PROJECT VIDEO Exclusive Limited Edition Puzzle

This video shows the fixtures and machining necessary to produce 500 puzzle pieces exactly the same. The finished assembly is a unique, high end aluminum puzzle with a 12 or 14 piece solution. Like mechanical puzzles and machining? Need something awesome for your desk or a gift?...Check this video out.

[@ronwilken5219]

First time I saw a puzzle like this it was made out of wood. We bought two versions one round like a ball and the second a cube. They were purchased in Beira, Mozambique a port city on the Indian ocean coast of Africa. Year was 1962. With the high humidity of the coast the wood had swollen to the extent we couldn't get them apart until a few days after we left the coast and went inland to a drier climate. When we found the "key" the disassembly became relatively easy. Great memories. Thanks for the reawakening Joe. Keep well.

[@joepie221]

All these small puzzles are categorized as 'Burr' puzzles. I have quite a collection. My Father used to buy them for me when he traveled, and he traveled a lot. Some are over 50 years old and hard to find. The most amazing puzzle store I was ever in was in Prague in the Czech Republic. Thousands.

[@petermcneill80]

Hi Joe , as usual blown away with quite possibly the best tips + advice on u tube In response to the comment “ a plumbers fosit always leeks “ My dads 77 and was a plumber and something he told me he’d observed over the years is “ the easier they make a job to do the worse a job people seem to make of it” He was referring to modern plastic plumbing hardware vs copper pipe with multiple bends and soldered fittings , but this sadly is applicable to a lot of trades now it would seem. It’s great to see someone in the modern world still making such quality parts which are very much “ up to a standard not down to a price “

[@davids.682]

I like watching your videos because they are full of good techniques that machinists learn from years of experience. Good job taking the time to share them.

[@joepie221]

Thank you.

[@bolodotdk]

I totally agree with many of the other comments. Longer video is fine. In my oppinion, it makes things stick better.

[@joepie221]

Thank you

[@davidmyhre2720]

Hey Joe, You blew my mind. Thank you sir

[@joepie221]

Glad you liked it.

[@richardbizon8620]

Great video Joe. I like that you show the machine deburing the parts. When I worked at a machine shop in Vermont. We had to debur the parts by hand and one part for a snow gun it was difficult to debur for me. I kept asking why can't the machine dosn't do some of the deburing. Thy just said because of run time. 2 ops to a finished part and 7 parts for 10 hour day.

[@joepie221]

A wise programmer should always let the machine remove as many burrs as possible. Maybe your supervisor just doesn't know how to do it. Supervisors have their jobs for a reason, but it doesn't automatically mean they are the smartest guys in the shop.

[@ChrisB257]

Dang Joe - that's what I call repetition! Nice. Sure helps having multiple vices and large enough clever machine!

[@joepie221]

No doubt. a 40 x 20 working envelope is great. I have fixtures 3 feet long that do 40 parts at once. Its good to have CNC capability and the "know how" to run it. I'm more of a manual guy, so this was all new to me just 4 years ago.

[@cavemansmancave9025]

I like your clamps. Thanks, John

[@joepie221]

I'd use those toggle type destaco clamps if I had more parts to run or more time to build the tooling, but these little strap clamps work real well. The relief cuts keep them flexible and I don't have to mess with individual clamps.

[@RGSABloke]

Hey Joe, nice idea and nice work clearly explained. Many thanks for sharing your experiences. Kindest regards from Bonnie Scotland. (Another Joe!!)

[@joepie221]

Thanks Joe. Glad you liked it.

[@FredMiller]

Another great video Joe.. I am a hobby machinist and have my own "humble"channel. How have I missed yours all these years I will never know. I am and have been "binging" on Joe Pie videos for 3 days. Many thanks for all your work. Regards- Fred

[@joepie221]

Thanks Fred. My machining videos started hitting the air in August of 2016. I'm rather new to this community, but really appreciate everyone that subs and comments. Thanks for watching.

[@Paddington60]

Nice work Joe. Length is fine by me. Thank you. John

[@joepie221]

Thanks John.

[@msowell1]

Joe your videos are great, thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience with us, keep up with the videos. Mike S. Metairie, Louisiana

[@joepie221]

Thanks Mike.

[@dougbourdo2589]

Very interesting puzzle. Looks like a great hobbyist project.

[@joepie221]

14 identical pieces. designed by a guy named Altekruse a long time ago.

[@OldIronShops]

I like the longer format myself. every one wants more pie right

[@joepie221]

I hope so!

[@roberthiggins1142]

One thing i would like to see is you make the imposable Dovetail Puzzle.

