Buy the slightly improved version here:
http://www.shapeways.com/model/136437/30mm_4x4x4_cube.html
Watch the first version video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmKKHYHWDDw

A 4x4x4, nothing special right?



It can turn..



But when you put it next to a storebought Rubik;s 3x3x3 and keychain 3x3x3..



You realize it is quite tiny!



This is a very small 4x4x4 Rubik's Cube, standing only 30 mm tall, it is the same size as a keychain 3x3x3. The mechanism uses a 3x3x3 bandaged into a 2x2x2. All outer edges and centres are held in by the corners.
I will soon release a version of this puzzle which has less offset applied to the faces so it will be less wobbly. Version 1 also was a pain to assemble and I will adress that too. Shapeways link will follow when it is ready.
After playing with it some time the turning is poor to decent, less offset between the pieces will help this aswell.

And a video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmKKHYHWDDw

So it's similar to this: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=17439 ?

Very similair, mine does not use a mini 2x2 however, but a small 3x3x3, EDIT after some more looking, there are quite a few more differences in the design, with my design the floating centres hook under the corners aswell as the floating edges, this is needed to make it any stable at this size.

I replied in that topic allready knowing the mech, but after making the post i decided to prototype it and see how small it could go.
Since I lost interest in the topic I didn't know another bigger 4x4 has been made in a similair matter.

I love tiny (and huge). Nice to see some more nxnxn size variations.

That's so small! I love it. How's the turning quality?

And now you can get it on shapeways for $34 excluding VAT
I was oping to keep it under 30 dollar but as it has so many pieces it became pretty dense.
Order here:
http://www.shapeways.com/model/136437/30mm_4x4x4_cube.html
The turning quality of my prototype is allright right now, I expect the version I made for sale to be better, as I made some minor changes.
It does not need any screws, just some glue followed by a snap fit of the core.

Doesn't Shapeways include VAT in the cost?

Alex

To people in europe it does yes.

One good thing about not living in Europe...

I'm in Europe, is it only for designs uploaded in Europe - the mini 4x4x4 shows (excl. VAT)?

Alex

Would this puzzle be strong enough to be used as a base puzzle to build another puzzle around it? I have been thinking of ways to build up a 2x3x4 around a 4x4x4, but it would be quite large. With this 4x4x4 though it would be a nice size.

I would not recomend doing so, the mechanism that I used it stable but the size is what makes it unsuitable.
The puzzle you would end up with would have a 21mm 3x3 inside a 30 mm 4x4 inside a 2x3x4, the smallest of wiggle in the 3x3x3 would result in a big gap in the 2x3x4
If you would want I could design you a slightly bigger one which would be much much more stable.

Great Puzzle!

I love the size variations, it looks great! I really want to see a micro 2x2x2. How small could that go?

Yesterday I spent the calculations - I think can do 15mm 4*4 *4

Well I'm working on a micro 3x3x3 smaller then anything imagined. On topic this is a great puzzle

Its funny coz I was planning top make the smallest 2x2 in twh world (something like 10m with my new mech). On Topic: Amazing puzzle. I don't know which mech you used, but I'm not sure I could've done that!!

- Greg

Do you mean 10 mm? Otherwise my 3x3x3 is smaller!

The core is a mini 2x2x2 and the center and edge pieces fit into a track made from the 2x2x2 corners.

sorry for the bump...

I printed this in black, and i can't seem to assemble the core. the leg seems too big to fit into the hole...can anyone help?

Shapeways occasionally has a bad printrun. In such a printrun, all the pieces end up being slightly larger than they should be and look slightly inflated or puffed up.
If that is the case and you can't easily resolve the problem (e.g. by sanding) you should email them, asking for a reprint.

Perhaps you could post a few pictures? Be sure to use macro mode or they won't be any good.

Thank you TomZ! I used my roommate's dremel to sand the legs....and after lots of brute force I get a really tiny puzzle...which needs much breaking in. awesome!

Sorry for the late reply, I was on Holliday for 8 days.
Yes the puzzle was designed to be brute forced together, it worked for my prototype but I will revise it to make it easier for future orders.
I hope you like the puzzle, I am sorry to hear you had to modify it.

mmm.. after a few days of breaking it in it turns okay, but not really fingertrickable. and the funny thing is that the inner slices turn better than the outer layers xD

I think the design is okay...took me and my roommate 1.5 hours to modify/assemble =P

I'm surprised I missed this. How does the size compare to the mini 5x5x5?

also when mechanism does this use?

mech is similar to this: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=17439

The micro 5x5x5 is 35 mm to an edge, this one it 30mm to an edge
Meaning the micro 5x5x5 has 7 mm pieces while this has 7.5mm pieces.
It could be made smaller but this was smalle enough for me as I don't know the limits of printing yet. 25 mm should be doable though easily.

EDIT: with mine aswell the inner slice moves are easier. When you do a inner slice move it functions much like a 2x2, but with the outer slice moves there is a lot more friction because of the extensions on the edges and corners gripping into the centres. I dissabled ordering untill The version that requires no moddifing is uploaded, which is only a tiny adjutment.

As far as the mech goes, the picture should explain everything.

holy soup thats small very cool

well, nice job, I didn't know getting a 4x4 so small could be done without printing in steel or something...

A 30mm 4x4x4... A 46mm Gigaminx...

Seriously, what's the deal with such tiny puzzles? I have big hands. The Rubik's keychain is about my limit, but that's not a higher order puzzle.

Are people just trying to hit new nano-milestones?

Although a nano-master cube built out of carbon nanotubes and buckyballs would be pretty awesome

It's smaller than the Keychain 3x3x3 !