summary one-minute video

different type of twisty puzzle - crazy and others

This week, I’m going to introduce other types of twisty puzzle.

First, let’s get “crazy”!

“Crazy” is one of my favorite design, and this concept of structure can be easily combined with different other cubes, making them much harder. Unlike the twisty puzzle cube, it doesn’t change the shape of the cube because it just adds a circle at the center of each side. What’s special is that the part inside the circle doesn’t move while the part outside is twisted at some center sides.

crazy 3*3*3

crazy megaminx

Second, Delta Cube (Burmuda Cube)(百慕達方塊)

it is some kind working like Rubik’s Cube. However, its center is not only square but with triangle! I think it is really a fun structure. The designer think outside the box. Why the appearance should always be symmetric?

Else,

Bandaged cube.

This concept is to add some limitation which make some normal cube harder to be solved (and also scrambled).

The most common way to create a ban cube is paste the sticker on some neighboring cubies and make them a big cuby. Because they can’t be separated, somewhere of the cube can’t be twisted. As a result, there is less useful formula, and the cubers have to try different methed to solve it.

bandaged 3*3*3

other special bandaged cube, Latch Cube.

every time you twist it, should follow the direction. so, it iis possible that you can't rotate this lawyer.

picture resource:

google search picture - bandaged cube, latch cube, crazy cube, crazy megeminx.

http://www.davidguo.idv.tw/cube/ 

different kind of twisty puzzle - mix-up and gear

This week, I’m going to introduce some my favorite design of Oskar van deventer.

First, mixup.

Take 3*3*3 as an example. if it is a mixup cube, you will see that the rate of the cubies’ edges is 1: sqrt(2): 1 . And with special magical structure, when you twist the second lawyer for 45 degrees, you can still twist the cube. It means that the position of the center and the edge cubies can be switched. There are many different kind of mix-up cubes. mixup3*3*3 is just the basic one.

mixup 3*3*3

special way to twist

other mixup cube

scrambled mixup4*4*4

Second, gear cube.

As its name suggests, it is a cube combined with gears. The most simple is 3*3*3 gear cube I. all of its cubies are substitutes by gears, which makes all of the neighboring lawyer are related. So, when you twist the first lawyer for 180 degrees with the bottom lawyer fixed, the second lawyer will be twisted for 90 degrees at the same time.

3*3*3 gear cube

davidgear

the combined of the two!

picture resource:

http://www.davidguo.idv.tw/cube/

google picture(mixup cube, gear cube)

twisty puzzle maker

Besides those I basic puzzle I mentioned, there are still many different kind of twisty puzzle. There is not competition held for these, but in my opinion, it is the most interesting part of cube world. Every times I saw the new puzzle was published, I’ll feel exciting and wonder how this cube work and how to solve it. However, most of them are so expensive that I only can see them through the picture and video. So, I’m going to introduce some twisty puzzle maker.

https://ruwix.com/the-rubiks-cube/rubiks-cube-memes/

  Tony fisher. In 1981, he started his first work, Siamese cube. Then create 3*3*4, whose structure was use on other similarly (see picture). And Hexaminx is my favorite one. You can see it from the picture. With the shape of cuboid, it is a cubic version of megaminx. (unbelievable, isn’t it?)

Siamese cube(can be added more cube together)

3*4*5 before

after scramble

Hexaminx

see the star i draw, you can see its structure is same as megaminx

  Oskar van deventer. I saw he from the youtube. He had created plenty of amazing structure and cube. Some of them has been mass-produced, but most are only made by himself. Besides cube, he also make many funny puzzle. He is really a genius. If you are interesting, search Oskarpuzzle and I’ll introduce some design of him next week.

resource:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Fisher_(puzzle_designer)#cite_ref-Slocum_1-0

https://ruwix.com/the-rubiks-cube/rubiks-cube-memes/

google picture

youtube

Different types of puzzles-basic(2)

star pattern
http://www.suggest-keywords.com/bWVnYW1pbnggcGF0dGVybnM/

Last time, I introduced about pyraminx and skewb. This week, I’m going to show others kind of basic different rubik cube.

First, Megaminx. I had mentioned it when I talked my topic in class. It is in the shape of Dodecahedron. (It has twelve planes which are in the shape of pentagon.) It looks much more hard than Rubik’s cube, but most of the formulas and methods of Rubik’s cube can be used to solve it. Actually, you can solve it with about two more formulas than Rubik’s cube.

https://www.amazon.com/ShengShou-Megaminx-Speed-Puzzle-Black/dp/B01EYT8OPU

The next one is Square-1. Amount the basic twisty puzzles, I thought it was the hardest one. The original shape is a cube with 3 layers and the top and bottom layers are respectively divided in 8 pieces. Four at the corner like a kite(60degree), and the other are triangles (30 degree). The middle layers only divided in two pieces. Despite less pieces than other one, but it is harder to realize and has longer formula. The world record is 6.84 seconds held by Tommy Szeliga.(Compared to Rubik’s cube,a little bit longer)

scrambled one
https://ruwix.com/twisty-puzzles/square-1-back-to-square-one/

resource:

https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/Square_1

https://ruwix.com/twisty-puzzles/square-1-back-to-square-one/

Cube and Art

Rubik’s cube is not only used to challenge our brain, but it is also combined with art.

In my opinion, the art can be categorized into two different forms.

First type, it put emphasis on the beauty of symmetry and at most time only one cube is used. With less combination and more limitation, it relatively harder and more technique or formulas are needed. (I prefer to this kind, especially to study how to make these amazing patterns.)

(this make an illusion as if  they were twisted around the corner directly.)

