3D Cardboard Labyrinth Maze

Hi Everybody,

My name is Asray and I am a 15 year old who has a keen love of making projects out of cardboard.

Today I will show you all how to make a 3D Labyrinth Maze made out of cardboard.This project is simple to make and super fun to play with. Traditionally, mazes are 2D and super boring to play with but I made a maze with a twist so that it is challenging and fun to play with.

(P.S. This is the first instructable I'm ever writing and I'm submitting this to the Instructables Toys and Games Contest. Pls vote for me :) )

You can see how this works in the youtube video I made:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kl4KByf-p64

Supplies

• Cardboard (Thickness: 3mm [preferred])
• Hot Glue/Superglue
• Blade/Paper Cutter
• Pen/Pencil
• Ruler/Scale

This is a really easy project to make and as you see, very few materials are required. Materials are easy to obtain and very cheap.

Step 1: Cut Out Two Cardboard Squares Measuring 15.3 Cm X 15.3 Cm

Step 2: Cut Out a 3 Mm X 7.65 Cm Slot in the Cardboard Squares Equidistant From Each Side

Draw parallel line which has a width of 3 mm and 7.5 cm away from both ends. Then on the marking created by the parallel lines, using a blade, cut a segment of length 7.65 cm. Do this for both the cardboard pieces.

Step 3: Draw a Square Graph of 1.5 Cm X 1.5 Cm on Both the Cardboard Pieces.

Step 4: Cut Out Another Piece of Cardboard Measuring 15 Cm X 15 Cm. Draw a Graph of 1.5 Cm X 1.5 Cm. Then Cut It Into 4 Equal Parts. on Each Part Cut Out One Square on the Corner.

Step 5: On the First Two Cardboard Pieces, Cut Out the Cardboard As Shown in the Images.

Step 6: Glue and Attach the Cardboard As Shown in the Pictures.

Step 7: Add the 4 Cardboard Pieces (from Step 4) to the Middle of the Structure With the Openings Outwards. Look at the Pictures for Reference.

Step 8: Cut Out Strips of Cardboard of 0.8 Cm Width. Prepare 50 of These Strips for Making the Maze Walls.

Step 9: Glue the Cardboard Strips As Shown in the Pictures. Glue the Strip Pieces With Reference to the Graph (Step 3). This Is Part 1 of 8 of the Maze.

Step 10: Maze : Part 2 of 8

Glue the cardboard strips as shown in the pictures.

Step 11: Maze : Part 3 of 8

Glue the cardboard strips with reference to the pictures.

Step 12: Maze : Part 4 of 8

Glue the cardboard strips with reference to the pictures.

Step 13: Maze : Part 5 of 8

Glue the cardboard strips with reference to the pictures.

Step 14: Maze : Part 6 of 8

Glue the cardboard strips with reference to the pictures.

Step 15: Maze : Part 7 of 8

Glue the cardboard strips with reference to the pictures.

Step 16: Maze : Part 8 of 8

Glue the cardboard strips with reference to the pictures. You're done glueing the internal parts of the maze.

Step 17: Cut Out 6 Strips of Cardboard Measuring of 2 Cm X 15 Cm and 8 Strips of Cardboard Measuring of 2 Cm X 6.5 Cm. Glue the Strips of Cardboard to the Edge of the Cardboard Maze Structure.

Glue the cardboard strips to the edges of the structure so that the ball doesn't fall out of the maze.

Step 18: Glue Pieces of Paper to Mark the Start and End of the Maze.

Step 19: The Maze Is Finished! Put a Tiny Bb Gun Ball in It or a Bead to Play. Play With It and Record Your Final Time.

Thank You for reading my article on how to make a Cardboard 3D maze. Pls do make it as it is fun to play with and make.

I am also entering this project to the Instructables Toys and Games Contest. Pls vote, I would be happy to win this contest. As a rookie instructable writer it would be great for me to win.

Comments

[Kiteman]

How did I not see this when it was published??

I'm stealing this idea to set as a class project!

[Asray Gopa]

Thanks for stealing this idea :) !!!!!!!!! Please share pictures after you are done making it. I would really like to see your version of the maze. If you have any questions ask me. And if you want to see the 3D printed version check out how creator RGMCleod used my design made it, by clicking on this link: https://www.instructables.com/3D-Printed-Labyrinth-Maze-1/

[rgmcleod]

I was intrigued by your 3D maze and immediately thought about making it with a 3D printer. So I modeled each of the 8 corners separately, then set about to put them together.

However, I ran into a bit of a snag. I can get 7 of the corners to fit together (based on what you can see of the other corners in the photos you took), but I cannot get the remaining corner to fit. This is the "Part 4 of 8". The two passage ways don't line up correctly in any orientation.

