by
TomZ
This fully working 12mm 3x3x3 Cube is nearly five times smaller than the original Rubik's Cube - it is far smaller than just a single cubelet of its big brother. It is printed in one piece, without the need for assembly. A thin layer of wax keeps the parts separated during printing, which is then melted away to yield this fully functional Rubik's Cube.
IMPORTANT - READ BEFORE BUYING
Since Shapeways' can not remove all of the wax themselves, you will probably have to do some work to get your print to turn. You should boil some water and put it in a cup along with your cube. Leave it in there for a few moments, and stir to help speed up the wax removal. Then remove from the cup with a teaspoon, and (being careful not to get burns from the water) gently move one or more sides. You may need to put the cube back in to the water to melt more wax and continue this process untill all of the pieces are freed up. You may also need to use a small knife to help separate some pieces. Note that if the wax cools down, the puzzle may become more difficult to move.
Since the heat also softens the puzzle plastic, it is very delicate when warm. You should take extreme caution while removing the excess wax. Neither Shapeways or me can take responsibility if your puzzle breaks during this process. It might therefore be recommendable to order more than one copy of this puzzle.
It might make things a lot easier if you put soap in the water, that might help dissolve the wax. I haven't tested it myself but it sounds promising.
IMPORTANT - READ BEFORE BUYING
Since Shapeways' can not remove all of the wax themselves, you will probably have to do some work to get your print to turn. You should boil some water and put it in a cup along with your cube. Leave it in there for a few moments, and stir to help speed up the wax removal. Then remove from the cup with a teaspoon, and (being careful not to get burns from the water) gently move one or more sides. You may need to put the cube back in to the water to melt more wax and continue this process untill all of the pieces are freed up. You may also need to use a small knife to help separate some pieces. Note that if the wax cools down, the puzzle may become more difficult to move.
Since the heat also softens the puzzle plastic, it is very delicate when warm. You should take extreme caution while removing the excess wax. Neither Shapeways or me can take responsibility if your puzzle breaks during this process. It might therefore be recommendable to order more than one copy of this puzzle.
It might make things a lot easier if you put soap in the water, that might help dissolve the wax. I haven't tested it myself but it sounds promising.
by
TomZ
Looking to buy a very special custom 3D printed puzzle, but can't afford the big boys? Then this one is for you. Thanks to my new redesign of this puzzle, it is cheaper than ever. Only $25! I've taken great care in the design of this puzzle and it is the highest quality 1x2x3 cuboid out there.
The 1x2x3 is one of the easiest twisty puzzles out there. With just 48 possible positions, anyone can solve this novelty puzzle and claim they solved a Rubik's Cube(-like) puzzle. This puzzle comes as a DIY kit. You'll need a M3 screw and washer to assemble it, and need to supply your own stickers (or get creative) to colour the faces. You can buy pre-made stickers from www.cubesmith.com, you just need a standard 3x3x3 set.
The 1x2x3 is one of the easiest twisty puzzles out there. With just 48 possible positions, anyone can solve this novelty puzzle and claim they solved a Rubik's Cube(-like) puzzle. This puzzle comes as a DIY kit. You'll need a M3 screw and washer to assemble it, and need to supply your own stickers (or get creative) to colour the faces. You can buy pre-made stickers from www.cubesmith.com, you just need a standard 3x3x3 set.
by
TomZ
The Curvy Copter has been mass produced and is now available at Meffert's Puzzles & Games. The price is $18 for a black or white puzzle with WORLDWIDE FREE SHIPPING. You can get a twin set of white and black Curvy Copter for just $34.
Click here to buy a BLACK Curvy Copter puzzle from Mefferts for just $18 with worldwide free shipping
Click here to buy a WHITE Curvy Copter puzzle from Mefferts for just $18 with worldwide free shipping
Click here to buy a TWIN set of WHITE and BLACK Curvy Copter puzzle from Mefferts for just $34 with worldwide free shipping
This is my variation on Adam G. Cowans excellent helicopter cube. In this version, the cuts are curved so that the orientation of the internal centerpieces can be seen, making the puzzle much more difficult.
