How to Put Together a DIY Rubik's Cube
The Rubik's Cube, brainchild of Hungarian Erno Rubik, has both fascinated and frustrated people since its invention in 1974. Each of the cube's six faces rotates freely around a central core to create more than 43 quintillion possible puzzle variations. This makes the Rubik's Cube very simple to pick up and play with but almost impossible to solve by luck or guessing alone.
The Rubik's Cube's popularity has even spawned a hobby called speedcubing, which involves solving the puzzle in the shortest time possible. There are various theories and methods for speedcubing, as well as competitions all over the world. While you can purchase a Rubik's Cube from nearly any toy or hobby store, hardcore enthusiasts insist that assembling your own is the best way to seriously progress as it gives you complete control over the cube's tension and movement. With the proper tools, a steady hand, and some patience, you can construct your own.
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Instructions
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1
Screw the center piece of the first face into the cube's core. Insert the screw into the spring, the plastic washer, the center piece, and then the core. The plastic washer will reduce the noise of the spring's movement and also keep it from loosening.
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2
Tighten the screw, leaving about 1 mm of movement for the spring. This can be adjusted afterward to suit your tension preferences.
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3
Repeat Steps 1 and 2 for four out of the remaining five center pieces.
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4
Assemble the edges and corners of the cube. These are not screwed on and can merely be slid or snapped into place.
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5
Fasten the sixth and final center piece using the same instruction as Step 1.
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6
Turn the faces of the cube and twist it a few times to see get a feel for how smoothly or stiffly it moves. Adjust the screws if necessary.
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7
Glue the center caps over the screws once you are satisfied with your Rubik's Cube tension and movement.
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8
Apply stickers to surface of the Rubik's Cube. To ensure your puzzle will be viable, place the stickers on the cube in a solved position with one uniform color on each face.
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Tips & Warnings
Assemble your Rubik's Cube on a well-lit, flat work surface. One lost or damaged piece will ruin an entire cube.
Do not loosen the screws too far or your cube will fall apart when you twist it.
