This is my transformation of a 6x6x6 V-Cube. It was inspired by my own Ball in a Cube puzzle as well as my Sliding Pucks.
I have always wanted to use the interior 6x6x6 pieces as parts of a puzzle that need to be solved. In addition I like the fact that often the parts are hidden from view like the sides of my Sliding Pucks.
The puzzle behaves like a kind of bandaged 7x7x7 with some pieces that are not always visible. Cubies can be mixed in two ways. They can be moved around the cube in groups like a giant 2x2x2. To mix them further though all cubies must be on one half of the cube. This then allows three complete rows to rotate. Switching between these different types of moves is the only way to fully mix or solve the puzzle.
The white 'inside' pieces can move around the puzzle in groups of five like a single edge on a Rubik's Cube. To break up these groups though they must be under the cubies when those cubies are all in one half of the puzzle. Not easy to explain but the video will give you an idea.
I experimented with different designs and ideally everything hidden when the puzzle is solved should be white. It simply wasn't practical though to give such tiny parts two colours and I eventually settled with this.
Movement is quite stiff and popping happens occasionally if not careful. This is because the puzzle is a little unbalanced due to the removal of so many cubies. You have to be careful when a regular 1x6x6 layer is moved. Initially it was much stiffer but I rounded the V-Cube 'tabs' that prevent misalignment. For this puzzle misalignment doesn't matter so much.

Video


Solved












These white pieces are hidden when the puzzle is solved

The way the corners are bandaged, this puzzle is so different from any other puzzle. Brilliant, simple idea. Good luck solving it.

Awesome concept, it looks like it would be hard to solve the hidden layer.

Wow, incredible.

Awesome built.

Awesome idea. I really like how it looks when it is scrambled. Did you round off the arches on the bottom of the inner edges? That might help the turning some.

Thanks, yes I did a little bit.

I know you will "hate" me for this, but this is the first time that I mast say I do not really like one of you puzzles.
I know you must work a lot with it, and the outcome it really nice, but still, it looks like an unfinished or half assembled puzzle and it is strange.

That's fine. I like to experiment with different ideas and having something a bit raw or half assembled looking really appeals to me. I did try to cover the screws up but it wasn't very neat so I went back to this.
I still have a few other 'messy' ideas I might make sometime.

very interesting idea
I really like it

Wonderful!

Dave

Update: I have now made turning much better by removing the grooves from the inner edges. This creates an acceptable balance between smoothness and misalignments. Misalignments (if you can really call them that on this puzzle) aren't a big issue anyway since the core is 50% exposed at all times.

I like it! The puzzle is something unique that I really haven't seen before. I have just one question: for the big black corners, did you remove parts of the pieces, and then fill in the gaps with apoxie sculpt?

I first glued together a cluster of cubies which form 1/8 of a 6x6x6 and together behave like the corner of a 2x2x2. I then shaped this solid cluster with a Dremel and filled in any holes with Milliput. I then made silicone rubber moulds and cast the four pieces required in resin.

Perfect puzzle!
And new idea:

And new algorithms:

That's a brilliant idea. I'd love to hear some solver's opinions on it. I feel that I want to call it a 4x4x6x6 though I know that's wrong

I think (no offense to you, Tony), that that would be a better puzzle, as it is clearer where each piece goes. However, that would also be harder, as the 4x4 side could mess itself up, as well.
Could you make this with the core of a v-dome?

As far as I can see it's just a bandaged 6x6x6 so easily makeable.

It's actually a bandaged 12x12. But it could probably be made with the core of this puzzle. It would need some tweaks, though.

EDIT: Actually, I don't think that it can be done with this puzzle's core due to the internals. I think an entirely new mechanism would need to be made. Or somebody could just bandage a 12x12

Oops, yes of course.

Anyone want to try?

Hybrid Cube 4x4x4 + Cube 6x6x6 will have the smaller size and all same elements will be identical.

I have started a design as shown here. I haven't used a bandaged 12x12x12, but I believe this puzzle would work. All I now need to do is work out to bandage the internal layer on this thing.