'I love you' show in one cube!!

https://ruwix.com/the-rubiks-cube/rubiks-cube-patterns-algorithms/twisty-puzzle-patterns/ 

The second typed called cube mosaics, it uses a lot of cube to compose an image, like paintings, faces or marks. One small cuby (a square of color) is one pixel, so hundreds or thousands of Rubik’s cube will be needed to form an exquisite image. And it is also time-consuming, just like other kind of art.  

https://ruwix.com/the-rubiks-cube/rubiks-cube-mosaics-rubikubism-image-gallery/
http://walyou.com/rubiks-cube-mosaics/

cube mosaics combined with MV

When I was writing, I found there is a team called “cube work” they made several big

works by cube.

http://www.cubeworks.ca/

Different types of puzzle-basic(1)

Skewb“skewb” is a word combined by skew and cube. Its basic shape is a cube but with completely different structure from rubik’s cube. It has four axes while rubik’s cube has six. You can twist I around its corner. (the shape of the rotated surface is hexagon.)

https://ruwix.com/twisty-puzzles/skewb-pyraminx-mod-skewb-diamond/

With less piece and axis,it’s easier and have fewer steps to solve it. The world record is 1.10 seconds held by Jonatan Kłosko.

following are skewb in different shape:

http://www.davidguo.idv.tw/cube/skewb.htm

Pyraminx it’s a twisty puzzle in the shape of cones invented by Uwe Mèffert. Like pyramid, so it’s called pyraminx. It also has four axes and can be rotated around each of its corner.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyraminx

Although it has three layer, it’s as simple as skewb. The world record is 1.32 seconds.  

resource:

https://ruwix.com/twisty-puzzles/skewb-pyraminx-mod-skewb-diamond/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skewbhttps://www.worldcubeassociation.org/results/regions.php

Are they 3*3*3?

https://ruwix.com/the-rubiks-cube/

Q: What do these puzzles have in common?

(A)       they don’t seen like a cube.

(B)       All of them are twisty puzzles

(C)       They make you feel dizzy. XD

A: all above are correct. But what is more important is that they are all 3*3*3!

You may think I’m kidding you. So ,let me show you what is going on.

First, study the structure of a rubik’s cube.

There are 6 cubies in the middle of each sides and we call them centers. they merely rotate around their axles, which means their place to one another do not change.(except you switch the sticker) For example, when the white one is on top and the blue one is in front of you ,the one on your left side will be red.

between each of centers we have 12 cubies called edges and the 8 cubies left are corners. Edges can be twist 180 degrees while corner are 120 degrees.
(http://rubikscube.info/concepts.php)

All of cube which can be twisted like this way are 3*3 but in different shape and can be solved like 3*3, which means you have ability to solve all of cubes above if you are able to solve Rubik’s cube

(except some special cases)

Second, learn how to know whether it is a 3*3.

By twisting the cube ,you can easily find the center other cubies rotate around. Make the center in front of you ,and then image a “#” to check if all the sliding surface can correspond to it. (like the picture I show beneath)

http://www.davidguo.idv.tw/cube/

Competition

A World Record is something every cuber dreams of having. It is the most prestigious accomplishment. And there are many different kinds of competitions.

First, who can solve the puzzle in fewest time. (most of the cubers participate in)

https://ruwix.com/the-rubiks-cube/history-of-the-world-record-evolution/

And the most common one is 3*3*3. The world record keeps on updating and now it is 4.9second held by Lucas Etter.

(regulation: After observing the cube in 15 seconds, put both hands on timer and it starts timing once hands leave and stop until both hands are on timer)

There are also competitions for other kind of cube, like n*n*n, megaminx, pyraminx, square and clock. (I’ll introduce them in other article)

Second, different way to solve the cube.

Blindfolded

Like what it called, the participants have to remember how to solve it and finish it with an eyeshade. It is a challenge to one’s memory and technique. The fastest world record is 21.05seconds held by 林恺俊 (p.s. the time of observation is also included!) 

and the record of multiple blindfolded is 41 cubes completed by Marcin Kowalczyk (it sounds so ridiculous that I can’t believe it until I saw the video.)

One-handed folded and Feet

Some cubers wants to challenge their flexibility, so they try to solve the cube one-handed or by their feet.

Finally, fewest move. I thought it is the most difficult way to play. The participants have an hour to answer the step to solve it and the one finishing it in fewest move will be the winner. 
resource:
https://www.worldcubeassociation.org/results/regions.php

History of Rubik's Cube

        In 1974, Rubik’s Cube was invented by a young Professor of architecture in Hungary named Erno Rubik. And there are two different story about how the first Rubik’s Cube came out.

        The first one written on most of the websites is that Erno Rubik created the cube completely on his own. And the cube was used to help him explain to his students about spatial relationships.

        The second one is that it actually was a challenge problem he gave to his students. Surprisingly, someone succeeded to thought of the structure which enable the cube to be twisted without falling apart. (in this edition, show that being the first one who proposed the idea is much more important)

the first working prototype of the cube(wooden)

        In 1977,it was sold as toy and named “Magic Cube”,which be renamed “Rubik’s Cube” in 1980. In the time since its international launch in 1980 an estimated 350 million Rubik’s Cubes have been sold. Approximately one in seven people alive have played with a Rubik’s Cube.Rubik’s Cube also appear in many video and movie.It has come to represent both genius and confusion.
(https://ruwix.com/the-rubiks-cube/history-rubiks-cube/)

WallE(瓦力)

3 Idiots(三個傻瓜)

Gravity(地心引力)

resource:

 https://ruwix.com/

http://www.davidguo.idv.tw/cube/