Chopped 3

Garrett · **Posted:** Sun Feb 20, 2011 3:51 am

Hey everyone! This puzzle represents my longest ongoing project, starting in 2009. At a socal cube meetup, Tyler Fox and I discussed an idea of a chopped-up 3x3 with an interesting solution for the core. At the time, I was just beginning to work with Solidworks so the project was put aside for a while. Fast forward a few months, I had a rough version designed, but it was for an FDM print.

The puzzle contains 104 moving parts, 48 neodymium magnets, and 6 screws.

Late last year, or early January, I had a final version designed for a Shapeways print. It is the same size as a regular Rubik's 3x3. The mechanism is somewhat like Inception, it's a fully functional puzzle within a fully functional puzzle. Check out the mech pic below and see if you can figure out what puzzle is the core:

The puzzle has some stability issues, even after the magnets are included. The 3x3 parts are split on so many planes that it's a wonder to me how it turns as well as it does. However, one has do deal with the occasional pop or twisted part since some of the 3x3 parts have only 1/6th the footing they usually would.

Video, and pictures below:

Video

Attachment:

File comment: Chopped 3 Half Turn

IMG_8198.JPG [ 1.74 MiB | Viewed 3636 times ]

Attachment:

File comment: Chopped 3 Solved

IMG_8197.JPG [ 1.81 MiB | Viewed 3636 times ]

Attachment:

IMG_8199.JPG [ 1.83 MiB | Viewed 3636 times ]

Hope you enjoy! I will be back tomorrow with some more info

Luke · **Posted:** Sun Feb 20, 2011 4:36 am

Holy sugar honey ice tea! That looks awesome! Will this be available on Shapeways?

JeongEC · **Posted:** Sun Feb 20, 2011 5:04 am

Really cool and awesome.
When I saw this first, I thought It's Dino+333

-JEC-

grigr · **Joined:** Mon Jun 30, 2008 8:38 pm **Location:** Russia

WOW!!!

Sharon · **Joined:** Fri Jul 16, 2010 8:25 pm **Location:** Israel

This is a 3D printed Arlecube. of course that not exactly the same, but the concept is close.

nice puzzle, but im waiting to see a fully functional 24 + 3x3 cube.

APJ · **Joined:** Sat Jul 11, 2009 1:09 pm **Location:** My House

Sharon wrote:

This is a 3D printed Arlecube. of course that not exactly the same, but the concept is close.

nice puzzle, but im waiting to see a fully functional 24 + 3x3 cube.

That one is a very nice puzzle.

Felixouchon said it's handmade, which is amazing considering what it is. Garrett's is nicer, but that is 3D printed. Great puzzle Garrett!

Alex

Sigurd · **Posted:** Sun Feb 20, 2011 6:40 am

I thought "ArleCube" as well. What exactly is the difference between the two?

Luke · **Posted:** Sun Feb 20, 2011 7:13 am

Arlecube is a Floppy Cube + Bandaged Little Chop. This is a 3x3x3 + Bandaged Little Chop.

Bandaged Little Chop = Fishered 2x2x1.

JeongEC · **Posted:** Sun Feb 20, 2011 7:37 am

SEBUVER wrote:

Arlecube is a Floppy Cube + Bandaged Little Chop. This is a 3x3x3 + Bandaged Little Chop.

Bandaged Little Chop = Fishered 2x2x1.

I agree to SEBUVER.

also I think it can jumbling from second picture.

-JEC-

alaskajoe · **Joined:** Mon Feb 06, 2006 12:52 am

Ok what is this? A 3x3x3 plus 24 cube?
From the comments I get the impression it only has one diagonal move and all pieces are cut so this move can always be done?
I thought it was real and droped all my food on my lap.
anyway cool puzzle.

Sharon · **Joined:** Fri Jul 16, 2010 8:25 pm **Location:** Israel

JeongEC wrote:

also I think it can jumbling from second picture.

-JEC-

I don't think that it can jumble due to the fact that only two faces allow the "24 cube" move. Tho I'm not sure.

Garrett · **Posted:** Sun Feb 20, 2011 1:15 pm

First post updated with some more info and a mechanism pic!

Sharon wrote:

This is a 3D printed Arlecube. of course that not exactly the same, but the concept is close.

nice puzzle, but im waiting to see a fully functional 24 + 3x3 cube.

Arlecube looks like the puzzle is only sliced on one plane, where mine is sliced on 2 planes. Mechanically this is a much bigger challenge. Though I do commend him for doing it by hand, which is incredible :shock:

JeongEC wrote:

also I think it can jumbling from second picture.

