From cube-lovers-errors@mc.lcs.mit.edu Tue Oct 7 13:06:59 1997 Return-Path: Received: from sun30.aic.nrl.navy.mil by mc.lcs.mit.edu (8.8.1/mc) with SMTP id NAA03233; Tue, 7 Oct 1997 13:06:58 -0400 (EDT) Precedence: bulk Errors-To: cube-lovers-errors@mc.lcs.mit.edu Mail-from: From nichael@sover.net Tue Oct 7 00:45:56 1997 Message-Id: In-Reply-To: <06Oct1997.222732.Cube-Lovers@AI.MIT.EDU> Date: Mon, 6 Oct 1997 23:03:54 -0400 To: Cube-Lovers@ai.mit.edu From: Nichael Lynn Cramer Subject: Re: 4x4x4 solution -- [Digest v23 #171] Cc: bmain@caddscan.com [ Moderator's note--The subject is misleading, because I erroneously titled Digest v23 #171 as "4x4x4 solutions". It was actually about "Pieces of broken cubes"--the discussion of breakability and the idea of trading pieces of cubes. I regret the error. ] >To: cube-lovers@ai.mit.edu >From: "Bryan Main" >Subject: Re: My Revenge is Complete >How stable are the 4x4x4 and 5x5x5? I was thinking on getting one but they >cost quite a lot of money and was wondering how easy it is to break them. 5Xs are pretty stable; each side has a fixed center piece (i.e. like a 3X). I've had three and never had any problem with any of them. 4Xs are another ballgame altogether. Since they don't have a fixed center, they depend on an internal configuration, consisting of a cluster of four plates, to hold the faces on. Each of these plates is held on with a screw and this adjustment is _critical_. Too tight and it can be all but impossible to twist the faces; too loose and the cube tends to dissolve in your hands. I've owned four; one was fine, one was OK/usable, one was too stiff to use and one couldn't be kept together. So, the "usability" rate was approx 1/3. (OTOH I picked them all up for $2/ea at a ToysRU clearance...) Nichael nichael@sover.net 6.501 http://www.sover.net/~nichael/ -- the ln of the Beast