The rotation of this puzzle is very smooth and stable. It is a great looking addition to your collection as well as a nice solving experience.
Click here to buy a BLACK Curvy Copter puzzle from Mefferts for just $18 with worldwide free shipping
Click here to buy a WHITE Curvy Copter puzzle from Mefferts for just $18 with worldwide free shipping
Click here to buy a TWIN set of WHITE and BLACK Curvy Copter puzzle from Mefferts for just $34 with worldwide free shipping
This is my variation on Adam G. Cowans excellent helicopter cube. In this version, the cuts are curved so that the orientation of the internal centerpieces can be seen, making the puzzle much more difficult.
The rotation of this puzzle is very smooth and stable. It is a great looking addition to your collection as well as a nice solving experience.
by
TomZ
The 4x5x6 Cuboid is the next step up from my 3x4x5. This puzzle was made at the request of Sigurd Wedel. Just like the 3x4x5 this one shapeshifts as 90 degree turns are possible on the 4x6 faces.
In the design I've used a mechanism slightly different from that of my 3x4x5 and slightly more like a V-Cube. The result is a puzzle that rotates very smoothly, even better than the 3x4x5. This puzzle is truly very complex, having more than 40 different mechanical parts.
Read more about this puzzle on twistypuzzles.com
Buyer information & Claim your free set of stickers
This puzzle comes as a DIY kit. You will need to assemble the puzzle yourself and also provide your own screws (6 M3 screws of 10-15mm, suitable springs and small washers recommended). A free set of printed stickers is included, please send me an email after buying to claim your free stickers (I ship them separately, they're not included in your order from Shapeways). You can also purchase a fully assembled and stickered puzzle from me on request. Please contact me directly for this service.
by
TomZ
The 3x4x5 has been mass produced! Get one for just $32 (free shipping!) from Mefferts.com
Finally! A fully functional 3x4x5 puzzle is now available to everybody. After three design iterations, I finally have an affordable, stable, smooth-turning and solid design. This puzzle is very difficult to solve due to the constraints imposed and is a challenge for any puzzle solver.The video shows 3x4x5 V3, for sale is V4, which is only very slightly different and works even better than V3. This puzzle (V4) has been prototyped.
This puzzle comes as a DIY kit. You will only get the 3D printed parts. You will need to supply your own M3 washers, springs and screws (x6). You will also need one Cubesmith 4x4x4 tile set and two extra singles for the 3x5 sides. Please note that using regular stickers with this puzzle is not recommended, only tiles are suitable.
Alternatively, contact met at tom [AT] tomvanderzanden [DOT] nl to purchase a fully assembled and stickered puzzle.
by
TomZ
This is the Multidodecahedron. A puzzle that has all the parts from the Megaminx, Pyraminx Crystal, Starminx, Master Pentultimate and Pentultimate and requires you to solve them simultaneously. This puzzle was initially suggested by Carl Hoff, who coined the name Multidodecahedron.
About ordering
To purchase a Multidodecahedron DIY kit, you should purchase this model and then must send me an email with your order number so I can give the necessary instructions to Shapeways. This kit comes with free stickers so please also include your mailing address so I can send them to you (note: I am currently not offering super stickers).This puzzle comes as a kit which you will need to assemble yourself. You will need to provide M3 screws and optional springs and or washers. You can also contact me directly to purchase a fully assembled and stickered copy of this puzzle.
by
TomZ
The Dino Skewb is a combination of two famous puzzles, the Dino Cube and the Skewb. The Dino Skewb's mechanism is based on my Tetrahedral Twins (also available from my shop).
This is, to my knowledge, the first ever Dino Skewb. It looks exactly like a Lattice Cube (Master Dino), but it is quite different. A Lattice Cube turns like a Dino Cube with turning tips.
