Rope Cutting Magic Box

This is a neat little Magic trick, but I was unable to find any instructions here. so I put this together.

Start off with paddle pop sticks. They are usually 10mm, by 2 mm thick. They are used for the tracks on which each half of the box slide.

The simplest box can be made with thick cardboard and paddle pop sticks, glued together. This requires correct dimensions for all the pieces.

I found it easier to draw it all in Fusion 360 and then 3D print the pieces.

The internal body which is the main channel 10 wide with 2mm walls
and about 100 mm long. Either side are the 2 half channels, with outer walls.. The half channels are setback from the center by 2mm each to allow for the end wall on the outer enclosures.

The underside has guide rail across the centre of each half channel.

Fillets on the internal corners will enable 3D printing without supports. See image above

The Left and Right upper enclosures are extruded around the internal

body with end pieces as seen in the images. Left and Right enclosures are exactly the same.

he bottom piece is very simple. Made to fit the Left/Right enclosure,

with tracks either side of the guide rail under the half channels. See image.

That's it. 3D Print, deburr, check smooth movement, assemble and glue bottom plate into position.

Alternatively, it can be made with cardboard pieces cut to size and paddle pop sticks glued to serve as rails.