I am including the model I made using Sketchup which shows the almost completed model and Part 4 of 8 off to the side. This view of Part 4 matches the first image of Part 4 in your instructions, but the left side passageway does not go across, but down.

I even made a paper (not cardboard) model to make sure that I didn't miss something. But I can't get Part 4 to fit in that model either.

Once I have all the parts fitting together I plan to come up with a combination of parts that will be 3D printable (without any supports). And I'd be happy to share that once I get it done.

[rgmcleod]

I finally figure out the issue. The pattern in Part 4 of 8 is the same as the pattern in Part 2 of 8! I had to watch the video and figure out what the real pattern of Part 4 was. I have now modeled that in 3D and it works! Now I will figure out how to combine the parts and make it 3D printable. Here is what the new Part 4 looks like.

[Asray Gopa]

Hi Rmcleod,
I just noticed a mistake in your 3d model. You have to remove one of the walls so that the ball can exit this part. I suggest before you print it, pls run a simulation or run it through your mind so that your 3d print will be successful on the first try.

[rgmcleod]

Here is an image of the full model made in Sketchup.

[rgmcleod]

Just now I published an instructable on making this 3D maze using a 3D printer. You can find the instructable here: https://www.instructables.com/id/3D-Printed-Labyrinth-Maze-1

[Asray Gopa]

Hi Rmcleod,
Im really happy that you figured out the issue without contacting me. Part 4 of the maze is a drop to part 5 of the maze so it kinda looks wierd the first time you look at it. But seeing my project come to 3d made me happy. I don't have any experience with 3d printing(I hope one day I will!).Please do share the files for the 3d model. It will be help to others and me in the future. Thank You so much for making a 3d model of my project and thank you again for being intrigued by it.☺️

[rgmcleod]

Asray, I just finished the design of the parts that will be 3D printed. I plan to test out the prints in the next day or two. And I will post pictures of the finished product. Based on the what I have done the drop to Part 5 comes from Part 2, not Part 4. But we will see once I get the actual models done.

[Asray Gopa]

Hi Rmcleod,
If you find any problems I suggest you to modify it, as this project can easily be modified. Whatever I made works till now. I tested it out with a few people till now I didn't find a problem. I suggest before printing it ,you run a simulation where you can see how the maze works and if there are flaws fix it or change the path. I really don't want you to waste time and money because I really want you to bring the maze to life. Pls do share your progress. Thank you so much again 😊.if you have more doubts chat in the comments.

[rgmcleod]

Thank you for catching the mistake I made. If you watch your video closely you will see a piece of cardboard that is hanging in the way and while you are navigating the maze it falls loose. I think that this was the source of my error.

I have figured out how to make the pieces 3D printable. See the attached image. I take the two full size green pieces and sandwich them back-to-back, and do the same with the two red pieces. Like the way you started out with the two pieces of cardboard, there are slots that allow them to slide together. Then add two half size pieces (blue) and another two half size pieces (yellow) that slide in from the sides to make up the whole maze. Then add borders around the whole thing. When I designed the pieces the whole maze was roughly 10" x 10" x 10" (it just made the design easier), but my printer will not print something that large. So I'm printing it out at 40% of full size which equates to around 11 cm x 11cm x 11cm.

So far I have made some test pieces of both the full size and half size pieces. It may take a while to get the slot sizes correct so that everything just slides together.

[Asray Gopa]

Rmcleod you are a genius for figuring this out! As I said before pls run the maze through you head before you print because I really do want this to work. I think it would work great if it was 15*15*15 so it can fit a bb ball but if you think it is better to do a 11*11*11 maze, you do you. Thank you so much anyway

[Asray Gopa]

Pls do share your progress and the 3d file. It looks really cool!

[rgmcleod]

After quite a number of versions, I have been successful in making a 3D printed version of Asray's 3D Maze. It took a while to get all the dimensions correct so that the pieces would fit together nicely. Here's the what this final product looks like. I still have some clean up to do on the 3D files, but will post them once I am done.

[Asray Gopa]

WOW! It looks so cool. Thank You so much rgmcleod!

[VishwajeetBetai]

Very innovative concept. Maze, that is so well known to most kids, giving it a third dimension is a very creative thought. Don't stop, keep creating, you can do amazing things. All the best 👍

[Asray Gopa]

Thank you so much for your kind and inspiring words!☺️

[Hey Jude]

Voted - so cool! As a bit of a fanatic of design in card, do check out some of my guides - they might help you do larger/different versions! Love it!

[Asray Gopa]

Thanks You so much Jude! I will check out your guides. Also thank you for voting for me.

[Ziggy_Mondus]

I have been looking for a project to make with my granddaughters, though using 5mm plywood (I have plenty of cardboard, but recently came into a large amount of plywood).
I don't know if they 'will' be interested, but I really hope so - I may make it anyway.
A great and interesting concept, well done.