My Dino Skewb does not have those turning tips but, contrary to the Lattice Cube, it does have the deep cut of a Skewb. The turning on the Skewb cuts is great, the Dino cuts have a little click to them because I needed the pieces to overlap a little to prevent gaps from appearing. I choose aesthetics over functionality in this case. But it isn't bad at all. The puzzle can be a little squishy at times, but overall I'm very pleased with the result.
This item is for a DIY kit only - it only contains the plastic 3D printed pieces, you will need to supply your own M3 springs/screws to assemble this puzzle and also supply your own stickers (available from Dr. Sticker). Alternatively, you can order fully assembled and stickered puzzles from me at tom@tomvanderzanden.nl.
This is, to my knowledge, the first ever Dino Skewb. It looks exactly like a Lattice Cube (Master Dino), but it is quite different. A Lattice Cube turns like a Dino Cube with turning tips.
My Dino Skewb does not have those turning tips but, contrary to the Lattice Cube, it does have the deep cut of a Skewb. The turning on the Skewb cuts is great, the Dino cuts have a little click to them because I needed the pieces to overlap a little to prevent gaps from appearing. I choose aesthetics over functionality in this case. But it isn't bad at all. The puzzle can be a little squishy at times, but overall I'm very pleased with the result.
This item is for a DIY kit only - it only contains the plastic 3D printed pieces, you will need to supply your own M3 springs/screws to assemble this puzzle and also supply your own stickers (available from Dr. Sticker). Alternatively, you can order fully assembled and stickered puzzles from me at tom@tomvanderzanden.nl.
by
TomZ
The 4x4x6 has been mass produced! Get one for just $38 (free shipping!) from Mefferts.com
The first 4x4x6 cuboid was made in 2004 by Tony Fisher, based on an idea of Geert Hellings to modify a 4x4x4 to have two extra layers. Joshua has made a very generous offer and paid me to design a 3D printable 4x4x6, and make it open source.Joshua's initial proposal was to make the design based on the Rubik's 4x4x4, but I suggested to use a completely new mechanism since it would most likely result in a much higher quality while not raising the cost very much.
This new mechanism works really well and the result puzzle is absolutely perfect. It turns smoothly and even cuts corners some. In the video it makes a quite loud squeaking noise but it has been getting better.
The SolidWorks file for this puzzle, as well as the STL files, are available from thingiverse under a Creative Commons license.
Note: this puzzle comes as a DIY kit when ordered directly from Shapeways, which you will need to assemble yourself. You will also need to supply your own M3 screws and springs, as well as stickers (Cubesmith 4x4x4 stickers can be used). You can order an assembled and stickered puzzle from me directly (tom@tomvanderzanden.nl), but the assembling fee will be slightly higher than with other puzzles since there is very little markup on this puzzle to begin with.
by
TomZ
This is the Dino 3x3x3, a puzzle that combines the cuts from two classic puzzles: the Rubik's Cube and the Dino Cube. This puzzle took a lot of time to perfect. It was made based on the Rainbow 3x3x3, but two iterations were needed to get it correct. This version uses magnets to keep the parts in alignment. The magnets are not needed for the functionality of the puzzle but they make turning it and keeping everything aligned much easier.
The result is a puzzle that turns very nicely, with a gentle click from the magnets. This is truly one of the best turning puzzles I ever made.
This puzzle will arrive as a DIY kit containing just the plastic parts. You will need to supply your own screws and magnets, but I will send you a set of stickers separately if you send me an email after ordering. You will need 100 of these magnets to finish this puzzle.
Please take extreme care when gluing in the magnets so you get the polarity right. It's not difficult, you can email me for a failsafe method to determine the right polarity. Also note that gluing magnets to plastic is not easy, superglue works okay but you might end up having to reglue some magnets that did not stick properly.
You can also order a fully assembled, stickered copy of this puzzle with the magnets already glued in directly from me. Please send me an email if you are interested in this option.
The result is a puzzle that turns very nicely, with a gentle click from the magnets. This is truly one of the best turning puzzles I ever made.
