Methods, devices, systems, and computer program products for creating three-dimensional puzzles

A method of creating a three-dimensional (3D) puzzle of an object, the method comprising:

• receiving a 3D model of the object;
• sequentially extracting a plurality of preliminary segments from the 3D model;
• and
• generating a plurality of two-dimensional (2D) printable segments corresponding to the plurality of preliminary segments,
• wherein the 3D model comprises a polygon mesh,
• sequentially extracting a plurality of preliminary segments from the 3D model comprises, for each preliminary segment, selecting a random polygon from the polygon mesh that has not been selected for another one of the plurality of preliminary segments as an initial polygon,
• the initial polygon is included as part of the preliminary segment,
• the polygon mesh is a triangle mesh,
• the initial polygon is an initial triangle, and
• sequentially extracting a plurality of preliminary segments from the 3D model comprises, for each preliminary segment:
• constructing a first direction segment in a first direction away from the initial triangle;
• constructing a second direction segment in a second direction, different than the first direction, away from the initial triangle;
• constructing a third direction segment in a third direction, different than the first and second directions, away from the initial triangle;
• and
• selecting the one of the first, second and third direction segments that has the longest length as the preliminary segment.