Which Events Are Lacking Good Hardware?

[Duncan Bannon]

As the title suggests, which events do you think are lacking the most? Clock, 6x6?

 

[cubeshepherd]

As the title suggests, which events do you think are lacking the most? Clock, 6x6?

Clock for sure. I would really like to see a company make a clock that is better then any of the ones on the market now. The Rubik's is pretty good, but I know that it can be improved be quite a bit.

 

[1001010101001]

I wish HC will do clock.

 

[Tabe]

Moyu said on Facebook earlier today they hope to have a clock this year.

 

[1001010101001]

Qiyi?

 

[One Wheel]

Feet

 

[Duncan Bannon]

Feet

What do you think is lacking? Doesn't a 60 Mill Sail work good? Do you want say a 60 mill GTS2?

 

[One Wheel]

What do you think is lacking? Doesn't a 60 Mill Sail work good? Do you want say a 60 mill GTS2?

A 60mm sail has weird posts in it that make it almost impossible to magnetize without a dremel tool. I use a 68mm Sail, which is possible to magnetize but really just a little too big. It would also be nice to have a little better corner cutting than the Sail has.

The other issue with feet is that because of the kind of grit that tends to get into foot cubes (sand and dirt, as opposed to dust, dead skin, snot, etc.) The contact surfaces wear down more quickly. A foot cube would be an excellent application for a harder plastic than ABS, or possibly even another material (worried about germs? How about a copper Rubik's cube?)

I'd also like to see a stickerless cube, but there don't seem to be any bigger ones.

 

[Megaminxer]

Clock, 6x6 and Square-1 all need improvements in hardware. Too much development has gone into 3x3x3, I was fine when everyone was using Japanese Speedcubing Kits and DIY's. I've always been able to average about the same on my JSK and modern speedcubes, and for all of the effort companies have put into 3x3x3 innovation, only a few mere seconds have been saved, which arguably would have been shed anyway with the passage of time. You can average good times with a decent cube that is set up well, it's all a matter of getting used to it. Even magnets destroy the need for corner cutting by a large extent and that just brings us back to the JSK days.

 

[Sion]

Because it's confusing and kinda annoying, please either stop changing the title, or when you do, write the date that you changed it so that I know if there are actually more updates to the cube.

A 60mm sail has weird posts in it that make it almost impossible to magnetize without a dremel tool. I use a 68mm Sail, which is possible to magnetize but really just a little too big. It would also be nice to have a little better corner cutting than the Sail has.

The other issue with feet is that because of the kind of grit that tends to get into foot cubes (sand and dirt, as opposed to dust, dead skin, snot, etc.) The contact surfaces wear down more quickly. A foot cube would be an excellent application for a harder plastic than ABS, or possibly even another material (worried about germs? How about a copper Rubik's cube?)

I'd also like to see a stickerless cube, but there don't seem to be any bigger ones.

PLA and POM are harder, though each have drawbacks. PLA is cheap an a bit slower than ABS, though it more brittle. POM is less brittle than PLA, though it can be more expenive an greasy in feel.

 

[cubeshepherd]

Square-1 all need improvements in hardware

With all due respect, Square 1 at the moment does not need better hardware. I have a SCS Volt M Square 1 and the performance it absolutely wonderful, (Corner cutting, speed, turning, etc.) I also do not think that I am the only one saying this about Square 1's since I think that any one that has a Volt (either magnetized and set up by a company or not) will agree that the Volt it a great cube.

This does not go to discount the fact that if a company took the time to redesign a Square 1 they would not be able to create a better cube then the Volt (with better hardware etc.) but at the moment I really think that the Clock is the needed cube/event that a company or anyone into cube design needs to focus on, closely followed by 6x6, then Square 1.

Please do not take this or think of me discounting your thoughts and ideas, or being rude in any way. I do agree with your ideas and that the Square 1 possibly could be better, but for the next year or so I think that Clock is the needed cube to be revised. I do sincerely apologize to you and anyone if the above came off as me being harsh in any way.

 

[One Wheel]

PLA and POM are harder, though each have drawbacks. PLA is cheap an a bit slower than ABS, though it more brittle. POM is less brittle than PLA, though it can be more expenive an greasy in feel.

