Workbench
The 'Workbench'
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The 'Workbench' is a new approach to solving the Rubik's Cube which uses a single algorithm: the 'Sledgehammer'. (It belongs to the family of simplified methods for beginners, such as Sexy Method and 8355 Method)
The 'Sledgehammer' algorithm affects seven cubies in a Y-shaped area named the 'Workbench'.
(This area provides a useful workspace for positioning cubies and that explains the name.)
- youtube video on the 'Sledgehammer'
- Live interactive 3D 'Sledgehammer' tutorial
The strategy of the 'Workbench' method follows these steps:
1. Complete the Tripod (the cubies outside the 'Workbench'). 2. Avoid 'the trap'. 3. Complete the corners.
1) Complete the 'Tripod'
The 'Tripod state' is the configuration having all the cubies external to the 'Workbench' correctly placed.
Since the layers are not completed, it becomes significantly easier to intuitively reach this configuration.
The 'Workbench' method suggests using the
'Jolly move': It consists of this sequence:
'setup-move' + 'Sledgehammer' + 'undo-move'.
- The 'setup move' brings a cubie into the 'Workbench';
- The 'Sledgehammer' performs the necessary operation;
- The 'undo-move' reverses the first move.
This page just presents the 'jolly move' (scroll to the 'jolly move' section of the page)
- 'Jolly move': Live interactive 3D tutorial
This page shows that the 'jolly move' can place both edges and corners.
- 'Jolly move': Live interactive 3D tutorial
The 'jolly move' can even adjust the orientation of the cubie
- https://www.easycubing.net/#page=Orienting]
The 'jolly move' affects only one cubie (at the time) inside the 'tripod state', That is a big advantage, letting the player follow any flow. The easiest flow is to position first the cubies already inside the workbench.
The 'Jolly move' is so effective that the entire Rubik's cube can be solved with just a sequence of 'jolly moves', making it a versatile tool: the 'Jolly move' can:
- Bring every edge or corner (already into the 'Workbench') to its final place. In that case is named 'Delivery' move.
- Bring every edge or corner onto the 'Workbench'. In that case is named 'Setup' move.
- Set the orientation of every cubie (edge or corner).
- Escape 'the Trap' (the next step)
- Complete the corner (the last step)
Try the Solver to see the 'Jolly move' solving the cube
The 'Jolly move' is so effective that is the 'engine' that allows the 'solver' to mechanically solve any scrumble, explaining every single step.
2) Avoiding the trap
The last two edges may be swapped. This configuration is known as 'the Trap'.
It is a particularly tricky configuration because it cannot be solved until one realizes that the problem is not the two cubies that have swapped places, but two other cubies that appear to be in the right place.
When positioning the edges on the last layer, it seems like there are four possible positions, but in reality, only two are correct, while the other two set the trap.
To escape the trap is simple. just moving two cubies (those already placed) to the next position.
Once the trap is avoided, all cubies will be in their correct places.
This video shows this concept and how to escape the trap:
There are also these 2 interactive pages that show two different approaches to the same problem:
the 'sledgehammer' approach
A much more elegant approach
To complete this section remains to analyze these possible outcomes
- last 2 edges in the right place but with the wrong orientation: The 'workbench' contains 3 edges: two with the wrong orientation one correctly oriented. So to solve this configuration is enough move the cubie correctly oriented choosing one of the two 'Sledgehammers' that start rotating it and then choose the 'Sledgehammer' that brings it back. Done!
3) Completing the corners
At this point, the only cubies left to position are the five corners of the 'Workbench'. Now the space for maneuvering is very limited. Continuing could be particularly challenging (though a correct combination of 'Sledgehammers' can solve it, it's not worth the trouble: there is a simpler strategy).
Once you realize that a new 'Workbench' can be used, this final phase becomes quite simple, even mechanical.
This videoshows how to positioning the corners
Tutorial
The 'Sledgehammer'
'The Trap'
The 'Jolly move'
Last 5 Corners
https://www.cubeiteasy.com/video/6.0.Collision.mp4 The 'Collision']
https://www.cubeiteasy.com/video/6.0.Delivery.mp4 The 'Delivery']
https://www.cubeiteasy.com/video/6.0.Setup.mp4 The 'Setup']
Video tutorials
- Tutorial 8.2 Overview on the Workbench approach
- The 'Sledgehammer' The algorithm used by the 'Workbench'
- The 'Trap' The main reason people fail.
- Changing perspective Changing the 'Workbench' makes very easy complete the cube
External links
- cuboon.com - The entry-level tutorial
- cubeiteasy.com - The mid-level tutorial + solver + tools + videos
- easycubing.net - The advanced Tutorial (not uptodate) + solver + tools + videos
