduce print time.  The lid should fit tight enough to keep it in place but loose enough so that it can be removed without to much force.  Adjust the "tabBumpToler" parameter if the lid does not fit properly.

I have tried to code the openscad files so that if I come back to them several years from now I will be able to easily understand the code.  Note that this code is a derivative of my published Ball Maze code.

Change Log:

      08/01/2024 - Uploaded revised ballPath.scad and “Ball14” stl files to correct a tolerance problem for larger ball diameters that caused the ball to stop at the lid grid in some cases.