Overview

Spark Cube is a 3x3 Rubik's Cube designed in Tinkercad from the ground up.
The cube is functional as it can indeed be scrambled and solved, hovewer it often gets stuck between turns.
The cube is printed as 27 separate pieces including a core, which interlock together and can be rotated.
Held together by the centres which attach to the core using lego-like pegs that can spin, the other pieces are fit beneath the centres by their caps.
Once the cube was printed and assembled, it was stickered with vinyl cut by a Cricut machine. Then, a logo was designed and printed to finish the branded look.

Tinkercad File

Tool Used

TinkercadModelling & Design

Prusa Mini3D Printing

CricutVinyl Cutting

Inspiration

Ever since I got my first 3x3, I had been fascinated by its seemingly impossible mechanism that could move pieces across both axes.
This pull towards uncovering its inner workings lead me to taking apart many cubes and learing how the pieces interact with each other.
Additionally, I had access to a 3D printer and a makerspace nearby, so I was excited to try it.

Approach

As mentioned earlier, I mostly tried working backwards from a disassembled off the shelf cube.
I knew there would have been some explainer video or even 3D models of the pieces themselves online, but as a challange I decided not to use any external resources. This allowed me to come up with my own design which worked on the same principles, but had a whole lot more problems and flaws that needed fixing.
First, I drew a 2D representation of the system, which guided me to making the 3D models themselves.
Over the course of 4 months I printed many pieces, discovered and fixed problems like weak dowels, and learned the best orientation to print a particular piece so that overhang would be limited and the layers would not be easily separated during use.
I had to wrap up the project before I felt it was really done, as I didnt have easy access to printers towards the end. Hence, it feels unfinished, but I was able to print a set of all pieces and the core to assemble the very first prototype, which I subsequently stickered.

Next Steps

I wasn't new to Tinkercad, but I still had a difficult time especially in alignment of objects using the built in tool, and feel like more advanced software with precise controls like AutoCAD or Fusion360 would be better suited.
The cube is way too loose and as a result it locks up between turns. I don't believe this is an inherent flaw in my design, but rather a collective set of problems like inconsistent prining, left on support material, and a lack of iterations in the design which minimise gap between pieces.
The only was to fix these problems is to go through the intensive process of trial and error, which unfortunately isn't feasible anymore without a printer close by. Overall I am pretty satisfied at the outcome, as all I initially intended was to make a cube which could be solved, although I would love the chance to continue working on making it better.