| Project by GaryK | posted 677 days ago | 1414 views | 47 times favorited | 31 comments | ![]() |
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Pentominos
Here is a little “game” that is composed entirely of squares or cubes. Squares for a 2D game and cubes for a 3D game.
You start with 60 cubes (I’ll use cubes from here on). You can make them whatever size you want. From the cubes you create the following 12 pieces. (be careful with the u shaped one that you don’t make the gap too small. Upper left one in the picture.) These are all the possible combinations with 5 pieces each.
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To get all long grain to long grain glue up you need to face the end grain up when gluing. I used a small radius on the edges to make the cubes show up better. You could make these from solid pieces of wood but this is simpler.
2D Game
The object of the game is to try to arrange the 12 pieces into rectangles as follows:
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10×6 (2339 solutions)
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12×5 (1010 solutions)
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15×4 (368 solutions)
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20×3 (2 solutions)
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Then there is the 3D Game
The object of the game is to try to arrange the 12 pieces into rectanglular cubes as follows:
5×4 x 3 (3940 solutions)
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5×6 x 2 (264 Solutions)
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10×3 x 2 (12 Solutions)
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There are countless shapes possible.
Here are a couple.
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-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.





























31 comments so far
PhilipR
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17 posts in 679 days
posted 677 days ago
That’s a really cool idea! I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like it; nice work!
toyguy
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717 posts in 730 days
posted 676 days ago
Looks like a fun game. Makes you think… I like that kind of thing.
-- Brian's Table Top Toys http://home.mountaincable.net/~bgraham/
rpmurphy509
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290 posts in 748 days
posted 676 days ago
All those shapes are made using just the 12 pieces shown at the top?
Very nice, never heard of it either. Looks like another great project!
-- Still learning everything
Russel
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2056 posts in 832 days
posted 676 days ago
Reminds me of Tetris. Very cool.
-- When you give someone a chance it may well be their last.
CharlieM1958
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7615 posts in 1112 days
posted 676 days ago
Yeah, I immediately thought of Tetris. Neat project, but I have enough problems making ONE cube at a time!
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
GaryK
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9521 posts in 882 days
posted 676 days ago
Where do you think the guy who did tetris got his shapes from?
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
Russel
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2056 posts in 832 days
posted 676 days ago
Ah Ha!
-- When you give someone a chance it may well be their last.
Chris
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1469 posts in 884 days
posted 676 days ago
Thanks Gary!
-- Chris
cheller
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249 posts in 1002 days
posted 676 days ago
Very nice. Thanks for providing the instructions.
-- Chelle http://artsgranddaughter.blogspot.com
jockmike2
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7299 posts in 1140 days
posted 676 days ago
Are you saying you invented Tetris? Wow! mike can I have your autograph
-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com
rikkor
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11335 posts in 768 days
posted 676 days ago
Ok, another project hits my to-do list.
GaryK
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9521 posts in 882 days
posted 676 days ago
Mike – Tetris was created by a Russian named Alexey Pajitnov.
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
Grumpy
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14914 posts in 744 days
posted 676 days ago
Great one Gary. Excellent idea to get the mind working. I wonder if Alexey Pajitnov is now a millionaire?.
-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python
tommyboy
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13 posts in 682 days
posted 676 days ago
Outstanding
peace
-- peace
Dadoo
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1723 posts in 884 days
posted 676 days ago
This is a great “time killer” for those times when you need to kill some time.
-- Bob Vila would be so proud of you!
GaryK
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9521 posts in 882 days
posted 676 days ago
Grumpy – For the first tens year he didn’t make a dime due to the Russian/USSR government, but has since made something off of it. Not sure how much.
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
Marge
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144 posts in 847 days
posted 676 days ago
cool
-- Marge, Colorado
YorkshireStewart
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781 posts in 794 days
posted 676 days ago
Oh yes, I must do a set of these. Thanks Gary.
-- Res severa verum gaudium - True pleasure is a serious business. http://www.folksy.com/shops/TreeGems
RobS
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1243 posts in 1200 days
posted 676 days ago
I like puzzles. These are cool. I don’t know if I could get that percise with my tools. Nice work!
-- Rob (A) Waxahachie,TX
brunob
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1469 posts in 1063 days
posted 676 days ago
I think I’ll try one of these. Looks like a great way to use up some scrap wood.
-- Bruce from Central New York
GaryK
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9521 posts in 882 days
posted 676 days ago
Rob – They don’t have to be all that precise.
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
DAN
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6438 posts in 876 days
posted 675 days ago
really cool posting. when I first looked at it yesterday, I googled Pentominos and spent several minutes surfing sites about them. there are many variations. these wood ones are cool.
will probably make some for christmas next year. good gift idea for teenagers and adults too.
-- work from your heart and your spirit will live forever
Dick, & Barb Cain
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7034 posts in 1193 days
posted 675 days ago
Cool project Gary,
I think my 13 year old Grandson would enjoy this one.
I think I’ll make one with multiple colored woods.
-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1
baredog
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5 posts in 686 days
posted 671 days ago
i made me a set of these..it took a little time i first used my table saw to cut some oak stock to 3/4 and then used my hand miter box to cut down to 3/4 cube…if any one else has otter idea’s like this plz. post
GaryK
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9521 posts in 882 days
posted 670 days ago
I just used a table saw for all the cutting, and the router table for the edges.
How about a picture of yours?
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
mot
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4901 posts in 930 days
posted 666 days ago
Really neat, Gary! Really neat!
-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)
MorningWood70
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30 posts in 678 days
posted 659 days ago
I need to make one of those!
-- Eric, www.themorningwoodshow.com
GaryK
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9521 posts in 882 days
posted 354 days ago
Did anyone ever make any of these?
Christmas is getting close!
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
bayspt
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184 posts in 598 days
posted 354 days ago
Thanks for bringing this back to the pulse. Hadn’t seen these, now they are on the list for x-mas gifts. Love it Gary.
-- Jimmy, Oklahoma "It's a dog-eat-dog world, and I'm wearing milkbone underwear!"
Demowen
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113 posts in 291 days
posted 257 days ago
I made mine today to take to work- break room fun! Thanks!
-- Let the favor of the Lord our God be on us; establish the work of our hands- establish the work of our hands! Psalm 90:17
mcoyfrog
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809 posts in 488 days
posted 216 days ago
This is awesome, thanks for the instructions
-- Wood and Glass they kick (well you know) Have a great day - Dug