Macy Gordon

Introduction to Engineering and Design

December 2011
Puzzle Cube Project

Puzzle Cube Design Brief

Fine Office Furniture, Inc. would like to return value to its waste product by using it as the raw material for
desktop novelty items that will be sold on the showroom floor. Design, build, test, document, and present a
three-dimensional puzzle system that is made from the scrap hardwood cubes. The puzzle system must
provide an appropriate degree of challenge to a person who is seven years of age or older.

Constraints:
1. The puzzle must be fabricated from 27, hardwood cubes.
2. The puzzle system must contain exactly five puzzle pieces.
3. Each individual puzzle piece must consist of at least three, but no more than six hardwood cubes that
are permanently attached to each other.
4. No two puzzle pieces can be the same.
5. Every puzzle piece must be at least 2 cubes deep / wide / high in each dimension (can not lay flat
regardless of how you turn it).
6. The five puzzle pieces must assemble to form a 2 cube.
7. Puzzle parts should interlock.
Puzzle Design Breakdown (Design Process)
Phase I: Problem Identification
-

Review Design Challenge Brief

Phase II: Brainstorm & Conceptualization

-

Design a series of potential solutions.

o Brainstorm and come up with as many part combinations possible using different numbers of
cubes. (You will use the Puzzle Part Combinations Activity as your guide for this step.)

Phase III: Research & Generate Ideas

-

Using plastic cubes to build prototypes, design three options that satisfy the Puzzle Design
Challenge constraints. You will sketch these three puzzle cube options in isometric view. Also, you
will need to sketch the layers of each cube in oblique view. All sketches must be rendered with

colored pencils. (You will use the Puzzle Design Challenge Prototypes Activity as your guide for
this step.)
-

Interview at least one target consumer to see what they would want their puzzle cube to include.
Decide on evaluation criteria.

Phase IV: Identify Criteria and Specify Constraints

-

Review Design Challenge Brief

Phase V and VI: Explore Possibilities and Select an Approach

-

Evaluate your different designs using a Decision Matrix. (You must have at least four criteria.)

Phase VII: Develop a Design Proposal

Final Annotated Sketches of Winning Design Sketch the winning designs parts in multiview (top,
front, and right side orthographic views and isometric view for each part). Draw each orthographic
sketch to scale (4 squares = 1 inch). Render with colored pencils.

Phase VIII and IX: Make a Model / Prototype & Test Design Prototype test fit your design with plastic cubes.
-

Have a peer review / test your final design.

Phase X: Refine your Design

-

Make any modifications (teacher approved) needed to your design.

Create part (.ipt) and dimensioned drawing (.idw) files for every piece to be used in your puzzle
cube. Once these are created, an assembly file (.iam) must be created. Prepare and .IPN, and
place in a .idw with BOM and balloons.

Phase XI: Create / Make your Solution

-

Construct your puzzle cube using hardwood blocks. You will need to sand all edges, and make
sure you color each part to match your chosen design.

Phase XII: Communicate Processes and Results

-

Reflect and evaluate on your design and the process to create it. (A reflection sheet will be
provided for this.)

Create project portfolio.

Create final presentation. (Record your assembly and include it in your presentation.) Present your puzzle cube design.

NOTE: The upkeep of your journal throughout the lifecycle of this project will be periodically assessed
and recorded as a daily grade. In addition, the reflection at the end of this project will be recorded as a
daily grade.

NOTE: Bonus points will be given throughout this project for digital photos, extra sketches that add
value to your project, creative additions / journal entries, etc.

Design Phase II Puzzle Part Combinations Activity

TOTAL OF 40 POINTS
(Reported with Next Phases Points in Gradebook as One Grade Totaling 100) *Multiply
your score by 2.5 to compute a % score.
Topics
8 points
7 points
6 points
5 points
Activity
Explained in
Journal

Activity pasted / described Activity pasted / described in

in journal in correct
journal but not before
location
sketches

Activity only partially

pasted / described
in journal

Activity
not pasted
/
described
properly

Identification of
Combinations

Identifies 20+ different

combinations

Identifies 10+
combinations

Identifies less
than 10
combinations

Isometric /
Oblique Format

Procedures

Conclusion

Follows accurate
sketching formats

Identifies 15+ different

combinations

Sketches difficult to
Sketching formats acceptable visualize and / or does Incomplete
not follow the correct
Sketches
formats

Most procedures followed (i.e.

