Bingus Ringus McDingus
Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2023
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- 2,401
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- 2023COUN02
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Crunchy. Buttery. Crispy. Smooth. Blocky. No, those aren't the adjectives to a Filet-O'-Fish. Those are the generally accepted terms to describe cubes. (Maybe not blocky. Unless you're ordering the Minecraft Happy Meal.)
The idea of optimizing cubing feel has been the source of heavy scrutiny from cube engineers to lead to faster times, more widespread appeal, and overall improved performance. And yet... there's an odd mystique around the magical fairy dust and pixie farts that go into making cubes feel so different. Researching all of it turns the spaghetti that I call my brain go from al dente to mush.
Plastic plays a huge part in how a cube feels. The main types are ABS and PC, which can stand alone or be blended. But, unlike humans, not all plastics are created equal. Varying hardness, surface friction and macro-level texture can affect what a cube feels like. Take old-plastic DaYan 2x2s. The old plastic, commonly regarded with the same reverence normally reserved for expensive watches and vintage cars, differs from the second batch in the crucial matter of ABS versus a blend of ABS and PC.
ABS tends to be a softer plastic, which leads to that "buttery" feel. This leads to a smoother surface with less friction to start a turn and a more even feel throughout a move, leading to consistency and predictability. The trade-offs are quicker wear on the plastic and a feel that deteriorates quicker than other, more durable cubes. This creates that sluggishness that plagues old, well-used cubes.
PC plastics are harder, crunchier and have more friction. Louder cubes tend to have PC internals, which contributes a feeling which matches the harsher sound. Some manufacturers try to mask this by making springs softer, but some cubes, such as the new-batch Zhanchi V1, suffered from a feel which can only be described as "gloopy".
Ideally, what we want is a plastic that toes the line between durability and smoothness. And I may have a proposed solution.
Different types of plastic within the cubes could solve this issue. Every contact patch within the cube could be half PC, half ABS, by changing the internals of the corner pieces as well as the part of the edge that comes in contact with the centerpiece to a different material. In theory, this could lead to a perfect feeling cube. Or it could compromise the durability of the softer plastic and turn the internals into a big pile of delicious gray dust.
What about other plastics? Polystyrene plastic has been a good choice for recycled toys in the past, so it is a very real option, especially for the future of cubing. However, the plastic needs to be treated to soften it up, as it is often a bit too coarse and rough (and it gets everywhere). But that's our best bet for the future.
What was my point? Oh, right. Filet-O'-Fishes. Or something like that.
The idea of optimizing cubing feel has been the source of heavy scrutiny from cube engineers to lead to faster times, more widespread appeal, and overall improved performance. And yet... there's an odd mystique around the magical fairy dust and pixie farts that go into making cubes feel so different. Researching all of it turns the spaghetti that I call my brain go from al dente to mush.
Plastic plays a huge part in how a cube feels. The main types are ABS and PC, which can stand alone or be blended. But, unlike humans, not all plastics are created equal. Varying hardness, surface friction and macro-level texture can affect what a cube feels like. Take old-plastic DaYan 2x2s. The old plastic, commonly regarded with the same reverence normally reserved for expensive watches and vintage cars, differs from the second batch in the crucial matter of ABS versus a blend of ABS and PC.
ABS tends to be a softer plastic, which leads to that "buttery" feel. This leads to a smoother surface with less friction to start a turn and a more even feel throughout a move, leading to consistency and predictability. The trade-offs are quicker wear on the plastic and a feel that deteriorates quicker than other, more durable cubes. This creates that sluggishness that plagues old, well-used cubes.
PC plastics are harder, crunchier and have more friction. Louder cubes tend to have PC internals, which contributes a feeling which matches the harsher sound. Some manufacturers try to mask this by making springs softer, but some cubes, such as the new-batch Zhanchi V1, suffered from a feel which can only be described as "gloopy".
Ideally, what we want is a plastic that toes the line between durability and smoothness. And I may have a proposed solution.
Different types of plastic within the cubes could solve this issue. Every contact patch within the cube could be half PC, half ABS, by changing the internals of the corner pieces as well as the part of the edge that comes in contact with the centerpiece to a different material. In theory, this could lead to a perfect feeling cube. Or it could compromise the durability of the softer plastic and turn the internals into a big pile of delicious gray dust.
What about other plastics? Polystyrene plastic has been a good choice for recycled toys in the past, so it is a very real option, especially for the future of cubing. However, the plastic needs to be treated to soften it up, as it is often a bit too coarse and rough (and it gets everywhere). But that's our best bet for the future.
What was my point? Oh, right. Filet-O'-Fishes. Or something like that.
