DIY - Rubik's Cube - Blind Man's Cube - Metal Rubiks cube

This is a Rubik's cube the is shape-oriented rather than color oriented for solving in the dark or for those who are without sight. It is inspired of the now unavailable "Blind Man's Cube" that was made years ago by Politechinka. See: http://www.twistypuzzles.com/cgi-bin/puzzle.cgi?pid=63&allprices=1

This cube brings a unique characteristic to solving a Rubik's cube that no other cube does... the ability to say "I solved it without even looking at it once."

Rather than building hand-eye coordination, it builds hand-mind coordination.

I find that solving this cube is a challenge above and beyond a normal rubik's cube. It takes me significantly longer to solve than a normal cube. But as a result my speedcubing times on regular cubes have dropped exponentially. Because it uses areas of my brain a normal cube do not (memory/perspective... seeing it in touch and shapes rather than eyesight and color).

It is also a bit heavier than a normal rubik's cube... helping me build muscle/speed for my speedcubing (speedcube is where you try to solve it as fast as possible.)

Step 1 What you need

To make this cube you will need the following:

-A Rubiks's Cube (authentic or fake)
-54 Uniquely Shaped Metal or Plastic Tabs (more on this in how-to)
-A Razor Blade of your choice (careful!)
-2 Part Epoxy for use with plastic/metals
-Toothpicks or like for mixing/applying epoxy
-Duct Tape
-Isopropyl Alcohol
-Paper Towel(s)

Comments

[SaiyanKirby]

Another thing people don't know is that unless you take the cube apart and put it back together wrong, there will always be an even number of incorrectly solved centers, unless they are all correct. That being said, if you can solve a Rubik's Cube with a beginner's Layer method, then you can at least make sure 5 of the centers are correct while solving, thus the last will with automatically have to fall into the right direction.

[P4nz3r]

that's not true: centers never move, they can only spin in place the opposite centers are always opposite all other pieces can move, but corners stay as corners and non-corners stay as non-corners

[kelseymh]

The terminology of "incorrectly solved centers" is just relativity: either the centers are fixed (and always solved) while the sides and corners move around them, or you "solve" a framework of sides and corners in situ while the corners move through that framework. Arguing about which perspective is "right" is equivalent to arguing about the "reality" of centrifugal vs. centripetal forces.

[gtig]

The centers are not "always solved" in the true sense of the word. Arguing about which perspective is "right" does merit some gravity. According to Rubiks there is "only one solved state" which is denoted as "all faces of 9 squares having the same color". However this is not one solution, there are hundreds (thousands?, I am lazy today and don't want to research the math, anyone else game) of possible "true" states that merit the cube being "solved" by Rubik's rationale. That is because even in a solved state... the 6 centers still have 4 possible states each of rotation without you knowing if it is in the "original pre-scrambled state". Only with a supercube can you truly know if you solved it 100%... as the centers have an arrow denoting the "truly" solved or unsolved state of the center peices. That is of course if you want to get down to that level of solving... if Rubik's solution befits your lifestyle... so be it.

[jray5]

No, there is only 1 solved state. The centers are fixed with the edge peices rotating around the cube, in the x, y, and z vertices. So if we are looking at the blue face, and the orange face is to the right, then there is an edge piece in between them that is both blue and orange. This piece needs to return to that same spot. That particular piece has two faces, which cannot move Independently of each other, and must be in that particular spot to be correct. There is only 1 solution to the Rubik cube, and only 1 state that fits the bill.

[kelseymh]

Good points. I was using "solved" in the same sense as Rubik: the visual (or tactile, given this I'ble's topic :-) appearance of the exterior surfaces, rather than the internal degrees of freedom.

Something I don't know is whether it is possible to manipulate a cube such that a given center (or combination of centers) can be rotated relative to the edges and corners, while ending up with the same solid-color faces. This is your second point; it may in fact be impossible given the engineering of the joints.

As for the number of solved states, we can do the math here. The corners provide a reference frame -- because each one has three unique colors,
their positions relative to one another are fixed, so therefore there is only 1 solved state for them. With the corners fixed, each edge in turn can have only one position and orientation, and therefore there is also a single solved state.
That leaves only the four internal degrees of freedom for the six centers; the total number of such states would be 4^{6 = 2}12 = 4,096.

Again, I don't know whether those states are reachable. If they are, then your discussion above about the meaning of "solved" is on point. If not, then the solution state is unique for any cube which is not disassembled and reassembled.