Procedures followed (i.e. - combinations presented but
3 cube combinations
Procedures
not in correct order or
presented first, then 4
partially followed
combinations not correctly
cube combinations etc.)
labeled)
Conclusion questions
answered completely and
accurately

Most conclusion questions

answered completely and
accurately

only Most procedures

not followed

Conclusion questions
answered but not
accurately

Some conclusion
questions not
answered

* If a grading topic is not attempted at all, no points will be accumulated for that topic.
Design Phase III, IV, and V (Prototypes Activity)
TOTAL OF 60 POINTS
(Reported with Previous Phases Points in Gradebook as One Grade Totaling 100) *Multiply
your score by 100 and then divide by 60 to compute a % score.
Topics
6 points
5 points
4 points
3 points
Activity
Explained in
Journal

Activity pasted / described Activity pasted / described in

in journal in correct location journal but not before
sketches

Activity only partially

Activity not pasted /
pasted / described in
described properly
journal

Design of
Alternatives

Generates at least three

Generates three viable
viable concepts that include
concepts
complexity /

Generates three
Generates less than
concepts but not all of three viable concepts
them meet design

Topics

6 points
creativity

5 points

4 points
constraints

3 points

Design
Constraints

All options fully meet

design constraints

Two options fully meet

design constraints

Follows accurate
sketching formats

Sketching formats
acceptable

Follows accurate
Oblique Format sketching formats

Sketching formats
acceptable

Isometric
Format

Only one option fully

meets design
constraints

Does not meet

constraints

Sketches difficult to
visualize and / or
does not follow the
correct formats

Incomplete Sketches

Sketches difficult to
visualize and / or
does not follow the
correct formats

Incomplete Sketches

Penciling
Techniques

Shows excellent line quality Shows good line quality

(straight and of the correct (Fairly straight and of the
line weight)
correct line weight)

Lines feathered,
Lines vary in
curved, converged,
thickness but are fairly
or are hard to
accurate
identify

Geometry

Shapes correct with 90

corners etc.

Shapes close to correct

Shapes not correct

but recognizable

Proportion and
Scale

Elements sized correctly

and communicate
effectively

Most elements sized

correctly and communicate
the design in an acceptable
manner

Elements close to the

correct relationship
with some distortion

Color

Color applied but

does make the visual
Color appropriately applied
appearance of the
and enhances the image
and does not take away from
object pleasing to the
image
eye

Selection of
Final Design

Selects most appropriate

concept and clearly
justifies the choice using
the appropriate criteria in a
Decision Matrix

Color appropriately applied

Selects an appropriate
concept and is somewhat
able to justify the choice
using marginally acceptable
criteria in a Decision Matrix

Shapes confusing
Elements have no
relationship with
each other and detail
is difficult to
ascertain
Color detracts from
the three
dimensional image
or is incorrectly
applied

Does not properly

Selects concept using
format the Decision
inadequate criteria
Matrix

* If a grading topic is not attempted at all, no points will be accumulated for that topic.

Design Phase VII, VIII, and IX Final Design Sketches and Test
TOTAL OF 60 POINTS (Reported with Phase XI in Gradebook as One Grade Totaling 100)
Topics
6 points
5 points
4 points
3 points
Activity
Explained in
Journal

Activity pasted /
described in journal in
correct location

Activity pasted / described Activity only partially

in journal but not before
pasted / described in
sketches
journal

Design
Constraints

Fully meets design

constraints

Meets most design

constraints and supports
the design function

Meets some
constraints but not
enough to support the
design function

Activity not pasted

described properly
Does not meet
constraints

Sketches difficult to
visualize and / or does
not follow the correct
formats

Incomplete Sketches

Sketches difficult to
visualize and / or does
not follow the correct
formats

Incomplete Sketches

Sketching formats

Sketches difficult to

Incomplete Sketches

sketching formats (i.e.

views properly placed
and aligned)

acceptable

visualize and / or does

not follow the correct
formats

Penciling
Techniques

Shows excellent line

quality (straight and of
the
correct
line
weight)

Shows good line quality

(Fairly straight and of the
correct line weight)

Geometry

Shapes correct with 90

corners etc.

Proportion and
Scale

Most elements sized

Elements sized correctly
correctly and
and communicate
communicate the design
effectively
in an acceptable manner

Color

Color appropriately
applied and
enhances the
image

Prototype Test

Prototype was tested

and correct information
was accurately
documented

Follows accurate
Isometric Format sketching formats

Sketching formats
acceptable

Follows accurate
sketching formats

Sketching formats
acceptable

Multiview

Follows accurate

Format

Orthographic
Format

Shapes close to correct

Color applied but does

make the visual
appearance of the object
pleasing to the eye

Lines vary in thickness

but are fairly accurate
Shapes not correct but
recognizable
Elements close to the
correct relationship
with some distortion

Lines feathered,
curved, converged, or
are hard to identify
Shapes confusing
Elements have no
relationship with each
other and detail is
difficult to ascertain

Color detracts from the

Color applied but some
three
dimensional
color incorrect
image

Prototype was tested and Prototype was tested

most information was
and some information
documented
was documented

Prototype was tested

but correct information
was not documented

* If a grading topic is not attempted at all, no points will be accumulated for that topic.
Design Phase X Inventor Drawings
TOTAL OF 200 POINTS (Presented as Two Grades in Gradebook)
Topics
20 points
17 points
15 points

13 points

.ipt files created for all 5 parts;

.ipt files are accurate

.ipt files created for all

.ipt files created for all 5 5 parts but are not
.ipt files not created
parts but some have
accurately constructed
for all 5 parts
in
minor errors
Inventor

.idw part files alignment

.idw files created for all 5 parts

and all views are accurately
placed and aligned

.idw files created for all

.idw files created for
5 parts but some views
all 5 parts but some
are not accurately
views missing
placed and aligned

.idw part files dimensioning

Dimensions shown correctly in

all views

Dimensions shown
correctly in most views

.ipt part files general

.idw files not

created for all 5
parts and / or many
views are missing

Dimensions shown but

Dimensions shown
do not follow correct
format in most
but are incorrect
views

.iam verifies the assembly

.iam includes all parts
.iam assembled
thoroughly and clearly presents
but some errors are
cube file- general all parts with appropriate color
present
etc.

