Summary

This is the fit-together puzzle Hextix, described in Stewart Coffin's book Geometric Puzzle Design (A. K. Peters 2007). 12 sticks are required, nine with two notches, three with three notches. Base is optional, but makes assembly slightly easier.

Different assembly patterns exist - shown is the easiest, with the three pieces with extra notches (red in my build) going on last. Assembly with same-color triplets parallel is possible but harder.

Print Settings

Printer Brand:

Prusa

                                            <p class="detail-setting printer"><strong>Printer: </strong>                     <div><p>I3 MK3S</p></div></p>                                                                                <p class="detail-setting rafts"><strong>Rafts: </strong>                     <div><p>No</p></div></p>                                                                                <p class="detail-setting supports"><strong>Supports: </strong>                     <div><p>No</p></div></p>                                                                                <p class="detail-setting resolution"><strong>Resolution: </strong>                     <div><p>0.2</p></div></p>                                                                                <p class="detail-setting infill"><strong>Infill: </strong>                     <div><p>20%</p></div></p>                                                    <strong>Filament:</strong> 3DUNIVERSE PLA                 assorted                    <br>                        <p class="detail-setting notes"><strong>Notes: </strong>                    </p><div><p>Prefer distinct colors - piece with two notches, three each in three colors, piece with three notches, three in one color.</p><p>The hexagonal sticks are 0.2mm smaller (radius) than the notches and model, which is needed for assembly/fit.</p><p>Pieces are each approx 70mm x 14mm.</p></div>

Post-Printing

Assembly is dexterity, plus noticing that there's an interior space shaped like a rhombic dodecahedron. Easiest assembly puts the three pieces with an extra notch on last, as a unit.

Bottom assembly

Top assembly (upsidedown)

How I Designed This

Stewart Coffin's book is geared to woodworking; he offers diagrams and angles but you need to work out for yourself some of the specifics.

The underlying geometry for Hextix is the rhombic dodecahedron. To get here, I coordinatized the rhombic dodecahedron in OpenSCAD and built one of the sticks in place on one of the faces, then used rotation/difference to remove notches.

Authorized PDFs of Coffin's book (now out of print) are available, so I don't anticipate objection to sharing as a pattern, but will heed any reasonable objection.

Hextix Interlocking Toy