I'm going to take a stab at modding a QJ (spindle mech) 2x3x3 into a 2x3x5. Here's my plan:

Step 1: Convert into a "side circle" 2x3x3
Step 2: Extend with cubies
Step 3: Profit! (well, no, not really)

Mockup:


Cut plans (not all cuts shown, not all lines are cuts):


Basically, make a cylindrical cut inwards from two opposing faces, as deep as the middle of the "feet". From the inside of the puzzle, a cylindrical cut outwards that bisects the "feet". Roughly in the middle of the feet the two cylinders are joined by a planar cut.

Piece details:



Any thoughts or opinions before I start cutting?

Good luck! In the summer I plan to build one, but I'll use WitEden's Super 3x3x3 as the base. I think it'll be easier.

How about this cut style, it need two line cutting

( I can say it is the 2x3x5 that hiden middle layer )

build up on Super 3x3x3 also look good but I worried about extend corner, it has small area for glueing as I loosen "crazy cheese project"

Thanks for the tip - that should be much easier to cut.

So far so good. I don't have a lot of time to spend on this each day, so it's slow going. Traiphum's suggestion was great - basically, just skipping the smaller cylinder. I have the cuts on one side complete - now I need to apply some Apoxie Sculpt to smooth out the circular bits, and even up the cuts. Photos tomorrow.

Sorry for the delay. I'll retro-post these - the circle cuts are done and functional:

And now, the real update for today:

Wait... did I make a 2x3x4 by accident? (Um, yes, it's time to order more stickers.)


At least it seems fully functional!


Hey, that's not a 2x3x4!


Pons asinorum


Mechanism - as you can see, I followed Traiphum's advice:


Pieces:


I needed to build up the inner pieces with Apoxie Sculpt to get them to turn smoothly, as well as the outer edges, and "feet" of the corners, but I seem to be getting away with leaving the corners open and hollow.

Turning is very good, although it's not "finger trickable". The extension cubies are slightly larger than the base cubies (*sigh*), and without support there is a slight flex to the hanging corners. But otherwise I'm happy so far.... but also needing a break before tackling the other side.

I don't suppose anyone in the Bay Area with mad molding skillz wants to get together and tackle making copies, which would be faster than hand-modding the other half?

I can't wait to see this when it is done

With what tool did you make the circular cuts? I have always wondered how this is achieved.

Good question. I pondered using a hole saw but wanted a thinner cut and a specific radius. I ended up just tracing the circle out with the tip of an X-ACTO knife, and going over and over until it cut through. Needless to say, this took an incredibly long time and the cuts weren't perfectly circular.

I have a circle cutting knife (like a compass, but with a blade) but the focus of the circle is on the gap between cubies. I may try that approach for the other side, building up a temporary ledge for the focus.

That is, unless I can find a volunteer out there to make molds and make copies...

great! I am going to ask you today, but answered already. lol

For reference, the circle cutter worked, so making the cuts for the second side went much more quickly and was much more precise. (Experience from the first side helped, of course.)

Here's the circle cutter I used: http://www.tooltron.com/products/Circle ... utter.html

Now I just have to clean the edges up a bit with a Dremmel, fill with Apoxie Sculpt, and then try and get the two sides to match.

Done!


Well, almost. The previously-corner cubies really need to be filled in since there's enough of a gap that the new-corner cubies wobble a bit and I even had one almost-pop during a turn. And I'm waiting for some stickers so the yellow side is a bit of a mess. But it works!

Yes, this cuboid can do a full checkerboard:


Fully functional and turns pretty smoothly on all three axes, although one of the extension edges does stick a bit on one direction. I think filling the cubies will help.




And of course it shape-shifts:


Mechanism - note that I've done gap-filling cleanup on one set of extension pieces but not the other yet.


Video coming soon!

This looks great, very clean and sharp. Congrats on accomplishing your goal!

Chris

Awesome It looks very well done, and i'm guessing it will be a fun one to solve as well!

Finally put a video up for this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwEggqoFi1w&sns=em

I also "capped" the layers 2 & 4 edges so the layers 1 & 5 corners aren't able to twist during turns. This has made layers 1 & 5 slightly tighter to turn, but I can tweak that once my Dremmel has recharged.

absolutely wonderful work!