.iam includes all parts

but many errors are
present

.iam assembled
cube file constraints

Parts are completely

efficiently constrained

All constraints present

but some inefficiently
applied

Some constraints
Most constraints
missing or inefficiently missing or
applied
inefficiently applied

.idw
of
assembled
cube with BOM

All parts present and accurately

represented with a balloon;
BOM is accurate, formatted
correctly, and includes
thorough descriptions

All parts present and

represented with
balloons but format and
/ or BOM descriptions
are
confusing

All parts present and

represented with
balloons but some are
not correctly
represented and / or
described

File is missing
information and / or
correct format was
not followed for
balloons and BOM

.ipn cube file

(animated
explosion)

.ipn file is accurate, visually

appealing, and communicates
overall design in best format;
Tweaks and animation clearly

Tweaks and animation

accurately presents all
parts and their
assembly but is

Some parts and their

assembly are not
completely presented
with appropriate

.ipn attempted but

has many errors
and / or is missing
most tweaks

17 points

15 points

Topics

and

20 points
and accurately documents all
parts and their assembly

.iam attempted but

does not include all
parts

13 points

confusing and / or is tweaks and animation

visually distracting
All parts present and
represented with
balloons but format
and / or BOM
descriptions are
confusing

All parts present and

represented with
balloons but some are
not correctly
represented and / or
described

File is missing
information and / or
correct format was
not followed for
balloons and BOM

.idw file of
exploded cube
with BOM

All parts present and accurately

represented with a balloon;
Proper spacing is used; BOM is
accurate, formatted correctly,
and includes thorough
descriptions

Title Blocks

All title blocks formatted

correctly
and
present
accurate information

All title blocks are

formatted correctly but
some have missing /
inaccurate information

Some title blocks not

formatted correctly

Title blocks
attempted but are
not formatted
correctly

All files stored correctly as a

project in a clear format

All files are stored

together as a project
but format introduces
confusion (i.e. names
are confusing)

Most files are stored

together as a project
but some are filed
incorrectly

Some files are

difficult to locate
and / or missing

File
management

* If a grading topic is not attempted at all, no points will be accumulated for that topic.

Design Phase XI Construction with Wooden Blocks

TOTAL OF 40 POINTS
(Reported with Design Proposal Phase in Gradebook as One Grade Totaling 100) *Multiply
your score by 2.5 to compute a % score.
Topics
8 points
7 points
6 points
5 points
Design
Creativity

Design is creative and

presents complexity (all
pieces interlock in 3
directions)

Design is creative and

presents some
complexity (all pieces
except one interlock in
3 directions)

Design is somewhat
Design is simple and
creative but two pieces do
does not interlock well
not interlock in 3 directions

Design
Constraints

Fully meets design

constraints

Meets most design

constraints and
supports the design
function

Meets some constraints

Fit

Pieces fit together with no

noticeable gaps or rough
transitions are present in
final puzzle

Pieces fit together to

form final cube but
some pieces are not
aligned / sanded
properly

Overall puzzle can not

Overall puzzle is difficult to
be constructed correctly
construct because some
because some pieces
pieces are not aligned /
are not aligned / sanded
sanded properly
properly

Color

Color
appropriately
applied and enhances
the design

Color applied but does

make the visual
appearance of the
object pleasing to the
eye

Color detracts from the

puzzle

Quality
(Wow
factor)

Puzzle cube is
constructed with accuracy
and is visual appealing;
Cube offers a challenge to
the target consumer

Puzzle cube is
constructed with
accuracy; Design and
visual appearance is
acceptable

Puzzle cube is constructed

with accuracy but does not Puzzle cubes
offer a visually appealing
construction and design
and challenging puzzle for is poor
the target consumer

Does not meet

constraints

Color incorrectly applied

* If a grading topic is not attempted at all, no points will be accumulated for that topic.
Design Phase XII Portfolio

Name

Section

MACY GORDON
Date

12/5/11

Sheet #

Scale

1:1

Name

Section

MACY GORDON
Date

12/5/11

Sheet #

Scale

1:1

Name

Section

MACY GORDON
Date

12/5/11

Sheet #

Scale

1:1

Name

Section

MACY GORDON
Date

12/5/11

Sheet #

Scale

1:1

Name

Section

MACY GORDON
Date

12/5/11

Sheet #

Scale

1:1