Hey Guys! So I've been thinking of new stuff to design and print por my dogs, and I came up with this boredom buster 3D printed interactive dog puzzle.

This fun and rewarding puzzle is great for reducing anxious dog behavior and redirecting destructive behavior.

I designed entirely using Tinkercad and I found that my dogs love it!

It consists of a platform with 7 hiding compartments, and 4 sliding caps that can cover your dog's treat. I made a small hole in them so it is easier for my dogs to sniff the treats lol!

I also added two opposed tabs in each side so this game can be attachable to others with different patterns, this way I can make a really large and fun playground for my dogs! =D

Even though I designed this puzzle to be as sturdy as possible, no toy is indestructible so don't leave toys with unsupervised pets.

Here is how I designed it. At the end you can also find the finished STL files

Supplies

3D Printer
Plastic filament (PLA, ABS or PETG)
4 x M3x15 bolt + nut
Dog treats!

Step 1: Let's Get It Started!

We'll start by adding a 6 sides Polygon from the Tinkercad Basic shapes Library.
You can find the size details in the image above

Step 2: Placing the Holes

We'll add 7 cylinders from the Basic Shape library and We'll size them the way we want, in my case I made them in two different sizes. Also you can place them where you want them in the platform.

Step 3: Creating the Cover

To create the cover We'll just duplicate the original hexagon by using Ctrl+D

Step 4: Making Some Holes in the Cover

We'll duplicate the holes We just created and copy them in the cover. For this part the holes must be larger than the originals, so We'll oversize them. In my case I made them 8mm larger.
Also, We'll add some boxes the same size, they will connect the holes and will form the pattern you want your cover to have.

Step 5: Let's Make the Caps!

Since I'm making two different size holes I'll start by adding two spheres, each sphere must be larger than the hole created in the platform, but smaller than the one created in the cover. This way the cap will cover the dog treat, and it will slide freely through the cavity. Then We'll cut each sphere in half.
Since each half sphere is solid, it should be sturdy enough to withstand dogs teeth, lol!

Also we'll add a thin cylinder at the bottom of each half sphere, this thin edge will ensure that the caps will remain locked between the platform and the cover all the time.

Step 6: Adding a Separator to the Cover

We'll use some boxes to make a separator at the edges of the cover, this will help the caps to slide freely.
The thickness of this separator must be larger that the thin edges we just added to the half spheres.
Also, I added a small cylinder in each half sphere, in order to help my dogs sniff the treat.

Step 7: Adding the Holes for the Bolts

I want to make sure that my dogs won't separate the parts while they play, so I thought about adding 4 screws in different corners.
For this We'll use 4 cylinders on top of the platform, this cylinders will be grouped with the top cover, sizes I used are available in the first picture.
For the M3 bolts We'll create 3.5mm cylinders that have to be align with the previous cylinders We just created. These must be lengthen to go from side to side.

Step 8: Making Space for the Bolt Head and Nut

I want the bolt head and nut to be flush with the puzzle body so I added a Hole cylinder on top of each hole and a hole hexagon on the bottom of each hole. To have a snug fit between the bolt+nut and their holes I measured this parts and added 0.8mm to each one.

Step 9: Adding the Tabs to the Platform

Since I'm planning to print other puzzles with different patterns, I thought about adding this tabs so they all lock together and stay in place.
For this I used a Trapezoid from the "shape generators" tab.
After placing it where I wanted I duplicated it, roteted it 180 degrees, and downsized 0.8mm so the solid tab can be inserted in the holed tab.
This can be repeated for each side of the hexagon.

Step 10: Print Time!

Print settings are standard.
No supports needed.

Step 11: Assembling the Puzzle

Once the caps are inserted in the correct guides We can close it. Nuts and bolt enter easily in their compartments and once closed, caps are secured in place!