Been thinking....

[armor99]

I have been thinkng about the Isis puzzle. After all it is a mechanical device. So I have been thinking about how ball bearings moving around could possible open it. The Isis IS a sphere, and there are only so many ways you can move or rotate it. But it would also have to be designed such that random shaking would not open it either. So the motion to get the BB's to go where they must... must be deliberate, not random. The only random thing possibly getting the 3rd BB to drop into the mix. Moderators feel free to alter my post if you feel the need to... just thinking out loud here.... but if I were thinking the term "Archimedes screw" in relationship to the puzzle and Isis.. would I be going the right direction? Just my thoughts...

[bluesign2k]

You have some interesting ideas there
It's interesting to see people's thought processes about how the innards of the Isis work too.
Keep at it, there's some good ideas there
(btw, don't take that as a "yeh, thats right", but merely as a well done for putting some thought into it )

Chris

[armor99]

Thanks... I am an engineer although not mechanical. Think of the solution... not the problem...

[armor99]

Just one more question... I can press the plunger all the way in.... but recently... when I hit bottom, if I apply just bit more pressure it will go in another .5 cm or so. I am not thinking this is a stag eor anything yet as I cannot rotate the placentas at all. Sometimes I can get the button wedged slightly, but still get it to pop back out .. I am just thinking this is due to the Isis.. loosening up a bit due to use...

[cslrobert]

finally a newbie you can tell has some mental gears moving.

Nice thoughts, your really trying to figure the ISIS out. Allthough, you will be shocked to know if you understand and read the clues you can spend 95% of your time with the clues and 5% actually playing with the ISIS to get it open. When I had my ISIS I did the same thing; took some time to judge the ISIS then worked on the clues. While working on the clues what I figured out about the ISIS started to click.

That is why you will see time and time again on this forum to READ THE CLUES

Being an engineer your going to love this puzzle more after you open it.

[bluesign2k]

Im an engineer too.... or at least I will be by the latter half of this year

Your right about the plunger, it sounds like yours is catching, my first Isis did this too. It's nothing to worry about too much and can be investigated once you Isis is open

[armor99]

Thanks for the words of praise and encoragement. As long as this is not one of those puzzles like... "wow... I must have jiggled something and then it just came open" I want there to be SOME logic, hopefully all logic to get this thing open..

[Shiny]

Yeah - it's definitely logical.

Everything you need to know is all there in the clues. Read and re-read them until you really understand their meaning. Then just progess through them all, properly and in order.

Once you open it up, you'll be able to see how it all works - as an engineer, you'll probably be impressed with the precise engineering needed to make this all work smoothly.

[armor99]

Sigh... it is now 1:30am and I finally have the ISIS open. I need to get some sleep...

[Shiny]

Very well done

PM a photo of it opened to Ade (Anash27) and he'll admit you to the 5% club.

Now it's on to the treasure hunt - just leave my gold alone