Crystal-Cube

This puzzle is a exchange puzzle by Andreas Schicks for the International Puzzle Party 25 held in Helsinki, Finland 2005

Objective / Description:

There are different objectives (in increasing difficulty):

1) Assemble such a 2x2x2 cube that the bottom four cubes (2x2x1) are yellow cubes and each of the top four cubes (2x2x1) is blue.

2) Assemble such a 2x2x2 cube that the color of neighboring cubes always alternates (yellow-blue-yellow-blue..)

Now let’s restrict the amount of solutions by considering the amount of existing closed loops that have been formed by the pieces of ropes:

3) Assemble such a 2x2x2 cube that exactly FOUR closed loops exist. Additionally, the colors of the pieces should match the pattern

a) with the objectives given in 1)

b) with the objectives given in 2)

4) Assemble such a 2x2x2 cube that only ONE closed loop exists. Additionally, the colors of the pieces should match the pattern

a) with the objectives given in 1)

b) with the objectives given in 2)

Attention! There is no Solution for one of the objectives in 3) or 4). Which one?

About the puzzle:

This puzzle consists of 8 cubes that have to be assembled to form a cube of size 2x2x2. In each small cube there are two short pieces of rope with the ends glued at the inside of the surfaces. In four cubes only yellow pieces of ropes are used and in the other four cubes only blue pieces of ropes are used. There are no two identical cubes.

When assembled to a 2x2x2 cube, all the pieces of rope must continue with another piece of rope in the adjacent cube.

With this puzzle you have 11,022,480 possibilities to make a cube in which all the ends of the ropes are inside the cube. There are 128 different solutions in which all the ends of the ropes touch.

Packaging: Cardboard box

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Preliminary estimate of shipping costs from the Netherlands.

Netherlands: from 0 - 2 kg, max. approx $ 12.00

Europe 1: from 0 - 2 kg, max. approx $ 23.00 to Belgium, Germany, France, (incl. Corsica and Monaco), Italy (excl. San Marino and Vatican City), Luxembourg, Spain (incl. Balearic Islands, excl. Canary Islands).

Europe 2: (rest of Europe) from 0 - 2 kg, max. approx. $ 30.00 to all other countries in Europe (excl. Russia).

ROW (rest of the world): from 0 - 2 kg, max. approx $ 43.00 – to all other countries (incl. Russia).

PLEASE NOTE: There is a high probability that additional customs clearance fees will be charged for shipments to the United States.

The final shipping cost will be determined when the item is closed.

And if more items are sold to the same address, the average shipping cost per item will be lower.