Nob's Puzzle Cube

This 3D-printed model brings to life Nob's Cube, a classic 3×3×3 dissection puzzle designed by the renowned Japanese puzzle creator Nob Yoshigahara. Featured in Stewart Coffin’s Geometric Puzzle Design, this puzzle consists of six polycubes that assemble into a perfect 3×3×3 cube.

Model Features

• Block Design: The puzzle pieces have a modern cubic block aesthetic.
• Custom Five-Sided Box Housing: A thoughtfully designed box houses the puzzle. The open side allows easy access while offering a secure and elegant way to display and store the pieces.
• Challenging Assembly: Nob's Cube is known for its complexity. With only a single solution, it offers a stimulating challenge for puzzle enthusiasts.

Puzzle Composition

This model is comprised of six polycubes of varying configurations:

• Dicube: 2 cubes
• Tricube: 3 cubes
• Tetracube: 4 cubes
• Pentacube: 5 cubes
• Hexacube: 6 cubes
• Heptacube: 7 cubes

These pieces fit together to create a symmetrical 3×3×3 cube, offering a fascinating challenge for those who love dissection puzzles.

Historical Context
Nob's Cube was designed by Nob Yoshigahara, a prolific Japanese puzzle designer known for his ingenious creations. His work has been celebrated in various publications, including Stewart Coffin’s Geometric Puzzle Design.

Comparison to Similar Puzzles
While similar in concept to other 3×3×3 dissection puzzles like the Soma Cube, Nob's Cube distinguishes itself with a unique set of polycubes and a higher level of difficulty. The Soma Cube consists of seven pieces and has 240 possible solutions, whereas Nob's Cube is known for its singular solution, making it a more challenging alternative for those seeking a greater test of spatial reasoning.

Other Puzzles

See some of the other puzzle designs I have uploaded https://makerworld.com/en/collections/3241321

References

1. Coffin, Stewart, Geometric Puzzle Design – Detailed design inspiration and historical background for the puzzle.

2. Coffin, Stewart. The Puzzling World of Polyhedral Dissections (johnrausch.com) – Online copy provided by John Rausch.