How to make a real world mine craft cube!

 by code_neon
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me1.jpg
me4.jpg
In this instructable you will learn the process for creating a real world mine craft cube.

Tools Needed:
Color Printer
Jointer/Plainer
Table Saw
Compound Sliding Miter Saw
Spray Adhesive
Scissors or Laser Cutter
Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop

I made it at TechShop. Check out TechShop here.

Please check out my other instructable (Coming Soon) for information about how to make the tools picture here.
 
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Step 1: Collect Materials

Screen Shot 2011-11-09 at 1.10.37 PM.png
First, you need to create the texture that you are going to used to cover the blocks.

My blocks are 2.5" cubed. Therefore, each face needs to be 2.5" squared, and a cube has 6 faces. I used roughly a 1/4" bleed when designing my texture. I also included tabs so that all of the edges would be sealed.

Depending on how many blocks you are planning on making, buy wood that is bigger then your final size. I used 4"x4"x12 solid lumber. Any variety of wood will work, so buy whatever you prefer. I used douglas fir.

Build a texture that looks like the one in the picture. The example here is a grass block, you can see that the top of the texture is oriented to that all of the edges wrap. This will give you a nice clean edge on the top of your blocks.
Schmidty16 says: Dec 13, 2012. 7:54 PM
cool!!!!
Schmidty16 says: Oct 22, 2012. 2:37 PM
you minecraft ppl need to make a minecraft creeper costume and couch!!!
code_neon (author) in reply to Schmidty16Dec 11, 2012. 2:20 PM
we had a creeper costume at the gallery opening we had
Raduken says: Dec 1, 2011. 9:07 AM
how i do the tools? like the pickaxe or the shovel?

futurefilmaker54 in reply to RadukenJul 30, 2012. 8:19 PM
poster board and a print out of the tool
code_neon (author) in reply to futurefilmaker54Sep 17, 2012. 7:55 PM
Actually, it was laser cut plywood so it would have some durability

I then also laser cut paper with the graphics printed on it, and then glued them together
metroid_crafter says: Nov 20, 2011. 7:33 PM
Nice! I can see these being used to model before building them in-game.

One thing I have to point out: that would be "Voila!", not "Viola!". A "viola" is a musical instrument, "voila" is a french word meaning "there it is" (the expression you're probably trying to use).

...Sorry, but I get all OCD over spelling and grammar...
code_neon (author) in reply to metroid_crafterNov 20, 2011. 7:40 PM
lefts just blame that on my spell checker....
Kasm279 says: Nov 13, 2011. 9:21 AM
I have a suggestion for attaching the paper to the cubes. Instead of using spray adhesive, perhaps mod podge or white glue might work better by deco-pauging the paper to the cube.
code_neon (author) in reply to Kasm279Nov 13, 2011. 11:05 AM
Thanks for the suggestion!
I actually did this on the generation 1 cube. (the generation 1 cubes were made of styrofoam instead of wood). The issue with white glue is that is got the paper all soggy. The modge podge also got it soggy. We had the best results with a product called Yes paste. It had the consistency of what would go in a glue stick but it was in a jar. The reason we changed to spray adhesive was time. It would take about 90 seconds to use any non spray adhesive. It would take about 10 seconds with the spray adhesive and you could spray multiple paper pattern at ounce. When you are making over 1000 cubes, anything that saves time is the best choice!
Kasm279 in reply to code_neonNov 13, 2011. 12:09 PM
I see. I was mainly thinking of using modge podge or such to add a bit of protection to the paper on the cube. Perhaps they could be varnished to make them more durable?
code_neon (author) in reply to Kasm279Nov 17, 2011. 2:36 AM
A very sound idea. I tested it and found that i offered a bit of protection, but not enough for the amount of time it took to apply it to the cube. maybe dipping the cubes perhaps?
brehzer says: Nov 14, 2011. 6:38 PM
How did you make each of the tools? or rather to what scale?
code_neon (author) in reply to brehzerNov 15, 2011. 10:16 PM
the tools were laser cut printed paper affixed to laser cut wood. They were about 3" long.
flyingfox567 says: Nov 10, 2011. 2:45 PM
i've noticed that the minecraft cubes u made r tiny (small enough to fit on ur laptop) hav u ever made a giant one?
code_neon (author) in reply to flyingfox567Nov 13, 2011. 11:09 AM
The first iteration was to make giant minecraft (1-meter, actual size) minecraft cubes but we found that they were giant and unwieldy. We wanted an experience of mining, and if we scaled down the cubes to 1/16th the size of a meter cube (1/16th = 1 pixel on a 1 meter minecraft cube) we could have a much more fun and interactive experience. That being said, Discussions are happening about making an iteration of this project with approximately 1ft cubes...
flyingfox567 in reply to code_neonNov 13, 2011. 11:13 AM
yea i guess after u made a bunch of them u would wonder where to put them and stuff, but it still would be cool
code_neon (author) in reply to flyingfox567Nov 13, 2011. 7:16 PM
We are in agreement then! Life sized cubes would be very cool!
flyingfox567 in reply to code_neonNov 14, 2011. 4:30 PM
it would also b cool if u made a mountain or something out of life sized cubes. then when ppl pass it they're like "hey whats that? a mountain?" and u reply "yea i made it" :P
zazenergy says: Nov 10, 2011. 10:14 AM
wow! great job!
code_neon (author) in reply to zazenergyNov 13, 2011. 7:13 PM
Thank you!
Lord Jon Bigglesworth says: Nov 13, 2011. 10:15 AM
I think you mean 2.5', not ". " signifies feet, not inches. Other than that, cool 'ible.
spidersam in reply to Lord Jon BigglesworthNov 13, 2011. 6:54 PM
No, " means inches and ' means feet
Lord Jon Bigglesworth in reply to spidersamNov 13, 2011. 11:48 AM
Oops! Sorry for the confusion (I think it may have sprung from my old D and D books, in which " are feet and ' are yards).
code_neon (author) in reply to Lord Jon BigglesworthNov 13, 2011. 10:57 AM
Thanks for the Cool'ible. I think you may be mistaken on the inches/feet thing though...
emattrose says: Nov 13, 2011. 10:38 AM
These look fantastic! Maybe with some little magnets embedded in the sides, one could make a set of blocks that would stick together and be rearrangeable.
code_neon (author) in reply to emattroseNov 13, 2011. 10:56 AM
The idea has been considered. The issue would be the amount of time to inlay the magnets...and the cost. Rare earth magnets do get to be a little expensive when you have to provide 6 (for each face) for 1500 blocks....but since these are technically the general 2 cubes, magnets are being considered for generation 3.
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