Creative craftsman Seth of Robinson Foundry makes things out of metal that would be difficult or impossible to machine the traditional way. As an example, these bolts with zigzag threads:

He then struck upon the idea of creating a rather unique maze, or a sort of three-dimensional combination lock:

The point is to get the nut, which has a protrusion on the inside, all the way along the shaft by rotating and advancing it:

So how did he make them? Using the lost wax casting process, but with PLA rather than wax. After designing the shape in CAD, Seth 3D-printed models of both the nut and bolt.

Here's a look at his process:

This 3D maze is not a new idea. It has been sold for years, called "dael o ring" and it is manufactured by injection molding.

Credit where it's due for making it out of bronze, but the Labryinth Gift Box has been on Thingiverse since December 2013. https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:201097

Why bother with the investment casting? Seems like overkill for a puzzle.

I’m a lapsed industrial designer. I was born in NYC and figured I’d die there, but a few years ago I abandoned New York to live on a farm in the countryside with my wife. We have six dogs.

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