Most of my knowledge of PLA and POM is from your post and about 5 minutes of subsequent Google/youtube research, but from what I'm seeing POM looks like the perfect material for a foot cube.

 

[Sion]

Most of my knowledge of PLA and POM is from your post and about 5 minutes of subsequent Google/youtube research, but from what I'm seeing POM looks like the perfect material for a foot cube.

As of now, Only the Alpha 1, Alpha 2, and Dayan GuHong have some variants made of POM plastic, though as you could tell, are miserably outdated in today's market (maybe not the Guhong, because some people still is those.) you'll need to ask for them on puzzle markets. I would go for the Alphas though, because the GuHong POM is 56mm, not 57mm like the standard version.

 

[One Wheel]

As of now, Only the Alpha 1, Alpha 2, and Dayan GuHong have some variants made of POM plastic, though as you could tell, are miserably outdated in today's market (maybe not the Guhong, because some people still is those.) you'll need to ask for them on puzzle markets. I would go for the Alphas though, because the GuHong POM is 56mm, not 57mm like the standard version.

My Big Sail isn't bad, I'd just really like to see a purpose-built foot cube. I doubt the plastic matters as much as the design, but if somebody was going to go to the trouble of designing a foot cube they may as well not just go with what's standard for other cubes.

 

[xyzzy]

With all due respect, Square 1 at the moment does not need better hardware. I have a SCS Volt M Square 1 and the performance it absolutely wonderful, (Corner cutting, speed, turning, etc.) I also do not think that I am the only one saying this about Square 1's since I think that any one that has a Volt (either magnetized and set up by a company or not) will agree that the Volt it a great cube.

The first time I tried a Volt, I wasn't too impressed, and while I was less unimpressed the second time I tried it, I still don't think it's a "perfect" puzzle; core stripping is somehow still a thing and many people have reported pieces breaking with rough use.

 

[Thom S.]

stripping is somehow still a thing

It wouldn't be if plastic wouldn't be cheaper than a quality locknut

 

[Sion]

I might as well go out on a limb and say pyraminx. While Yes, we have excellent pyraminxes like the Xman Bell and Moyu Magnetic, I feel both have locking issues and catches. we are kind of in a position of which those two are like zhanchis. Once regarded as a cube that would never be outdone performance wise albeit with clear issues. But as we learned, there were clear improvements that we couldve made that definitely bumped up performance (I did a mod on my qiming that actually gave it better cutting than my bell, though the feeling didn't change)

PG1 anyone?

 

[Duncan Bannon]

I might as well go out on a limb and say pyraminx. While Yes, we have excellent pyraminxes like the Xman Bell and Moyu Magnetic, I feel both have locking issues and catches. we are kind of in a position of which those two are like zhanchis. Once regarded as a cube that would never be outdone performance wise albeit with clear issues. But as we learned, there were clear improvements that we couldve made that definitely bumped up performance (I did a mod on my qiming that actually gave it better cutting than my bell, though the feeling didn't change)

PG1 anyone?

It's funny you say that, I was thinking very similar thoughts. I do believe that Pyra hardware can be improved a lot, but I don't believe as much as other events.

 

[cubeshepherd]

The first time I tried a Volt, I wasn't too impressed, and while I was less unimpressed the second time I tried it, I still don't think it's a "perfect" puzzle; core stripping is somehow still a thing and many people have reported pieces breaking with rough use.

I am in no way saying that the Volt is the perfect Square 1. My point was, out of all the events, Clock and 6x6 could use some better hardware before people start redesigning a new Square 1, (although I would be very happy with a better Square 1).

While the Volt has core stripping problems, I would recommend like most people say, that you lock nut the screw to prevent core stripping. The cosmic Volt (either magnetic on non-magnetic) has the lock nut bolt done so that you do not have to worry about doing it yourself and TheCubical.us does the same I believe.

 

[One Wheel]

I have to admit I'm a little confused by people saying that 6x6 desperately needs better hardware. 6x6s need magnets, but in my limited experience a well-setup, properly magnetized modern 6x6 is pretty darn good. TBH I think there's more room for improvement in 4x4.

I'm also waiting for a stickerless gigaminx, preferably with the kind of ridges that the Yuxin megaminx has (square, on the edges), and definitely room for magnets.