The Puzzling World of Polyhedral Dissections
By Stewart T. Coffin

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Chapter 13 - Puzzles Using Hexagonal or Rhombic Sticks
The Cuckoo Nest Puzzle

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By making the arrangement of the holes alternate rather than helical, one obtains a different sort of lattice structure, which likewise can be extended indefinitely in all directions. Constructions made with it can have an axis of symmetry but not isometric symmetry. The version shown in Fig. 132 uses six sticks and six dowels, with each stick having three holes. It has a threefold axis of symmetry. If five stick-dowel pairs are joined together to make elbow pieces, it is a surprisingly difficult assembly puzzle with two solutions. Rather than show how the pieces are formed, we let the curious tinker enjoy the task of rediscovering them. Minor variations are possible, but there is no way to avoid having two pieces identical. A version of this puzzle was once produced under the name of Cuckoo Nest. By the way, note the functional similarities of this puzzle to the Pin-Hole Puzzle in Chapter 6.

fig132

Fig. 132

©1990-2005 by Stewart T. Coffin
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