SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
[Editor's Note: This sounds a bit like a soyvertisement - and perhaps it is - but it is a unique puzzle that will probably appeal to many in our community. An idea for a present, maybe? Watch the video and decide for yourself.]
The infinity puzzles are a new type of jigsaw puzzle inspired by topological spaces that continuously tile. Because of that, they have no fixed shape, no starting point, and no edges.
The intricate branching shapes of our puzzle pieces emerge from a simulation of crystal growth and are lasercut from plywood. Instead of mapping to a torus, this puzzle maps to a Klein bottle, an impossible 3D shape where the inside and outside are mathematically indistinguishable. This means that the puzzle tiles with a flip. Pieces from the right side attach to the left side but only after they have been flipped over. Just like the Klein bottle's surface has no inside or outside, the puzzle has no up or down side. You can start the puzzle anywhere on any side. This puzzle is adorned with a photograph of the galactic center from the Hubble observatory. The image is continuous from one side of the puzzle to the other, so it's not possible to see the entire image at once. Explore the galaxy while assembling the puzzle in multiple ways.
http://n-e-r-v-o-u-s.com/blog/?p=7613
Just in time for the holidays.
(Score: 3, Informative) by dyingtolive on Wednesday November 30 2016, @05:00PM
That is cool as hell. I am glad that it is here.
Don't blame me, I voted for moose wang!
(Score: 4, Informative) by dlb on Wednesday November 30 2016, @05:32PM
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 30 2016, @06:01PM
Laser cut means that each cut is made in sequence. Compare to cardboard puzzles that are cut with one stroke of a ruled die in a press, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Die_%28manufacturing%29#Steel-rule_die [wikipedia.org] also called "cookie cutter dies".
The laser means it's easy to change the pattern or tune it up for a minor problem, but it costs more. If their volume improves, they can use the same laser CNC program to cut the support/base for a ruled die...but I don't think that bending the diestock has been automated yet? Would love to hear that someone has a clever CNC bending machine adapted to this purpose...
(Score: 2) by LoRdTAW on Wednesday November 30 2016, @06:40PM
I'd imagine it can be done if they can do this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlJC6_eSfmU [youtube.com]
Though, automation like that is only cost effective for volume production. So if you need hundreds or millions of exhaust pipes bent then spending a $million+ on a machine makes sense. But a die for a puzzle might only need one or two dies made and a good shop can build them in a few days for a fraction the cost. If they were making hundreds of dies per month then perhaps a machine like that would be useful. Dies are simply a low volume specialty product.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 30 2016, @07:44PM
I'd say the price is worth it, taking into account how much I payed for a set of big Rubik's cubes (v-cubes, site won't load for some reason).
the only problem is that out of the people I know, I'm the one who would enjoy a puzzle with such an indefinite solution.
well, there may be a couple of others, but it would be weird for me to present them with this as a gift (not close enough friends).
it's nice... to have reached a point in life when i can honestly say a hundred dollars for a puzzle is a reasonable price, and I can actually afford it. my wife won't agree though, so i can't actually buy it for myself...
(Score: 2) by dlb on Thursday December 01 2016, @03:30AM