X-Cube 7
A legend in cubing community
A legend in cubing community
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A limit of high layer cubes: The first 7x7 cube mass produced is V-Cube 7 with a unique shape of each face rounded, the reason is as following statement from Wikipedia: Unlike the flat-sided V-Cube 6, the V-Cube 7 is noticeably rounded. This departure from a true cube shape is necessary, since the mechanism used on this puzzle would not function properly with layers of identical thickness. Other means (such as magnets) would be required. Note from the image at right that if a 7×7×7 were to be constructed with layers of identical thickness the corner pieces (shown in red) would lose contact with the rest of the puzzle when a side was rotated 45 degrees. The V-Cube 6 and V-Cube 7 both solve the problem by using thicker outer layers. The rounded shape of the V-Cube 7 helps disguise this. The 7×7×7 is the only "pillowed" cube allowed in competition; all others are banned. |
I thought this problem interesting and tried to figure out the solution, until one night in 2007, I dreamed of buying a 7x7 with flat faces and equal cubies length, I tore down the cube in the dream immediately and saw the inside mechanism.
Several years later when I became familiar with related skills to produce a cube, I decided to make one on my own. With the aid of my Solidworks skill and Traditional and Non Traditional Process Laboratory, I made one with SLS 3D printing. While I post this video on the Youtube, most players didn't believe it at begins until some of them tried to check the video by frame and only to find that it is real. The mechanism of this cube is remained secret now since it's market is small and reveal it's mechanism will get copied by knockoff companies.
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