Prime Tower Designs

Engineering + Art =

See the Cryptatrope Browse free designs

Cryptatrope

An illusion created by physics

No electronics required. Pop in a glow stick or LEDs, and spin. Glints of light form mysterious 3D animations.

3 ways to experience

1A standalone optical effect

Cryptatrope FX
Cryptatrope FX video
"Chosen as MakerWorld's Featured Model, a showcase for top-tier excellence."MakerWorld

A device with no story or puzzles attached, just the pure visual "wow." The FX pushes the optics to their limit. Several eye-popping designs available.

Print it for free

2A print-at-home escape room

Cryptatrope Adventure
Cryptatrope Adventure video
"A groundbreaking concept and prop that we haven't seen used anywhere else in the puzzle realm."ESCAPETHEROOMers

A three-chapter adventure of optics, time, and causality. Print, decode, advance: each solved puzzle unlocks the next chapter, and by the end you'll have built three naked-eye illusions, finishing with a stereoscopic mechanical hologram.

Back the crowdfund for immediate access. Get the Adventure

3A personalized experience

Cryptatrope Letters
A custom Cryptatrope revealing a message in points of green light

A custom secret message. Makes a great gift or game clue reveal.

Tinkerer Free

Try for free using the self-serve customization tool.

  • Up to 2 lines of basic text.
  • Coming soon: Summer 2026
Gift Bearer $39 (USD)

A short message with a dramatic reveal, perfect for a special occasion.

  • Up to 3 lines of stereoscopic text.
    (words float at different depths; you pick which ones stand out)
  • The following cryptic engraving surrounds the device:

LUMEN APPARET · FORMA MOVET · OCULI CAPTANT · MENS FINGIT · QUOD VIDETUR · NON SEMPER · QUOD EST · MOTUS PARVUS · MAGNA MUTAT · IMAGO ORITUR · EX TENEBRIS · ORDO FIT · SENSUS DUBITAT · RATIO QUAERIT · DONEC MENS · INTELLEGIT

  • Digital 3D-print-at-home file delivered by email, usually within 7 business days. Ask before purchase if rush delivery is available.
Buy Gift Bearer, $39
Game Master $49 (USD)

For when there's more to say.

  • Pick one:
    • Style 1: Up to 16 lines of monoscopic text.
      (4 viewpoints; each with a distinct 4-line message)
    • Style 2: Up to 4 lines of stereoscopic text.
      (words float at different depths; you pick which ones stand out)
  • Customize the engraving that surrounds the device. Acts as a clue.
  • Digital 3D-print-at-home file delivered by email, usually within 7 business days. Ask before purchase if rush delivery is available.
Buy Game Master, $49
Arcane Illusionist $89 (USD)

The full showpiece.

  • Everything in Game Master, brought to life with 3D animations.
    (up to 3 animations of your choice; each type may be used more than once)

· spiral galaxy
· lemniscate (infinity)
· atomic symbol
· marquis border

If a text-heavy design cannot fit the requested animations, customer will have a chance to revise or cancel before work begins.

  • Digital 3D-print-at-home file delivered by email, usually within 7 business days. Ask before purchase if rush delivery is available.
Buy Arcane Illusionist, $89

30-day money-back satisfaction guarantee. Terms & Privacy

Running an escape room or selling prints? Commercial licensing is available. Get in touch.

The Cryptatrope was designed to fit parts from these affiliate links: glow sticks or LED kit

Free designs

Portfolio

Provided for personal use. To discuss commercial licensing, please contact Mike.

Browse the full catalog on MakerWorld Start here if new to 3D printing

Maker kits

Supplies

Kits contain non-printed parts for select print-at-home designs. Filament not included.

Cryptatrope kit

Cryptatrope Kit

Parts to make a Cryptatrope. The store page explicitly mentions Cryptatrope Adventure but this kit can be used for any version.

Get it from Bambu
The Limit of Possibility kit

The Limit of Possibility Kit

Parts to make one of several magnetic balancing sculptures.

Get it from Bambu

These kits are sold by Bambu through their Maker's Supply program. Prime Tower Designs earns a commission on purchases made through these links.

Press

Featured in

About

The studio

Prime Tower Designs is led by Mike Brunswick, who spent 20 years in technical program management at Microsoft. When his 3D designs found a following on MakerWorld, he turned to design full time, founding The Brunswick Workshop LLC with his wife Elizabeth.

The studio focuses on optical mechanisms and kinetic objects: engineering principles turned into things you can hold. Mike's work has been honored in multiple 3D printing design contests, including a first-place finish in Bambu Lab's global Magic Trick contest, and he hosted MakerWorld's "Old World Magic" contest, which drew over 600 entries.

A collection of Prime Tower Designs pieces, including spinning tops on a map box

Contact

Get in touch

Mike Brunswick

Questions, custom requests, or licensing?

Email Mike