Tilt-Stick

Can a straight stick fit through a curved hole? The answer is yes! This illusion is not an illusion at all, and can actually be explained with some pretty impressive mathematics. A rotating stick at an angle will actually make the shape of a hyperboloid, the outer edge of which can be used to determine the size and shape of a curved hole which the stick can seamlessly pass through. This build was challenging in a few ways, one being the conversion of vertical rotation into horizontal rotation, while retaining a stationary central column, this was achieved through use of splat gears. The second, and arguably biggest challenge being the shaping of a parabolic curve in Lego, and although not perfectly smooth, it captures the essence of the trick. This model was designed as a desk display/fidget toy, and represents some mind-bending but beautiful mathematics. (Contains 177 Lego parts)