This is a general thread I wanted to create so we as a community could discuss the process of cube design and how it works. My hope is that this thread helps people learn and understand more about the process of how speedcube design works and what design elements are implemented to improve speedcube performance. I also want this thread to help inspire the creation of speedcube designs In the community as well.
Speedcube Design Discussion/Megathread (Discord Server for Designers!)
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Hmm... what is better for grip of the cube, frosted plastic or normal plastic?
Eventually, companies make the material of the cube using a way lighter material and feel a bit too slippery.
Also, how did my cube drop in a solve, and it is made using frosted plastic?
Eventually, companies make the material of the cube using a way lighter material and feel a bit too slippery.
Also, how did my cube drop in a solve, and it is made using frosted plastic?
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I've always preferred the feel of stickers, so i'd say glossy is better. Companies lean more to matte now mainly to make scuffs less visible, though at the consequence of making their cubes more slippery.
brododragon
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I think in some cases, glossy is bad. The Bell Pyraminx is extremely glossy and it's always slipping out of my hands during solves.
Pyraminxes are always tricky to grip. Let's be honest.
I know a couple companies make concavepyras, but I want to see if designers can make other gripping mechanisms.
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Use a thin layer of rubber lol
So you don't lose grip of the cube while having only a thin layer of rubber on the surface of the cube.
It also makes the cube have a "premium" feel.
this is just an idea lol, also "maybe" you should put some dye material, it is "maybe" possible, just depends on the rubber.
So you don't lose grip of the cube while having only a thin layer of rubber on the surface of the cube.
It also makes the cube have a "premium" feel.
this is just an idea lol, also "maybe" you should put some dye material, it is "maybe" possible, just depends on the rubber.
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brododragon
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Just finished my first center prototype!
I decided to 3D print because I don't really care about performance, and I can sand out imperfections when I do. I just did one center cap as a proof of concept. You assemble the pieces in picture 2 to look like picture 1, then superglue. There are 3 major problems:
1. It's too small. I need to scale it up. I'm probably going to fix this last, as it makes the print slower.
2. The 3rd piece in picture two had printing issues. If you look at this picture:
you can see the filament got pulled down by gravity while it was hot. To fix this, I'll simply flip the piece.
3. The hole is to small. this might not be an issue, but it seems to be having to much friction.
4. The rod is to small. It can easily be bent and broken.
I'm gonna fix these tomorrow, and hopefully I can move on to the printing the entire core pretty easily. Also, from now on, to make things simpler, (refer to the second picture), I'm going to call the 1st piece the base, the second piece the rod (and the disk attached the disk), and the 3rd piece the cap.
I decided to 3D print because I don't really care about performance, and I can sand out imperfections when I do. I just did one center cap as a proof of concept. You assemble the pieces in picture 2 to look like picture 1, then superglue. There are 3 major problems:
1. It's too small. I need to scale it up. I'm probably going to fix this last, as it makes the print slower.
2. The 3rd piece in picture two had printing issues. If you look at this picture:
you can see the filament got pulled down by gravity while it was hot. To fix this, I'll simply flip the piece.
3. The hole is to small. this might not be an issue, but it seems to be having to much friction.
4. The rod is to small. It can easily be bent and broken.
I'm gonna fix these tomorrow, and hopefully I can move on to the printing the entire core pretty easily. Also, from now on, to make things simpler, (refer to the second picture), I'm going to call the 1st piece the base, the second piece the rod (and the disk attached the disk), and the 3rd piece the cap.
I'd like to see concave center pieces, as I believe they wouldn't ruin the feel, but make getting to home grip and staying there easier.
the underside of the center seems rather flat. I wonder how cubies are going to glide over it.
brododragon
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Wdym?
In cubes, the undersides of centers are usually curved (whether derived cylindricaly or spherically). Yours seems to be flat on the underside.
Did you make a base sketch for your cubies, or did you just make it on its own?
brododragon
Veteran
Ohhh I see what you mean. I'm probably going to add a curve, this was just Testing the turning and assembly.
I just made it in it's own. I'm scared that I'm going to make a sketch and it's going to have crucial flaws that are going to force me to entirely redesign, so I'm just working on the core until that works and hopefully, I can just add the pieces.
Shoot me a Dm. Making cube sketches is very easy.
alexiscubing
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Exactly why I main the Mr.m. Even though frosted looks bad, it makes grip a lot better
brododragon
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PM'd.
brododragon
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Two iterations later, and it's almost ready for a full-on print:
There only problems are that the center is somehow too tall, the hole that the rod and disk go in is a bit too big (this is fine, just rattles), and the edge and corner have tiny symmetry issues. Also, I might make the rods connecting the different parts of the edges and corners a tad bit bigger. I already know how I'm going to do the core, so that should be good in a print or two. Otherwise, everything meshes great and turns fine!
There only problems are that the center is somehow too tall, the hole that the rod and disk go in is a bit too big (this is fine, just rattles), and the edge and corner have tiny symmetry issues. Also, I might make the rods connecting the different parts of the edges and corners a tad bit bigger. I already know how I'm going to do the core, so that should be good in a print or two. Otherwise, everything meshes great and turns fine!
Etotheipi
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That could be interesting, what do you have in mind more specifically?
brododragon
Veteran
Something cool would be a little circular tunnel inside the centers with a ball bearing. Spring loaded turns would also be cool.
Etotheipi
Veteran
Theres nothing in the WCA regs about not have a cube with gears and other mechanic stuff right? We should design a 3x3 that solves itself without electric parts, then we can use it in comp and set WRs. And have them be not counted because witnesses will snitch.
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