Soma Cube Seed & Nut Cluster v.1

Geometric 3D Puzzle V.1

You might already know the Soma Cube. It is a geometric puzzle made up of seven parts that fit together to form a 3x3x3 cube. The pieces look a bit like Tetris blocks. I always appreciated the simplicity of its shapes and the complexity of how they come together.

Over the years, I have used it often as a base for artistic exploration, so I decided to try making an edible version.

The difficulty lies in that very simplicity. To fit well, the pieces need to be made with high precision and be perfectly square, otherwise they do not align properly. I chose to work at a small scale, which is always a challenge because even the slightest imperfection becomes instantly visible.

For this experiment, I used the Seed and Nut Clusters-Basic Mix recipes. They make it possible to create pieces that are solid, precise, and sturdy.

To test things out, I tried and combined a few techniques to compare their strengths and limitations.

A completely assembled Soma Cube contains 3 by 3 by 3 units, meaning 27 cubes. For the proportions, I used a cubic unit size equal to two toy brick units.

Slab Method

In this method, I make slabs of a defined thickness, then cut and assemble them after baking. I used a recipe mainly composed of peanuts.

• I started by creating slabs of two toy brick units thick, about ⅝ inch (16 mm). I had some steel brackets that were conveniently that exact size, so I used them as spacers.
• Since I knew I would cut the material later, I baked the slabs only halfway. That way, they stayed slightly chewy and easier to slice cleanly.
• Using toy bricks as cutting guides, I cut strips and cubes.
• I assembled the shapes using the Egg White Bonding Technique.
• I placed the assembled pieces back in the oven to firm up the joins and complete the baking.

Molding Method

This version involves molding the raw mixture into shape, then baking it. The molds are very basic, so I could only make the simpler shapes this way. For the three more complex pieces, I still had to glue parts together. For this test, I used the same mixed nut and seed recipe.

The molds were made in two or three parts to allow for easy removal. That was the idea, at least. In practice, the mixture turned out a bit sticky, and demolding was trickier than expected. I probably should have used the Press Mold technique instead. I will keep that in mind for the next round.

Packaging

Nut clusters store well for a long time at room temperature, so it is fun to give them a proper presentation. I created a small custom box for them. Templates and instructions to make it are available.