1. CS 494 Spherical Combination Puzzle
Jeremy Quick

2. Previous Attempts Magic Ball (Rubik’s Sphere) Impossiball
Exact same as 3x3x3 Rubik’s Cube
Hard to grip
Impossiball
Icosahedron, 20 moveable pieces
Pieces flex
Hard to turn
Breaks
No known 3D printed puzzles

3. Goals Three directions of movement Print as a whole Size vs. Strength
No assembly at all
Size vs. Strength
Fits in hand
Doesn’t break
Remove tracks
Solving feels natural?
No confusion on movements or design
All cracks wide enough to dissolve support
Tight enough for smooth movements

4. Base Allows for: 2 different directions 8 possible moves per turn
Spherical base with 3 tracks carved at 90 degree intersections
Allows for:
2 different directions
8 possible moves per turn

5. carved from spherical base to the puzzle pieces movement
Tracks
carved from spherical base to the puzzle pieces movement
Requirements:
Crack must be wide enough for a stable stem
Trench must be wide enough to hold pieces
Small enough for stable sections

6. I-Piece Top and bottom carved by spheres of varying radii
Inside piece with stem
Top and bottom carved by spheres of varying radii
Inner radius equals half of the trench width minus air

7. V-Piece Has pattern on top
Visible piece
Has pattern on top
Top and bottom piece is carved from spheres with different radii

8. Whole Piece V&I piece combined 6 default locations
Cut into 3 equal squares
6 default locations
4 pieces per location
24 total pieces

9. Final Result Non-jumbleable No set pieces Combinations:
Higher difficulty
Combinations:
24! ~ 6.2*10^23

10. Unsolved Problems Ability to feel when a piece has snapped in place
Raise radius of cracks slightly
Or, small prongs
Ex: Wheel of Fortune
Matching pattern
Stickers:
Solid color patches vs. gradient colors
3D Design
Raised pattern that requires matching
Natural feeling?

11. Questions?