The project after making a paper cube, was to make a foam box to hold that paper cube. I was really proud and wanted to make a box that could showcase my paper cube. So I came up with the idea of placing the cube holder on a platform. Pushing the platform up from the bottom would make the cube push the lid open. The design goal was ‘like a magical box opening’. The second design goal I had was to showcase the durability of my paper cube even further because I was applying force through the cube.

First thing I learned was the laser does not work well with foam core. So back to the razor blade it was. A good technique I learned was that slicing through 1 layer of paper and foam, then removing the foam provides a good flap of paper - that if folded over provides a gluing tab to seal the corners and edges. (A similar techniques works very well with cardboard - especially to seal the edge of many glued layers.)

Using those flaps with extra reinforcement made great hinges for the lid pieces. I had ordinally planned to make them half doors, but then I saw the possibility for 4 quarter doors as triangles. Did some testers and changed plan mid build and it was worth it because the lid ended up soooo cool. On the bottom of each lid piece I built in ramps. That way when the box pushes up into them, they pivot up smoothly. Secondly they protrude out so they can rest on the sides of the box when opened.

Then, to make the doors auto closing I attached pieces of elastic to the lid on one end and the other end anchored through the bottom. I had to feed it through a hole and gluing it in between two layers, can’t remember which glue I was using, but hot glue feels familiar.

Then the important part to make the whole thing work was the cube holder. It had to be a platform that could move up and down. On top of that platform I built a box to hold the cube - it was a friction fit with the cube and extended up above the platform. Then I built in linear slides to guide the platforms travel up and down as well as provide positive top and bottom stops.

I’ve been thinking of making a small wood box with this mechanism for a while now. It would make a really cool ring box especially. Just have to make sure the lid never comes into contact with the lid during the opening - definitely don’t want to sell a box that scratches some ones engagement ring.