Photo Directions

Box End Wheel

This wonderful modular origami model is known by a number of names. The name above is more for description than anything else. There are 3 artists credited with the creation of this model and each has given their own name. The credited creators are Mette Pederson, Paolo Bascetta, and Satoshi Kamiya. Michael G. LaFosse, has created a similar model which he calls Finger Puzzle Wreath. Follow the link to Micheal's Holiday Wreath and learn how to fold his model. Whether you call it a Chinese Wheel or a Zodiac Wheel or some other name, it's a delightful model to fold and teach.

I have taught this model at a variety of workshops in numerous venues and everyone always enjoys it. I understand that Paolo has diagrams in his book Origami but I've never seen diagrams for this model. I couldn't find any links on the web other than a few You Tube videos that weren't the easiest to follow; due to poor lighting, camera work and editing. Which is why I took pictures of each of the steps and posted them here. Follow the instructions, duplicate the images and you should be able to create this fairly easily. Good luck and happy folding.

 

1. The paper must be square. The size of the paper will determine the finished model but other than that any size paper will do. You'll need 12 sheets of paper, as this model has 12 modules to complete the model. Start with the color side of the paper up, or if it's two sided paper, the color you want on the outside of the finished module. Fold the paper in half with the edges meeting,crease. Only the white will show at this point. (In the parlance of origami directions we call this a valley fold.)

 

2. Fold each and every module exactly the same way. The center crease is on the right the open edges of the paper are on the left. Lift just the top layer on the open edge side, and fold it back so the cut edge will be lined up along the center fold. (This is a valley fold as well. Which is indicated with the dashed line.) When you've lined the paper edges up crease the paper. You have quartered this side of the paper.

 

2a. This view shows the paper with the folds you've just completed.

 

3. Flip the paper over, putting the white (or interior color/pattern) side up. You have the center crease which is designated by the dash dot line (this is called a mountain fold in origami directions). The dashed line closest to the outside of the paper (which is called a valley fold) is the quartering fold you made in Step 2. The dashed line between these other two lines (this will be a valley fold as well) is the fold we're going to make now. Fold the paper so the mountain fold (the center crease) meets the valley fold (quartering crease) creating the valley fold crease between the other two folds. Look ahead to picture 3a for reference.

 

3a. This has created a narrow flap on the colored side (exterior) of the paper. You now have a wide area on the left and a narrow area on the right. (The dash dot line and the dash line meet, no gap.)

 

4. On the wide section (the left side) fold the upper outside edge over, aligned along the center fold, crease. (You are making a valley fold.) Repeat this on the bottom. You'll see you now have a triangle on the left side of the paper.

 

4a. Once Step 4 is completed, you'll have a triangle on the left and a narrow flap on the right.

 

5. Fold the narrow flap (on the crease you've already made) over the triangle on the left. We're going to make two parallel folds in the module which must be the same on every module. We're going to use the point where the narrow flap meets the edge of the large triangle as our reference point. I have designated it in the picture with double straight lines. Fold the short straight end up, (this is a valley fold, as well) keeping the outside edge even. Line the short edge up with the double straight line (reference point) and crease the paper. Repeat this step on the other end.

 

5a. The crease is from one to the other side. When you've made both of these folds, flip the module over.

6. The module is almost complete. Lay the narrow front flap to the right. There are two small triangles showing from the narrow flap at the back, around the edges of the large triangle. Fold the small triangles around,over the large triangle. (These will be valley folds as well.) This picture shows the bottom one folded over and the top one has yet to be folded.

 

7. Fold the narrow front flap back into place (to the left). This is a completed module.

 

8. You will need 12 of these modules to complete the model.

 

9. The small triangles we folded over the large triangle form the pockets (or locks). The narrow flap along the front bottom edge gives us our insertion points. You need to slide the insertion points into the pockets formed by the small triangles.

 

10. Continue to add modules forming a ring (wheel) as you add successive units. Make sure you've locked the insertion points on the back in each pocket as well.

 

11. The last module will take a bit of coaxing but it won't be problematic if you put the large triangle end in first. Positioning it so the insertion points can be manuvered into the pockets. Then work your hands around the wheel pushing the modules against each other until they're seated.

 

12. This is a completed model.