Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcKx0iJUn0Y

OK, I did some more tweaking of the puzzle, got a new core cast, and now it turns better than ever. I was also able to sticker it (by hand ) which actually took me a lot longer than I thought. It looks very nice now though and the movement is continuing to improve. I also got to use the fancy camera today so the pics also look sweet






--------------OLD POST-----------------------

Whew. This puzzle has given me quite a bit of trouble from the very beginning. But I am now the happy owner of a functional Helicopter cube. The movement is not quite top notch but it has been improved a LOT since I finished casting it. I literally spent at least 10 hours tweaking, adjusting, and recasting this thing and now I think it's finally getting somewhere.







Yes, it jumbles.

And also, a puppy



The main design flaw is the corner is very very weak and prone to breaking. Luckily I was not in this alone, and VeryWetPaint gave me some suggestions to strengthen them. I ended up recasting all 8 corners with a finishing nail embedded in the weak area. The puzzle is much much less fragile now and I am finally somewhat satisfied with it.

I will have a video of the movement up as soon as I can put it back together. Yes, the core stripped AGAIN and this time I was even using the correct type of screw! It was just me being stupid, and luckily this was the cast core and not the printed one. Still I have to take the thing apart again (after getting the tension almost perfect).

Two thumbs up GREAT WORK!

Success is a wonderful feeling isn't it?

Thanks, and yes it especially feels good after a few failures

It looks great! I've always loved the Helicopter Cube. Cute puppy.

- Billy

PS: Is it possible to make a Helicopter Cube that doesn't jumble?

lonogod: Depends on what you mean by "doesn't jumble". I'm pretty sure that my own attempt at a helicopter cube is able to jumble, but if you try, it starts falling apart after a few shape-changing turns. One of these days, I'll get around to trying again.

Good job, Garret. I look forward to seeing the video.

-π (Eitan)

A video showing the movement: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcKx0iJUn0Y

Look good
waited finishing

I silllll cant understand its mechanism.

I thought that the meaning of jumbling on a Helicopter Cube was pretty obvious. At about the 40 second mark in the video is what I meant by jumbling. Make a slight turn with one edge and then make another turn with a different edge. Is there a way to prevent that from happening? Thanks.

- Billy

This is just a shot in the dark and I don't really feel like pursuing the idea at this time, but here's my thoughts:

Some jumbleable puzzles are made from a rhombic dodecahedron. They could also be made from a rhombic tricontahedron. These two shapes are made by combining an archimedian solid with its dual. But this only covers 4 of 5 solids. The final solid is the tetrahedron and combining it with its dual (another tetrahedron) gives a cube. Typically the rhomic faces do not jumble if rotated 180 degrees and do jumble if rotated such that one edge overlaps an adjacent edge. Now a cube has square faces (and squares are technically still rhombic in nature) A cube can be mixed with half turns only or 90 degree turns. Relate this to a Mastermorphix and you can see how a cube puzzle can in some sense be considered jumbleable when using 90 degree turns. So it seems to me that if you can create a cube puzzle that restricts movement to only the "non-jumbleable" 180 degree turns, you ought to be able to do that with other puzzles that implement a rhombic faced core.

But wait! A 180 only cube has been made before here

So, following the pattern, I believe a similar concept could be employed to accomplish exactly what you ask - a non-jumbling helicopter cube (or rua or toru or 24cube or other rhombic cored puzzles yet to be made )

Again, I haven't looked into this idea anymore than I just described so I'm not certain it's possible....

Peace,
Matt Galla

Thanks for that explanation. I was aware of most of that. I would imagine that in order to make it unjumbleable one would have to do the same to the inner mechanism of a Helicopter Cube as Hidetoshi did with the outer faces of that cube you linked to. He also speaks of a puzzle that looks like a normal 3x3x3 cube but acts the same as his cube. I think that's what would have to be done with the Helicopter Cube. Tweaking the mechanism and then building on top of that to make it look like a normal Helicopter Cube. Thanks again.

- Billy

How about taking the cheat route and just not doing "jumbling" turns.

That just might work...GENIUS!

- Billy

great job!!!
ive always loved the helicopter cube!

nice job on casting!
i know how it feels to have to recast a puzzle

-Clay

I was being a little cynical there. I had no intention of starting up the "jumbling" debate.

Garret: The movement looks 50 times better than that of my own Helicopter Cube. Great job!

-π (Eitan)

I just have to say that is one great puppy.

First post updated with new pics.

its looks good but you should have spent more time sanding and smoothing
before you stickered it

smoot stickers add a nice aesthetic to puzzles

that said
great job!

-Clay

What's up with that tiny little red piece stuck to one of the blue stickers? That is bugging me to death!

- Billy

Great work, Garrett! I love this puzzle.

Its just the corner of a red sticker that I was cutting.

And yes I do realize this is a rather rough prototype. I'm just happy it works. The second one will be nicer.