-JEC-

It can't jumble because there are only 2 of the 24 cube planes. The puzzle functions like a bandaged 24-cube+3x3 and serves as sort of a proof of concept for that puzzle :twisted:

Though I would have to figure out the 24-cube part of that mechanism too...which has been troublesome

SEBUVER wrote:

Holy sugar honey ice tea! That looks awesome! Will this be available on Shapeways?

Yes, as soon as I can figure some things out. This puzzle will also be in the marketplace or Ebay soon.

MonkeyZ · **Joined:** Tue Aug 11, 2009 3:59 pm **Location:** NJ

EPIC! I like the idea of this puzzle, but I would have preferred it to be unbandaged.

mizzle576 · **Posted:** Sun Feb 20, 2011 5:22 pm

How beautiful! Will it be available on shapeways?

Chris

Sharon · **Joined:** Fri Jul 16, 2010 8:25 pm **Location:** Israel

mizzle576 wrote:

How beautiful! Will it be available on shapeways?

Chris

Garrett wrote:

SEBUVER wrote:

Holy sugar honey ice tea! That looks awesome! Will this be available on Shapeways?

Yes, as soon as I can figure some things out. This puzzle will also be in the marketplace or Ebay soon.

JeongEC · **Posted:** Sun Feb 20, 2011 7:36 pm

Garrett wrote:

It can't jumble because there are only 2 of the 24 cube planes. The puzzle functions like a bandaged 24-cube+3x3 and serves as sort of a proof of concept for that puzzle :twisted:

Though I would have to figure out the 24-cube part of that mechanism too...which has been troublesome

Oh, I see.
Though It's very cool puzzle

-JEC-

Shenron · **Joined:** Wed Apr 21, 2010 3:45 pm

Very nice puzzle Garrett.
I like the puzle within a puzzle mech. I watched the video and it seems turning is not as good as you hoped. Perhaps a V2? 1.5? Whatever you wanna name it :lol:

Great designing, keep up the great work, maybe an unbandaged 24 cube + 3x3?
I can only dream.

- Metroid

Andreas Nortmann · **Posted:** Mon Feb 21, 2011 5:28 am

Very cool.

RubixFreakGreg · **Posted:** Mon Feb 21, 2011 7:12 am

Actually arlecube is not floppy + 1x1x2, but 3x3 + 1x1x2

yours is 3x3 + 1x2x2 and I think the inner puzzle is a fishered slim tower, because that's how I would do it :lol:

Nice job!

You should make it a full 24 cube, honestly

- Greg

Garrett · **Posted:** Mon Feb 21, 2011 10:33 pm

I don't think you guys understand how much more incredibly complicated this puzzle would be if it was unbandaged.

So much more complicated that I wouldn't even try it.

Superbud9123 · **Joined:** Thu Dec 30, 2010 12:32 am

This... is... amazing

Garrett · **Posted:** Tue Feb 22, 2011 1:53 am

The Chopped 3 is now for sale in the marketplace! Get it while it's hot!

Thomas · **Posted:** Tue Feb 22, 2011 3:56 am

This is quite amazing.

Thomas

Garrett · **Posted:** Wed Feb 23, 2011 11:47 am

I took a cutaway view of the mechanism today:

wwwmwww · **Posted:** Wed Feb 23, 2011 12:53 pm

Garrett wrote:

I took a cutaway view of the mechanism today:

Any chance you'd be willing to post a 3D pdf? I'm having the hardest time seeing what is going on inside this thing.

Carl

Garrett · **Posted:** Wed Feb 23, 2011 1:51 pm

I'd rather not post a pdf publicly. It is basically a slim tower turned 45 degrees inside of a 3x3.

RubixFreakGreg · **Posted:** Wed Feb 23, 2011 1:56 pm

That means I was right!! Now you owe me the puzzle

- Greg

VeryWetPaint · **Posted:** Wed Feb 23, 2011 2:27 pm

The core appears to be built as a double-wall sphere, with a gap between the two layers. Did you actually build it that way?

I'm curious because the double-wall might have some benefits over a single, thicker wall. Have you observed any advantages?

Garrett · **Posted:** Wed Feb 23, 2011 2:30 pm

The double wall was a byproduct of the hollowing of the core to 0.7mm. You can't see it from that view, but there is a hole on one side so powder can escape.

The advantage of a double-walled core hasn't shown itself, if there is one. It's definitely stiffer than if i went with a single, 0.7mm shell.

Chopped 3

Who is online