This is the casting project I have been working on since late June after olz designed it for me...
It is a fully functional 4x4x1 puzzle.
My original idea that I came up with last year right before I fell asleep was to make this puzzle with a spherical 2x2x1 at the core, but olz's and clause's higher order cuboids gave me the idea to mix the x-centers with pillowing, which olz designed perfectly.

It turns a little squeaky and is not fully assembled since I was so excited to show everyone on the forum, plus there is a design flaw where as the pieces are made it seems like there may not be a way to put the last 2 edges in without cutting them in half...
I will cast the rest of the pieces and assemble what I can, in the meantime here is a picture of the layers turning...



Olz is a great designer, and without him none of this could have happened and I would still just be a 15 year old kid longing for all these awesome puzzles...

Thank you very much olz!

Finish it!

Wow, that's awesome. I hope you find a way to assemble it; if you have to cut a piece, do it! I really want to see this completed haha. So far it looks great, I really like the look of the X centers and pillowing is always cool.

As Steryne said "Finish It!"

I am, casting right now....
Give me an hour and it'll most likely be done.

Let me be the (second) (Edit: 3rd?) to say that this is a spectacular CAD project and casting project. Amazing job to both of you, and especially to Olz! This takes advantage of every technique you've come up with so far!

This won't be the last time me and olz push the envelope either...

Oh, the timing! I was going to make one of these by modding other cubes. It was nowhere near as sophisticated as yours but I was hoping to make the first FF 4x4x1 (i'm assuming that this is the first). My first puzzle idea, gone! Oh well, never mind!

*Very nice by the way !*

Alex

Love the puzzle! Great job. Now lets see a 1x5x5!

hold on now, don't go too crazy, this one's not even done yet...

True. But I think that you and olz make a great team, and i think that you can handle it!

Now we all know what your post in that 1x4x5 thread was all about. (:

Very creative blend of pillowing and olzing. Awesome job, both of you. Do the 1x4x5 next!
















But, it's still not what I meant.

I believe I have a new favorite word haha

Ok, well, the final 2 pieces are curing right now, and with the way I do it I will have to flip and cast the other half of those pieces right after that. Before I try to put the final pieces in(since I probably won't be able to take it apart again...) how do I fix the squeakiness? Will regular silicone spray work or should I sand the internals more?

Ok, it's finally done except for 1 center since it broke while I was sanding....
Now is where I need help, first I need to know how to stop puzzle from squeaking as said in the above post.
I am still working out how to assemble it... if anyone comes up with any ideas they would be appreciated, but here is a picture of the partially assembled puzzle...



and all 4 layers twisting...

Yeah, if it is off of an es mini then you need to snap one of the centers off of it and glue it on last.

It's not based off an existing cube though, the core is 3d printed...
I think my only choice is to cut 2 edges in half, but even then I don't know how I'd get the last corner in...

i would cut one center triangle off then the pieces should go in nicely then you glue it back on.

and for the squeaking put some corn-starch/baby powder in the slices and the squeaks should stop.

I think I've figured out what to do actually. I'm going to put the edges and corner on 2 centers and cut off anything blocking the centers from sliding onto the core then see if I can glue it on like that.

Don't cut a 3d printed core! That could be desasterous!

not the core, I'm cutting the centers and glueing them to the core, it'll work if I do it right so don't worry.

Just outta curiosity, why not?

Oh, so this is the puzzle you were talking about! Nice idea pillowing and olzing it so it isnt too pillowed.

another update! I made it possible to assemble the 4x4x1 and will assemble it once my
neighbor gets home and I can borrow his Silicone spray and super glue...

For many possible reasons. If it's sparse, your screwed. If the blade is thick then you might be scewed. etc.

My neighbor is not home and I don't know where he went.
Sorry, but finishing this is going to have to wait till tommorow...

Sorry...

Great puzzle. I never thought this one was possible. But with Olz on your team its hard to tell the limits.
I wonder how that 2x2x1 core works. Can you tell a little bit about that?
I also vote for 1x4x5 next! then 1x5x5. (never thought I would say those words )

I'm not doing the 1x4x5, someone else can do that one, as for the core, here's a few pics...

Oh
Wow
This is not anything I expected to see... ever...
Olz, you are my hero

How large is it?

the diameter is a bit more than a v-7.
edit: changed title to better reflect the puzzle

Very cool puzzle! I love that the core can be cast!

It can be, but I just printed them because I had trouble with casting them.
Also, 2 centers broke probably due to me not taking olz's advice and gluing them together, so it'll take another hour or so before everything is fully assembled ( Isn't that what I said yesterday? )

Olz obviously has some divine CAD entity whispering answeres and stuff to him, I would listen to what he says.

Oh my!
that 2x2x1 core is so simple and beautiful! So its basically a boiled down rubiks 2x2x2 core

ok so now, what still puzzles me is how the corners stay in. I guess its some of that olzing magic

It is like an edge between two centers on a 3x3x3.

That explains it!

well... I took olz's advice and the centers snapped when I went to put the pieces back in. It took me forever to get everything apart again because the super glue had hardened...
I think I may end up giving up on this design, because the puzzle simply doesn't turn well, the center pieces have WAYY too much stress on them and the plastic resin is simply too weak, plus I'm new to casting!

I'm at least taking a break for the day, I am so close to finishing this puzzle, but sadly I'm on the verge of completely losing hope.
I simply don't know how people like Andrew and David do things like this!

Idea formed!
I think that the reason the centers keep snapping is because the corners when at 45 degrees put large amounts of pressure on the centers. I'm going to sand down the corners more to allow movement to be looser... tight puzzles aren't all they're cracked up to be.

Also, I have been using 60 and 100 sand paper only, I have no higher grits. I may be getting 400 soon however.

Excellent work!!!!!!!!
The core is fantastic. I never thought until today, that this puzzle can be build.

Great job.

ok, slight bump.
The last few days I have been procrastinating and enjoying my new puzzles as well as a well deserved break
from the last few weeks of worrying about the 4x4x1.
I will get back to work tommorow and may have it done sometime tommorow or hopefully by wednesday at the latest.

In the meantime, I would like to know... how much would people be willing to pay for a fairly high quality (not speedcubable) 4x4x1.
I would like to know so I know if it will be worth my while to make a waiting list for this puzzle or if I should just make a set number like I originally planned.

When this one is done and stickered I will be selling it.
The only downside is I won't be able to get stickers until after september 14.

hmmm... I'd pay around $30 (more like $20-30 with my current budget ), although I'm not one to ask.

If I sold them for that I'm pretty sure I'd be losing money just from material cost...
not to mention labor...

I know... I've just only got $40 right now. I was just trying to cheat you sorry

ya, I know, I'm low on money too, I can't really do any new puzzles before I sell one of the 4x4x1s though.
It's been a bad month for the wallet and I'd bet alot of people are down to there last $100 or so.

It's been said many times but I'll say it again...first show a video and pictures before asking how much someone would pay for it in a waiting list.

ok... fine

oh, just wondering does silicon-based lubricant weeken plastic pieces? I wonder this because no center pieces broke on the 4x4x1 until after it was lubricated...

Tony once mentioned that his resin parts temporarily softened a little after microwaving. Maybe you could use this to your advantage to get a bit more flexibility to assemble the puzzle?

nono, I fixed that, I know how to assemble the puzzle now, I'm simply wondering if silicon spray weakens smoothcast 300 plastic so I know if I should lube it when the new parts are cast or not.