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The Six-Beam Puzzle

Build six rigid, profiled PLA beams in three colours. Flat panels and ribs form a take-apart knot measuring approximately 12 × 12 × 12 cm. Discover key A and the sideways moves of C and F.

Age
8–12 years
Length
approx. 6.5 h
Level
Medium
Where you teach
Home
Purpose
Creative
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How to run this session

Stages and timing
  1. Make and compare three samples
  2. A: Make the lower panels of beam A
  3. A: Position the base and make the sides
  4. A: Butt-join the open shell
  5. A: Make the smaller internal ribs
  6. A: Seat ribs inside the shell
  7. A: Make the covers and check their seats
  8. A: Close and label the beam
  9. B: Make the lower panels of beam B
  10. B: Position the base and make the sides
  11. B: Butt-join the open shell
  12. B: Make the smaller internal ribs
  13. B: Seat ribs inside the shell
  14. B: Make the covers and check their seats
  15. B: Close and label the beam
  16. C: Make the lower panels of beam C
  17. C: Position the base and make the sides
  18. C: Butt-join the open shell
  19. C: Make the smaller internal ribs
  20. C: Seat ribs inside the shell
  21. C: Make the covers and check their seats
  22. C: Close and label the beam
  23. D: Make the lower panels of beam D
  24. D: Position the base and make the sides
  25. D: Butt-join the open shell
  26. D: Make the smaller internal ribs
  27. D: Seat ribs inside the shell
  28. D: Make the covers and check their seats
  29. D: Close and label the beam
  30. E: Make the lower panels of beam E
  31. E: Position the base and make the sides
  32. E: Butt-join the open shell
  33. E: Make the smaller internal ribs
  34. E: Seat ribs inside the shell
  35. E: Make the covers and check their seats
  36. E: Close and label the beam
  37. F: Make the lower panels of beam F
  38. F: Position the base and make the sides
  39. F: Butt-join the open shell
  40. F: Make the smaller internal ribs
  41. F: Seat ribs inside the shell
  42. F: Make the covers and check their seats
  43. F: Close and label the beam
  44. Position beam E for insertion
  45. E: slide X -140 mm
  46. Position beam D for insertion
  47. D: slide X -140 mm
  48. Position beam B for insertion
  49. B: slide Z +140 mm
  50. Position beam C for insertion
  51. C: slide X -120 mm
  52. C: slide Z +10 mm
  53. C: slide X -20 mm
  54. Position beam F for insertion
  55. F: slide X -140 mm
  56. F: slide Y +10 mm
  57. Position beam A for insertion
  58. A: slide X -140 mm
  59. Discover the solution and reassemble

What gets built

Solve a three-dimensional puzzle that you have made yourself.

What it practises
  • Reading templates, making panels, spatial orientation and puzzle solving.

Success criteria
  • All six cooled beams have rigid, closed panels and unobstructed notches.
  • A comes out first. F and C are released by the illustrated sideways moves; do not bend anything.
  • After reassembly, twelve ends and three perpendicular colour pairs are visible.

What you need
Filament
PLA
Colours
colour shown in the illustration, colour shown in the illustration, colour shown in the illustration
Also
PLA-compatible 3D pen: 1 piece., PLA work mat: 1 piece., Ruler: 1 piece., Printed templates at 1:1 scale: 1 set.

Files

The files for this plan are part of full access

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Version 8c6aa25e-bc1f-4652-98c0-23c1b7ba6061 Updated 2026-10-15

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