This puzzle will arrive as a DIY kit containing just the plastic parts. You will need to supply your own screws and magnets, but I will send you a set of stickers separately if you send me an email after ordering. You will need 100 of these magnets to finish this puzzle.
Please take extreme care when gluing in the magnets so you get the polarity right. It's not difficult, you can email me for a failsafe method to determine the right polarity. Also note that gluing magnets to plastic is not easy, superglue works okay but you might end up having to reglue some magnets that did not stick properly.
You can also order a fully assembled, stickered copy of this puzzle with the magnets already glued in directly from me. Please send me an email if you are interested in this option.
by
TomZ
About this puzzle
The SuperX was first made by Adam Cowan in December 2006. However, the puzzle was very squishy and the pieces would get out of alignment often. He later tried to improve upon his design by using ball bearings and while this helped a little, the puzzle was also not stable. Later, Andrew Cormier designed a more stable variant with a mechanism that was more like a V-Cube. This puzzle also was squishy, and he later designed a version with magnets to help keep the pieces aligned. Various copies with/without magnets have later been hand built by various builders. Finally, I have designed a version that does not use magnets but uses a clicking mechanism, like that found on a V-Cube 6 to keep the pieces aligned. While the puzzle does not turn as well as Andrew's copy, it saves on the cost and effort of gluing in magnets (magnets don't really adhere well to superglue so they frequently fall out of the puzzle). All previous SuperX's have been built by layering a Dino Cube on to a 2x2x2. My version is the first to use a fundamentally different mechanism. It uses the same mechanism as my Dino 3x3x3, which means the pieces are not just supported from the corners but also from the (internal) edges.
The puzzle turns quite well and is completely stable, but obviously there is the clicking which is slightly more pronounced than on a VCube 6. The pieces have a tiny amount of wiggle room, but the clicking mechanism keeps them in place really well.
Buying information
Ordering this model will get you a DIY kit with all the plastic pieces necessary to build a SuperX, which you will need to assemble yourself. It does not come with the necessary stickers or screws as Shapeways cannot supply. You can purchase stickers from www.dr-sticker.com. The screws can be had from any hardware store, you need M3 screws, about 10-15mm long.
A warning beforehand: this is one of the most tricky to assemble puzzles I've designed. It will also need a good amount of lubrication and breaking in before it will turn as good as the one in my video. I have also increased the fillet radius to prevent locking up, this results in slightly larger gaps near the center than pictured.
If you do not feel like assembling your puzzle yourself, you can also order a fully finished copy from me for a price that is slightly higher than Shapeways', but you miss out on all the fun of assembling your own puzzle! For this service, contact me at tom@tomvanderzanden.nl.
The SuperX was first made by Adam Cowan in December 2006. However, the puzzle was very squishy and the pieces would get out of alignment often. He later tried to improve upon his design by using ball bearings and while this helped a little, the puzzle was also not stable. Later, Andrew Cormier designed a more stable variant with a mechanism that was more like a V-Cube. This puzzle also was squishy, and he later designed a version with magnets to help keep the pieces aligned. Various copies with/without magnets have later been hand built by various builders. Finally, I have designed a version that does not use magnets but uses a clicking mechanism, like that found on a V-Cube 6 to keep the pieces aligned. While the puzzle does not turn as well as Andrew's copy, it saves on the cost and effort of gluing in magnets (magnets don't really adhere well to superglue so they frequently fall out of the puzzle). All previous SuperX's have been built by layering a Dino Cube on to a 2x2x2. My version is the first to use a fundamentally different mechanism. It uses the same mechanism as my Dino 3x3x3, which means the pieces are not just supported from the corners but also from the (internal) edges.
The puzzle turns quite well and is completely stable, but obviously there is the clicking which is slightly more pronounced than on a VCube 6. The pieces have a tiny amount of wiggle room, but the clicking mechanism keeps them in place really well.
