Reid's Dice Tower
As I began designing the dice tower, I attempted to make it look like a scary monster. However, after completing my first design iteration, I changed paths. The jagged teeth, circular eyes, and triangle nose immediately reminded me of a Jack-O-Lantern. While differing from my original vision and not corresponding to any particular dice rolling game, I decided to stick with it. After all, who doesn’t love Halloween and a good Jack-O-Lantern!
I utilized SolidWorks to create the design for my dice tower, employing parametric modeling and a unified equation file for all components to streamline the design process and facilitate easy dimension adjustments later on. Constructed from 1/4” MDF board, each part of the dice tower features intricately designed slots and tabs, allowing them to interlock seamlessly without the need for glue or other fastening materials. Displayed to the right is the completed assembly of the Dice Tower in SolidWorks. Subsequently, the file for each individual part was exported to the laser cutter, ensuring precise cuts. The freshly cut pieces were then assembled according to the design instructions, fitting together like a puzzle.
The die is dropped into the opening on the top of the dice tower, where it collides with the slants, ricocheting back and forth and guaranteeing a fair roll every time. It then comes to rest in the open bottom section where it is easily visible and retrievable, allowing you to enjoyably roll your die over and over with ease! The tower is also designed with the capability to roll multiple dice, adding to the fun!
After assembly, I installed battery powered LED strips to the tower, providing a fluorescent glow out the nose and mouth, selling the Jack-O-Lantern theme. The batteries and wires are neatly tucked to the left side of the tower, out off the way and not interfering with any rolls of the dice. In addition, the LED lights sufficiently brighten the bottom compartment off the tower allowing one to see what they rolled even in the dark, enabling the possibility of after dark board games.
