STAX-PAX

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https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/stax-pax-43cfb5cc7089438ab16027d5c63cb4ef

Can you solve STAX-PAX? 

STAX-PAX is a unique combination of a challenging traditional packing puzzle, an exciting balance game that can be played alone or with family and friends and set of satisfying fidget shapes / blocks.

The design is based entirely on a  5 x 5 square grid in which I subdivided each square one time to create a total of 8 points I could  strategically manipulate each square into certain shapes that resulted in neat and tidy 90 degree, 45 degree and other angles that make each piece fit so well together in so many ways. 

I have seen many types of packing puzzles, and a whole bunch of similar balance games but I  have never seen the two combined.
All the pieces have been specifically intended to be big and chunky and have a very satisfying tactile feel to them. They feel great when assembling the puzzle and have lovely shapes and weight for the balance game. The pieces are nice and large enough to be used as sort of fidget bricks to build interesting shapes in 2D or 3D.
I have taken care to try round off as many edges and corners from the pieces, the balance stand, tray and lid as so avoid any very sharp edges or corners. Although the PAX puzzle might be a little tricky for kids, over all I think this design is ideal for the whole family or for a boisterous drinking game with your buddies.

The lid neatly houses the balance stand and also features the solution to the packing puzzle of which I think there is only one solution, however there may very well be other solutions, I wonder if anyone can find any. 
The tray or lid can also act as level surface for STAX the balance game, however there is a bit of slip to the surface so ideally a less slippy surface would be best for it. 
The lid can also be used to dump your pieces into when working on the PAX puzzle and the STAX balance game.
You can set the assembled puzzle as a display for a shelf or desk or whatever by using the balance stand with the lid to stand up the puzzle at an angle (see included photos at top).

 

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The balance game aspect of the design can be played alone or with other people. You can make up all sorts of challenges and rules around the game, some challenges I might suggest are for a couple of single player challenges are how tall can you build your STAX? or can you use all the pieces for your STAX? and as an example of a multiplayer challenge, everyone, starts with a set of points, everyone picks one piece in turns, and again till there are no pieces left. Each person takes turn putting one piece on the STAX, if any person triggers the STAX to fall they loose a point and the game starts again. This could be played as a team challenge too, or have fun making up your own fun challenges.

I have created two editions for STAX-PAX , the standard piece edition and a characters edition which gives each piece there own personality with happy, sad, worried, angry faces which gives assembling the PAX puzzle and especially playing the STAX balance game some character and charm.
Each of the two editions come in two versions, a single color version and a two color version.
I have uploaded the “Characters” edition in the 2 color version as the default download, you can find the other editions and versions in the additional download files.


PLEASE NOTE: The “Lid” which also houses the balance stand can be printed at a lower infill setting. I found 8% to work great (as featured in the photos) but it may be possible to set an even lower infill setting, experiment as you feel fit!.

PLEASE NOTE: The “Lid” is designed to cover the tray with the assembled puzzle, I have made it a loose fit so its easy to open, The loose fitting lid may not be ideal for travel without securing the lid such as using a small piece of tape, or put into a bag or something.

PLEASE NOTE: The “Lid” (again lol) houses the balance stand which is quite a loose fit on account that I needed to keep the inside of the lid completely flat with no protrusion, and so although the balance stand just pops up on its own, there is a bit of a knack (but very easy) to putting the lid on the puzzle without the balance stand fallout out, you simply angle the puzzle ever so slightly as your putting the lid on and this means you can put the lid on before the  balance stand has a chance to slip out,  I may come back and make some improvements to the lid in the future at some point.

PLEASE NOTE: Remember you can always choose your own colors, and as with all my puzzles that include a tray, ideally the puzzle is best if you print the tray in a different color the pieces,  or if you prefer the same color for both.
Please let me know if there are any problems with this as so I can try make additional modifications to it.


I am still quite new to 3D Printing so please let me know if there are any problems with this as so I can try make additional modifications to it.