Buying information
Ordering this model will get you a DIY kit with all the plastic pieces necessary to build a SuperX, which you will need to assemble yourself. It does not come with the necessary stickers or screws as Shapeways cannot supply. You can purchase stickers from www.dr-sticker.com. The screws can be had from any hardware store, you need M3 screws, about 10-15mm long.
A warning beforehand: this is one of the most tricky to assemble puzzles I've designed. It will also need a good amount of lubrication and breaking in before it will turn as good as the one in my video. I have also increased the fillet radius to prevent locking up, this results in slightly larger gaps near the center than pictured.
If you do not feel like assembling your puzzle yourself, you can also order a fully finished copy from me for a price that is slightly higher than Shapeways', but you miss out on all the fun of assembling your own puzzle! For this service, contact me at tom@tomvanderzanden.nl.
by
TomZ
This is the Compy Skewb. It is a combination of the Skewb and the Compy Cube (shallow cut Dino Cube). It was conceived after a suggestion from Carl Hoff (wwwmwww on twistypuzzles.com) to make visible all internal parts of my Dino Skewb. The puzzle looks like a cubic Elite Skewb but it only has four layers. The tips do not turn on their own, they are linked to the internal Skewb. This allows them to display both the internal Skewb's corner orientation and permutation. If you want a puzzle with trivial tips, then it is easy enough to use a blade and cut off the blocking part.
Read more about the Compy Skewb on twistypuzzles.com: http://twistypuzzles.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=18117
The quality of this puzzle is excellent. Rotation and stability are both very good. This puzzle comes as a DIY kit. You will need to assemble it, supplying your own stickers, screws, springs and washers (M3). You can purchase stickers from www.dr-sticker.com - just ask him, he already has my template. Buying this only gets you the plastic pieces. Alternatively, contact me directly (tom@tomvanderzanden.nl) to purchase a fully assembled and stickered puzzle.
This puzzle was suggested to me by Carl Hoff. Visit his shop for more puzzles.
Read more about the Compy Skewb on twistypuzzles.com: http://twistypuzzles.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=18117
The quality of this puzzle is excellent. Rotation and stability are both very good. This puzzle comes as a DIY kit. You will need to assemble it, supplying your own stickers, screws, springs and washers (M3). You can purchase stickers from www.dr-sticker.com - just ask him, he already has my template. Buying this only gets you the plastic pieces. Alternatively, contact me directly (tom@tomvanderzanden.nl) to purchase a fully assembled and stickered puzzle.
by
TomZ
This is the Helicopter Skewb puzzle, which is a combination of the Skewb and Helicopter Cube puzzles. This puzzle has two very unexpected properties: it is possible to turn the Skewb puzzle by 60 degrees and still make Helicopter Cube moves, and it is possible to jumble the Helicopter Cube and still make Skewb moves. By using these and normal moves, it is possible to scramble this puzzle in to very hard to solve shapes. However, once the puzzle is restored to a cube, it can be solved using only Helicopter Cube moves.
This puzzle has a mechanism that builds a Helicopter Cube on top of a spherical Skewb core. It rotates very smoothly and is perfectly stable.
Please note that buying this will only get you the plastic pieces for building a Helicopter Skewb. You will still need to supply your own stickers (regular www.cubesmith.com stickers are good), screws, springs and washers. Alternatively, you can buy fully assembled and stickered puzzles from me for an extra fee. Please contact me at tom@tomvanderzanden.nl for this service.
Want even more jumbling?
Pick up the Unbandaged Helicopter Skewb for just $10 more. Click here.
This puzzle has a mechanism that builds a Helicopter Cube on top of a spherical Skewb core. It rotates very smoothly and is perfectly stable.
Please note that buying this will only get you the plastic pieces for building a Helicopter Skewb. You will still need to supply your own stickers (regular www.cubesmith.com stickers are good), screws, springs and washers. Alternatively, you can buy fully assembled and stickered puzzles from me for an extra fee. Please contact me at tom@tomvanderzanden.nl for this service.
Want even more jumbling?
Pick up the Unbandaged Helicopter Skewb for just $10 more. Click here.