[ScavengerHack]

The centers can only be rotated in pairs. So instead of 4^6 = 4,096 states. We have (4^6)/2 = 2048 states. If there are arrows on the faces, then only one will be the solved state. Rotating the centers in pairs is not difficult however. So getting the "quadrilateral symmetry" for the tiles is not needed.

[gtig]

There are permutations that allow for cycling the center in a supercube, they are asked about a lot on boards, and I don't know them by heart. thanks for hitting the math... so there are 4,095 possible solutions that are not true... very interesting. That being said... I hate supercubes. lol.

[gruntking741]

Grandpa: I solved it!!!! Kid:Solved what? Grandpa: Supercube Kid: In like what, a week? Grandpa: 72 years!!! Kid: You have no life (Grandpa has a heart-atack and promtly dies)

[Sagar Gondaliya]

ditto

[spock155]

double ditto

[majorson]

Now Learn how to solve a Rubik's Cube (Instructable):

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-solve-a-Rubiks-Cube-for-the-first-time/

Majorson.

[Finderzkeeperz]

Wow, what a cool idea! I may have to try that.

[bumper44]

My record for solving is 1:41. Here is a video of me solving a Rubiks cube!

[amalinis]

Haha nice try... but my friend made it in 1:19 :D

[Rabidrock]

I don't believe when you "scrambled it" you were actually randomly scrambling it. I think you were making it seem scrambled while following a strict method to make solving it easier. One indication of this is the fact you used "2x speed" during scrambling, and many of the motions you made were just jogging the cube or shaking it to appear as if you were rotating the sides. Next time you want to post yourself solving it, don't use sped up video, and don't cut the film. Make it one solid cut. That way I could see if you were setting the cube up more clearly.

[Kelzzy]

If he did that he would be one heck of a smart dude... and well, someone who has that much time to think, plan, and do all of that just so he can solve the rubicks cube might as well figure out a way to solve it.

[Toxicity]

I can solve in 1 m 34 s. He is actually solving it. He is using the algorithim from the booklet.

[chicopluma]

this looks realy elegant, so classy

[sixsidedmorlock]

I like this a lot. The hardware you found is excellent. Nice work.

[trogdoroth]

I think your thinking of "radial symmetry" but it's not really a big deal.

[HannahLegutki]

Im not here to r=write a big paragraph about centers or anything, i just have one question: where do u get the tiles?

[MegaMaker]

This is explained in the instructable.

[adamthiede]

Where did you get the tiles? Hardware store or online?

[MegaMaker]

He/she explains this in the Instructable.

[NIronwolf]

 Your missing center piece also hides any rotation that may have cropped up on your one non-symmetric piece.  ;)

Bravo!   Looks particularly good on your counter top.  hehe

[how-to-solve-rubix-cube]

nice pictures looks like chocolate!

[and7barton]

How about actually MAKING Rubik's Cubes FROM chocolate ?
I don't mean real ones that articulate ! - But miniature ones, perhaps 1.5"  in width, with the actual colours on them, and edible. That would be a challenge to a chocolatier. Abother idea, and simpler, might be to make DICE from white chocolate, with the dots on them.
 

[neonix]

Wow this actually looks very visually pleasing. I'd make one just for regular use! Nicely done.

[EpicGamer]

how a blind person is going to see this page

[purplemutant]

A blind person probably has a screen reader. That wouldn't help them with the pictures. But, they could show this to a sighted person and have them help them make the cube.

[bassclarinet23]

They can't...some one could make it for them.

[11richie21]

maybe someone should make a Braille computer monitor

[bassclarinet23]

Do it! It'd be extremely challenging though.

[sonicdrive]

a buddy of mine has been blind since birth and he is a ip network tec for one of our local ips his laptop has a program that speaks to him everything on the screen does very well for him self lol it is funny he scares the crap out of us when he is working on the servers he keeps forgetting to turn on the light to let us know he is in there

[bassclarinet23]

Sounds like he manages his blindness very well.

[sonicdrive]

yep very very well

[jugglingninja33]

My step-dad is blind. He owns a race car team. Here's his website: http://followadream.org/

You should check it out! He also has a computer that speaks to him and this thing called a Braille-and-Speak that he uses like a note pad. They make many useful items for the blind, like devices that can tell you what color something is so you can match your clothes. He's a really nice guy.

[rlpowell]

There are text-only browsers, and they output using a braille board or text-to-speech. -Robin

[sora005]

good point, did not think of that, um... that would be cool if there was a instructables on how to make a printer that printed morse code... super power full lazer printer! he he!