Micro version of Happiness #20

This is Quinsequential Gamma (3 cm) the third version of the Quinsequential design. Quinsequential Alpha required 9 separate moves before the first piece came free. Quinsequential Beta improved that to 11 moves, and now Quinsequential Gamma is ready for public viewing with a respectable 13 moves for first removal.
As far as I know, this is a record for a 5x5x5 cube, so I am laying down the gauntlet!
I have given the design a nickname of 'The Switch Cube' - you'll understand why when you've solved it!
Available in four sizes to suit all budgets.

 This superb puzzle designed by Jos Bergmans exemplifies everything that I love about interlocking cubes. We share a passion for complex 4x4x4 designs, and Jos, like Tom Jolly, has a real talent for inventing puzzles with clever solutions.

In Jos' own words:
  "There is bunch of engineers at my office that are totally into puzzles, so I give them the puzzle pieces and they try to assemble it. The key measurement here is time: how long does it take them on average to solve the puzzle. When I started out designing (Four Critters, Six Spoons etc), it took them just a minute or two to solve a puzzle. That is when I discovered Tom Jolly's puzzles (it does not get any better than "Twist The Night Away"). Adding rotations to my designs made the puzzles more complex, and it took my colleagues longer and longer to solve the puzzles. 
Currently, a puzzle like "Pivot" can keep them busy for about 40 minutes on average. This solve-time competition keeps me on the edge, and pushes me to find new ways of making the puzzle more difficult."
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This puzzle is the first in a new larger format based on 8 mm unit cubes giving a 3.2 cm solved cube. The interior of each piece is hollow but the pieces still feel strong and handle well. If the pieces had been solid a puzzle of this size would cost over $50 to print.

I have started experimenting with dyeing my puzzles and, as you can see, the tests went well. If you would be interested in receiving a pre-built and dyed version of this puzzle, or any of my other cubes, please visit the main shop page and use the 'Send message' link  under microcubology logo.

A new 4x4x4 interlocking puzzle cube designed by Jeff Namkung. This complex puzzle requires a sequence of 9 moves to get the first piece out which is a new world record for solid faced 4x4x4 interlocking cubes. This is a great puzzle that prints beautifully in this larger, 4 cm size and should be solvable by any good puzzler. It took me about 15 minutes to find the solution (without cheating and using a computer). If you like this one, you might also like to have a look at Bolero by Jeff Namkung. It has one less move for first piece removal but is significant harder.

The Triaxial Cube puzzle consists of three identical pieces. This single piece is designed for the White Strong and Flexible material.
You will need to order three of these pieces to make the puzzle. Having the puzzle available as a single part allows shoppers to order each part in a different colour (Limestone, Blue Jeans and Terracotta) if desired.

I am delighted to be able to present one of the most original interlocking cube puzzles to be designed for many years. Once again, Tom Jolly has kindly given his permission for for this design to be made available through the microcubology shop.

The solution is described as requiring 20 moves (1-2-3-12-2). However, the most unusual feature of this puzzle is the sequence of seven rotations required in the middle of the solution.

The puzzle design can be viewed at http://bit.ly/cvsxev , and although it can be constructed from a set of LiveCubes, the rotations involved can make the pieces break apart rather easily.

This version of the cube has a width of 2.4 cm which, although making it a little more expensive, gives it a decent weight and excellent strength.

You can read more about this puzzle in Brian's (excellent) Damn Puzzle Blog at http://mechanical-puzzles.blogspot.com/2010/06/twist-night-away.html

A serially interlocking 3x3x3 cube made from springy cubelets.
Perfect snug fit every time. Not too difficult to solve.
Original puzzle design by Stewart Coffin.

This little beauty is another classic Jos Bergmans 4x4x4 interlocking puzzle cube. It's the first puzzle by Jos that I tried and it's definitely still one of my favourites. The difficulty level is 1.2.5.3.2 (one move to get the first piece out, two for the second, five for the third and so on) but includes rotations.

This puzzle consists of six pieces including a couple of unusual ones. The largest piece looks like an almost complete loop bent to 90 degrees in the middle. Clearly some of the other pieces will have to go through this loop. The second largest piece has a long shaft with a square block at one end and a larger L shaped block at the other end. This is the elevator. I would love to show you how this puzzle works but that would spoil the delicious 'aha' moment you'll get when you work out how everything fits together.

My hollow design is based once again on 8mm unit cubes giving a 3.2 cm puzzle. The fit is snug to begin with but will loosen a little with use to the point where it should just hold together nicely.

Buying a copy of this puzzle entitles the owner to access a secret video on YouTube providing the full solution.

Model developed by Richard Gain. Puzzle designed and licensed by Jos Bergmans (2010).

A really lovely 3 x 3 x 3 interlocking cube that takes two sliding moves to get the first piece out and three more to get the second out - unusually complex for such a small format!