[@ednichols2748]

Cool puzzle. I liked the fixturing - fixturing is always a big part of the "puzzle" when doing quick, accurate work :-) A video "composite" of all kinds of fixturing examples would be cool too. Joe, check out Spider Cool for your CNC mill. Programmable coolant nozzles remembers the length of each tool in ATC carousel . I'm not affiliated with Spider cool - just a satisfied customer who has one on my hobby shop 4 axis CNC Atrump /Centroid Vertical Machining Center. Thanks - and Merry Christmas!

[@ddcd53]

Hi Joe, that was a very nice video. I enjoyed it very much. I work in a cnc shop also for almost 9 yrs now out of Lafayette, Louisiana. I used to run the lathes but now run inventory. I also help out in the finishing department and do some welding fabrication once in a while. Both Mig and Tig. I'm still just as amazed seeing the machines work as I was when I first started working there. Thank you for all the tips and tricks and the knowledge you share with all of us. It's nice to see a guy your age in the business that still enjoys the work and cares about quality. I also fabricate recumbent bicycles at home as well as many other projects with wood and metal. I'm 61 now and can't get enough of the metal fabrication. I love it and wish more of the younger kids would be more interested in learning to do this instead of the video games. Thanks, Dan.

[@joepie221]

This trade really takes a long time to get well rounded. It is dying in the US in my opinion. I still enjoy seeing something come to life from a nothing piece of material. I always have. Thanks for the comment.

[@andregross7420]

Hey Joe, you should film a bit with all your employees doing their thing. Would be interesting seeing the shop busy in action.

[@joepie221]

Most of the action is in the office at the moment. A time lapse of the shop has been suggested.

[@johnmcdonnell6109]

Cool project Joe! Thanks!

[@joepie221]

Thank you John.

[@pierresgarage2687]

Hi Joe, Since I use YT more for learning and publishing, I prefer more dense and compact videos, but I understand that lots of people get some entertainment out of it and appreciate longer format... Nicely done though... ;)

[@joepie221]

Thank you. There was a a lot of video to cut down for this one. Had it been any shorter, it would have lost impact. Thanks for the feedback.

[@pierresgarage2687]

Understand, I got to do the same to make a compromise between important content and not so important one... Different people listen to our stuff for lots of different reasons. ;)

[@ToBeeOrNotToBeHoney]

Thanks, I would like to try to make one. Searching for plans, or at least something that gives some basic dimension...

[@robertkutz]

JOE very nice work and interesting video.

[@joepie221]

Thanks Robert. I need a coolant proof camera on a stand. Doing this with one hand is very distracting.

[@mackshiv]

Hi Joe, Really nice work. Thanks for sharing your techniques and tips. I have learned some new tricks and am grateful. Keep it coming, please! Mack in Central Florida (Lakeland).

[@joepie221]

Thanks Mack. I hope the storm passes by you safely.

[@Doug_Edwards]

Awesome video Joe, even though I am a manual home shop guy, I love to see what the possibilities are.

[@turningpoint6643]

Same here. And if I can blow 1 1/2 - 2 hours on what usually are mostly poor movies I'd rather learn something new instead. A 1/2 hr is barely a teaser imo.

[@joepie221]

Hey Doug. Thanks for watching. I have only been into CNC for 4 years. I didn't even know how to turn that machine on the day it showed up in my shop. I too am a manual guy. I think its a better place to start. Good philosophy applicable to CNC.

[@joepie221]

Excellent. I'll try not to let you down.

[@outsidescrewball]

that was a tastey "chunk" of puzzle pie.....I am good with a large serving as it makes my treadmill time feel very short......ATB

[@joepie221]

Thanks Chuck. This was a fun project.

[@mikenixon9164]

Nice job Joe longer videos is fine with me .

[@joepie221]

Thanks Mike. I am never sure about longer vid's.

[@suzukichopper]

I definitely don't mind some longer vids either. Getting ready to watch a 55 minute blacksmithing video right away. I also only watch metalworking KZbin and no TV so the longer vids are nice to have on while eating and such, although I SHOULD be out in the shop :-P

[@croyce7699]

I like the captions - today, you are chill pie.

[@joepie221]

Today is 12/30/17 and its really cold here ( for texas ) I'll be chill pie today for sure. Thanks for the comment.

[@croyce7699]

Joe Pieczynski I'm in Brisbane Australia, and it's hot and humid here. It's been steadily around 30°C/85°F with 60-90% humidity.

[@wlogue]

cool vid Joe! keep. em comin

[@joepie221]

Thanks. I'll do my best.

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Nice puzzle.

[@joepie221]

Thank you. Its a good looking piece. Interesting that is can utilize 12 or 14 pieces.

[@stormbringermornblade8811]

got to love a good puzzle right and you get to make this one your self win win :)

[@joepie221]

Very true. Take a look at some of the other puzzle videos I've posted.

