This
puzzle is composed of
thirty identical components, which assemble to form six
pentagons that each interlock with the other five to form a hollow,
snug, spherical form. Assembly is rather tricky, but fun (I think).
Geometrically it is based on the "orderly tangle" of six pentagons
first
described by Alan Holden. The idea to use lap joints and make a puzzle
from it comes from Teacher Lin and Sculptor Wu.
For background on its mathematical structure, see this paper. The
above version is machined from aluminum. Below is the same design in
wood.
Here it is again in a lighter wood:
In case you read Dutch, this puzzle appears in Het Ultieme Puzzelboek
by Jerry Slocum and Jack Botermans (Terra
lannoo, 2007, p. 70).
Thank you Jeff Slechta for machining the aluminum parts for me.
