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Friday, May 26, 2017

Dice 3D Blocks Variations

Three variations of play blocks designs,
in separate cut files,
can provide fun, variation and practicality
for games, chores, learning and more.
Choose from traditional "pips" 1-6,
numbers 1-6, or primary/secondary colors.
Interior support struts inside make them
sturdy enough to last through lots of use.
Each measures 3" x 3" x 3".

ASSEMBLY: 1. Identify and cut the shapes:
A main box body    B body add-on wall
C die pip number face plates 1-6
D contrast face underlay squares (6)
E interior diagonal struts
F interior cross strut "halves" (4)
2. Prepare the body and add-on shapes
by bending back on all panel and tab
perforation lines.
(NOTE: If you are building a COLOR BLOCK DIE,
construction is identical, except use the
square opening face plate with color underlays
for primary and secondary colors - red, blue,
yellow, green, orange, violet.)
3. Join the add-on panel to the bottom of the main
body, overlapping the straight edge over
one add-on edge tab flange exactly to perf line.
4. Prepare all face plates by positioning and
attaching the contrast underlay square
behind the pip circle cutouts, offset
slightly in from face edges.
5. Position and attach each of the face plate
units, centered, on one of the body assembly
panels.
(Positioning in relationship to each other
can be random.)
If you are building the color blocks version,
here is the body preparation to this point.
6. Bend two walls for the first side seam
into cube form to overlap the plain straight edge
over the adjacent tab flange perforation line,
and glue in place.
NOTE that it will be helpful to place the cube
assembly on a flat surface to apply finger
pressure to the seam flange from the inside.
7. Repeat for three more side seams
to form a cube with open top.
8. Prepare the interior support strut assembly
by first rotating one diagonal strut so that the pair
can have aligned center slots as shown, then . . .
. . . insert slots together and slide fully
into position, top and bottom edges of all even.
9. Prepare the cross strut sections by
bending back the long flange tab and
shorter bottom edge rounded tab.
10. Position the first strut so that the crease edge
aligns to the right of the slot, exactly along
the slot cut edge and extended to top.
NOTE top and bottom edges of all should align.
11. Reverse the assembly to position and attach
the second cross strut on the opposite side
of the flattened (main) diagonal struts
(refer to right pointing finger below).
12. Open and re-fold the assembly to expose opposite
diagonal strut slots, then repeat the process 
to position, align, and attach the final two cross struts.
Here is an overhead view of the final strut assembly.
13. Position the strut assembly over the cube
opening (edge tabs toward the bottom)
so that the diagonal struts correspond
with the cube corners, and the cross struts
will "bi-sect" the straight walls, then . . .
. . . insert into the interior and push in fully.
Reach in and glue the bottom tabs in place,
squaring up the cross struts to their respective
attachment walls at the same time.
14. Fold the tab flanges inward so that the "lid"
wall can be closed into position, tucking the flanges
inside the box, and between the strut edges and walls,
and glue in place.
Here is the finished cube.


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