[@bradburson8166]

How often do you get new comments on old content? Great puzzles I’ve seen all the other puzzles you’ve done at least the ones you’ve shown.

[@joepie221]

All the time. I see all the comments across every video on my channel.

[@tompas11A3n52KkX]

In Sweden there is a saying that's the shoemaker's shoes are always broken. Thanks for the vid.

[@joepie221]

I like that. The message is the same. Make some time for yourself once in a while. Life is short. Thanks for watching.

[@Keith_Ward]

I thought it was Is 'the cobbler's children have no shoes'?

[@tompas11A3n52KkX]

Yeah you are probably right, my memory is not what it used to be...

[@bpark10001]

How do you generate the G-code for projects such as this? I ran into nightmare generating G-code for robot parts and gears. I ended up "hacking" a circuit board CAD program to do everything including setting speed codes FROM THE CAD PROGRAM, not hand-editing the G-code. How do you do it? Do you know about solid carbide high-helix cutters? They would be the ticket for a project such as this!

[@joepie221]

The code I generate is really based on the complexity of the part. If its not chocked full of radii and tangent features, I'll most likely just punch it in. For more complex parts, I use Pro-E wildfire 4.0 to generate my CAM files. PTC makes it and I believe its up around the CREO level release now. Very powerful.

[@CalvinEdmonson]

I made a flat Hexagon puzzle with the wire edm machine. If I did not have the solution on paper I would never get it back together.

[@gentharris]

Great work I shot you an Email It would take me a week to make one of those puzzles on my POS harbor fright mill in my basement LOL

[@joepie221]

I replied to your e-mail. Having a machine like this is really a gift.

[@karlschuler5395]

The video did not seem too long since you deftly cut out the boring parts. After the ends have been machined when you changed the hold downs from the center to the ends couldn't two straight bars with dowel pins be installed on the fixture to locate the ends of the pieces and allow them to be rotated for the slot cut while preserving their axial alignment? This would allow the first fixture to do the whole job.

[@joepie221]

Karl, your observation is sound. But in all my years of tooling design and fabrication, I try to locate secondary tooling from the most critical surfaces or the surface from which the dimension for that feature is given. A fixture that located the part from the ends would then force the overall length of the part to be controlled to a tighter dimension, and the 2 slots would also have to be controlled tighter so the next op yielded an acceptable part. The relationship between the three slots is fairly tight so it goes together without hanging up. I know my skill level and machinery would allow for a single fixture concept, but having 2 fixtures also allows me to run both as 'A' 'B' stations and remove finished parts every time I open the door. I am a big fan of using pins as locator bumpers and quick change fixture features. Good comment.

[@roberthiggins1142]

Can this puzzle still be bought from?

[@joepie221]

I'll be running more this year and putting them back in my web store.

[@roberthiggins1142]

@@joepie221 That would be great, i will have to keep an eye on the website, what sort of time frame are we looking at?

[@stacybelinskey2007]

It's gonna take much longer but I think I might try making one on a manual mini mill

[@joepie221]

Start with 14 pieces exactly the same length and hold them by the ends positioned side by side. Cut them all at the same time when doing the notches.

[@stacybelinskey2007]

@@joepie221 I’m actually working on making a double sided fixture plate it will hold 6 pieces at a time it’s been made out of steel cause 3/4” thick aluminum is not available in my area but I plan on making the puzzle pieces out of 1/2 square aluminum

[@stacybelinskey2007]

I’m also using a small mini mill

[@jasonaraiza4686]

Hey Joe do you sell those puzzles?

[@joepie221]

Hi Jason. I do have some in stock. $46 at the moment. I also need a zip code to quote the shipping costs. Texas residents do pay sales tax.

[@joepie221]

You can reply to the e-mail address at the end of the video to keep your information out of the comment line.

[@travisshrewsbury7169]

really cool

[@joepie221]

Thanks Travis.

[@dafydd2277]

If you ever feel like making more of these... :-)

[@joepie221]

I'll run another batch in 2021 and put them on my website.

[@robertschulke1596]

Just thought you’d like to know, the KZbin automatic subtitles decided your name was “chill pie”. ;)

[@MrJugsstein]

run time was fine. as each bit had plenty of info.

[@joepie221]

Thanks again Will.

[@bobengelhardt856]

It's not the length of the video that's important - it's the pacing. And I would say that this one is a bit slow. You explained what you were going to do, which is great, but then you could just have shown a sample of it. For example - the 1st op of running the cutter up the back side & down the front took about 2 minutes. If that had been 15 seconds, nothing would have been lost and the pacing would have been much better. That's not to say that I'm not enjoying your videos - I certainly am. I'm just giving a personal point of view as feedback. Keep up the good work, Bob

[@joepie221]

Good bad or indifferent, all feedback is welcome. Thank you.