The pieces are made from a new 'springy cube' design which gives a degree of flexibility and an unusual squishy feel. It also means that the pieces will always fit perfectly and never rattle or jam.

The 5 cm Switch cube now presented in the more open (and cheaper) hollow format.

This is a 1.6 cm version of Triaxial containing all 3 pieces of the puzzle. It is based on 4mm unit cubes with slightly larger tolerances which makes it ideal for printing a metal version of the puzzle.

You can now get a 4 cm Switch Cube for the same price as the original 3 cm cube!

I have started the process of revisiting some of my older puzzles and redesigning the models using the larger hollow format. This gives a significant increase in size for no increase in price. Great for people who are not so keen on tiny puzzle pieces.  Look out for photos of the dyed version soon.

The Switch Cube is a 5x5x5 interlocking cube puzzle made from 9 pieces of varying sizes. You can see a partial solution to this puzzle in the video below.

I have now added the full solution to the Instructions page in the Community Forum

One of the pieces has to be moved like a switch, half way through solving the puzzle - you may find that a small tool, like a pair of tweezers, will help to grip the switch as you slide it across.

Convolution is a seven piece serially interlocking puzzle designed by Stewart Coffin, probably the greatest ever puzzle designer. Stewart has generously placed his designs in the public domain, so I am delighted to present my own interpretation of this lovely puzzle. I made my first copy out of wood over 25 years ago and it is still one I go back to periodically. One of the moves includes a rotation and every move locks the next piece into the previous one.
The pieces of the puzzle are composed of juxtaposed hollow cubelets using a new design. This gives the whole puzzle a lightness and slight flexibility. It also means that the pieces fit snugly together. The whole puzzle is 4 x 4 x 4 cm in size and relatively inexpensive for a printed puzzle of this size.

Four hollow cube shapes based on 13 x 13 x 13 1mm cubelets.
The design replaces the straight edge between each cube vertex with a long folded spring. The White Strong and Flexible material is ideal for making a strong, springy cube that can be used to make puzzles and perhaps many other things.

The Triaxial Cube puzzle consists of three identical pieces. This single piece is designed for the White, Black or Transparent Detail material. You will need to order three of these pieces to make the puzzle. Having the puzzle available as a single part allows shoppers to order each part in a different colour (White, Black and Transparent) if desired.

Bram Cohen's design, modelled in Burr Tools, modified in Blender, printed in Alumide.

Quite a striking piece, wouldn't you agree?

The Seldom Seen Cube made from Complex Cubelets.
Each unit cube is composed of two interlocked parts - the rings on the six faces are joined into a cage that surrounds the central pins which are connected to the cube's corners. Adjacent cubes fuse together at their faces, corners and central pins but the two halves remain completely separate.

Lambada is Jeff Namkungs first 4x4x4 cube to require rotations in the solutions and as soon as you see the pieces you know there's going to be plenty of them. The solution is classed as 3.1.9. It's easy when you know how, but it could take you a long time to get there.

This complex cube consists of a single piece. Each corner of the cube is connected to its neighbours by a tortuous path that can be traced through the interior of the cube. The whole cube is quite springy when printed in WSF plastic.

Coherence is a new record breaking cube and the first in my collection by well-known puzzle designer, Pit Khiam Goh. This clever puzzle demands 10 moves for removal of the first piece and then another 8 moves for the second piece.

Superegg first described by Piet Hein.
Golden Superegg has specially selected dimensions and ratios suggested by Anthony Rizzo (just Google it).
Basic shape created in Imagine for Windows and cleaned up in Blender.
Superegg mesh reduced from 1766 to 500 faces in Imagine.
Mesh imported into TopMod2 and remeshed with Doo Sabin, then Wireframe remeshed.

I think it looks beautiful, but it is too fragile to print a real gold-plated one in metal.
Now increased to 10 cm tall and printed in WSF.

This model of the Imogen Heap stage show tree was based on the logo on a T-shirt I bought at the Royal Albert Hall concert in November 2010. The base is hollow to accommodate a small battery and the model is designed to be used as a decorative desk lamp.

Visit www.imogenheap.com for more information about this multi-talented, Grammy-award winning, British artist.

This complex cube consists of two separate parts interlocked. The central core can move freely and even rotate inside the surrounding cage. Modelled in TopMod 2.

You will need to order three of these pieces to make a complete cube.

Designed by Robert Reid.

I have a confession to make. Even though I love all of Jos Bergmans creations, I completely overlooked this one until today. This is not one to miss - it's simply sublime. It's probably not one for beginners but puzzle enthusiasts will love it! The six pieces will clearly fit together in only one way, but how to get them there? If you're a fan of Jos's puzzles you won't be surprised to learn that the solution involves at least one rotation, so it's no use turning to your computer for the solution. Presented in the new larger 4.0 cm open format.