From cube-lovers-errors@mc.lcs.mit.edu Mon Jul 27 19:57:45 1998 Return-Path: Received: from sun28.aic.nrl.navy.mil by mc.lcs.mit.edu (8.8.8/mc) with SMTP id TAA15569; Mon, 27 Jul 1998 19:57:44 -0400 (EDT) Precedence: bulk Errors-To: cube-lovers-errors@mc.lcs.mit.edu Mail-from: From cube-lovers-request@life.ai.mit.edu Mon Jul 27 09:23:29 1998 Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1998 09:23:10 -0400 (EDT) From: Nicholas Bodley To: Rainer aus dem Spring Cc: michael reid , cube-lovers@ai.mit.edu Subject: Restoring a 5^3 to solved state (Was: Re: patterns on 5x5x5 cube) In-Reply-To: <35BA52EF.35D831D6@t-online.de> Message-Id: [Also an endorsement for Acrobat (*.PDF) at the end of this msg.] On Sat, 25 Jul 1998, Rainer aus dem Spring wrote: {Snips} }Thanks for the patterns, } }the problem is - my 5*5*5 cube is scrambled and I have to figure out }how to unscramble it. I haven't touched it for 15 years. Although it's using your mind in a different fashion, you could disassemble it, sort the pieces (takes a while!) and reassemble it in the solved state. With any reasonable degree of care, you won't harm a 5^3, I'm just about sure.* Have a clean work surface. I have done it maybe 5 or 6 times on mine (from Meffert, ca. 1987). If you have a cat, don't even think of letting it in the same apartment or house while it's apart! :) The insides are really quite amazing to see. The internal "foot" that retains a corner cubie is an amazing shape. *A 4^3 requires much more care. The center cubies are fragile! There was a message a while back from someone who's selling parts for 4^3s. To start the disassembly, align all layers (obviously), so it's a cube. Then rotate one face, leaving the other four layers aligned. Rotate it either less or more than 45 degrees, so that a left or right edge cubie of the rotated face is aligned with the edge of the other four layers. Plainly, it doesn't matter which you choose, because of physical symmetry internally. With the rotated face on top, pry up the left (or right) edge cubie, away from the edge you aligned it with. Use your thumb, thumbnail facing down. Once it disengages, the rest won't fall apart uncontrollably; a few pieces will fall out, but most will need to be actually removed, one by one. Study the structure as you pull it apart. Amazement is one reason, and the other is to get a better idea of how to reassemble it. Sort the pieces (it might take longer than you think!). Your color references for rebuilding will obviously be the center and corner cubies. Build one face completely, place that face down onto your work surface, and build progressively up from there. The last cubie will be in the same position you removed to start. My 3-D sense happens to be extremely good (apparently hereditary), so I had very little trouble figuring out what goes where and how. It might be harder for some others. ===== [ Moderator's note: Nicholas Bodley's and Rainer aus dem Spring's discussions of the merits of Acrobat and other graphics languages are not on topic for Cube-Lovers. Send them e-mail for the discussion--the addresses are in the headers of this message. We may eventually get some in the archives, which will be announced. ] My regards to all, |* Nicholas Bodley *|* Electronic Technician {*} Autodidact & Polymath |* Waltham, Mass. *|* ----------------------------------------------- |* nbodley@tiac.net *|* The personal computer industry will have become |* Amateur musician *|* mature when crashes become unacceptable. --------------------------------------------------------------------------