PROJECTS: Self-Solving Rubik’s Cube
prevents the other faces from turning —ideally
the face would turn exactly 90 degrees each
time. However, because the faces are made up
of separate pieces, even if the shaft turns exactly
90 degrees, the faces will slip a little each time.
Therefore, the face must be able to turn even if
the other faces are slipping a little.
Two things are needed to solve this. One is
a gap between the pieces. The other is to add
springs into the centerpiece. These springs
pull all the pieces to the center of Rubik’s Cube
(Figure
Q
)
. This will leave a gap between the
pieces only when the face is stuck, while keeping
the face from sticking in normal use. It’s the same
mechanism used on a commercial Rubik’s Cube.
I first printed all 26 pieces with a 3D printer to a
slightly larger size
(Figure
R
)
. I filed them little by
little over a month with precision needle files and
sandpapers. During that time, I found the proper
width of the gap and proper strength of the spring
by repeatedly assembling them
(Figure
S
)
.
I then polished the parts well with compounds
to reduce surface friction and allow them to slip
like molded products
(Figure
T
)
. I also applied
silicone oil to the surface.
TOOLS AND MAKERSPACE
When I started this project I had no experience
with 3D printers or 3D CAD, and had little
experience with electronics. Immediately after I
left my job, I moved to the neighborhood of the
makerspace DMM.make AKIBA in Akihabara,
Tokyo
(Figure
U
)
, where I learned everything by
spending almost every day working on the Self-
Solving Rubik’s Cube. This makerspace is open
24 hours a day and there are many stores selling
electronic parts in the neighborhood.
Learning 3D CAD (I used Rhino 5.0) allowed me
to examine all the parts’ arrangements over and
over again on the computer, so I was able to pack
them into the cube
(Figure
V
)
. I modified and
printed the gearbox and pieces multiple times a
day on an Afinia H480 3D printer
(Figure
W
)
.
In this way, I was able to repeat trial and
error in a short period of time, so I was able to
create hardware that would work without any
mechanical design experience. Thanks to these
two tools and the makerspace, I was able to
complete the Self-Solving Rubik’s Cube.
Sticker
Steel plate
Spring
Screw
Neodymium magnet
66 makercampus.com
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