Clockwork 4x4x4 Cube by Timur

grigr

This puzzle is a 4x4x4 cube with geared bandaging where all layers turn simultaneously, but with different speeds. If we consider bottom layer fixed, lower middle layer will turn with speed A, upper middle layer - with the speed 2A, and top layer - with speed 3A. A single move is finished when the layers have turned by 1/4 turn, 2/4 turn and 3/4 turn, respectively. So the principle is similar to Bram and Oskar's Geary Cube (3x3x3), but the mechanism is vastly more complex.

I dreamed to build this puzzle ever since I've made the Clockwork Master Pyraminx. Because it's not really comfortable to play with the latter (you have to turn a corner 7 times around to finish a turn), the main and firm requirement for Clockwork 4x4x4 Cube was minimum turning job - only 270° outer layer's turn had to be made for one move, so that all layers turn by 90° with respect to its neighbors.

Throughout a year or so I made three or four attempts to develop the mechanism, but always failed. Each time I felt that I'm close to the solution, I would discover some conflict ruining the whole idea. Still I was sure that it's possible and it became a challenge to myself. Meanwhile, I worked with other projects, but never forgot about the 4x4x4 cube.

Finally, it cracked and I'm glad that it works decently from the first prototype. The mechanism contains 156 3D-printed parts, 21 screws and 18 nuts (nuts could actually be omitted). I think it's the most complex thing I've designed (Emperor Pyraminx goes next  ). The mechanism will be revealed in one of my next posts.

Can anyone calculate the number of possible states of this puzzle? I guess it's smaller than that of a normal 4x4x4 cube, right?

Video

happyangel888

内部齿轮结构？

Fenz

Works like 3×3×3 gear. But more difficult, because it can twist 270° instead of 180°.
Just a layer more. I never noticed that it will increase so many gears inside.
It's a grate work!

海上晴天

an eye-opener

深蓝Dam

这是不是可以理解成齿轮四阶呀

Zyoung

the puzzle is amazing~
you are so cute too

Jersey

好特别，很有趣！

DillanChiu

The freedom of this cube is smaller than that of a normal 4x4x4 cube.

花无缺0228

看不出有什么蹊跷，看着就是四阶，

方方正正

Awsome work！I guess people would like to discover the solution of this 4x4x4 cube cause the number of change maybe much smaller than normal 4x4x4 cube.