You must have come across a lot of fidget toys in recent years. These fidget tools are used as a stress buster and to increase focus and attention. They come in different shapes and sizes, vibrant colors, and textures. One such fidget is an infinity cube!
Here, you will learn how to make an infinity cube that can help you to calm and become attentive! These cubes are very helpful to release stress, increase focus and mental exercise. Even you can make your infinity cube with customized features.
What Is An Infinity Cube
Before starting its making process, you must understand the basics of an infinity cube. It is a puzzle toy that contains numbers and symbols. They are like Rubik’s cube and follow mathematical formulas.
Unlike a Rubik’s cube, you can open and close the small cubes in various ways from different directions. It is an educational and mental exercise tool for different age groups irrespective of their genders.
History Of Yoshimoto/Infinity Cube
Infinity cube traces back its origin from the Yoshimoto cube. The Yoshimoto Cube was invented in 1971 by Naoki Yoshimoto. It was a mechanical toy puzzle. The cube was a combination of two stellated rhombic dodecahedra.
There were three variants of the Yoshimoto cube. It was made of eight inter-locked cubes that can be rotated, tilted, and folded continuously. Thus, it became an inspiration for the future cube’s puzzles.
Different Ideas For Making An Infinity Cube
The infinity cubes are available in different shapes and sizes in the market. You can online order one for yourself too. Even you can create your infinity cube at home with basic materials like papers, wooden sheets, sketch pens, glue, and tape by following simple steps.
You can 3d print infinity cube by downloading their STL files available online for free. So, you have plenty of options for making an infinity cube! Here are a few infinity cube ideas that you can try and even add your ideas while printing them in a printer.
Origami/Paper Infinity Cube
You can create your infinity cube using paper by following these simple steps-
Step-1: Collect all things in one place.
You will need big pieces of white paper or six different colored papers, colored pencils, glue, tape, scale, marker, and scissors. Arrange them in one place for an easy process.
Step-2: Cutting out of rectangle shapes
Then you need to cut rectangle shapes from the sheet. The width should be half of the length of the rectangle. You need to cut six rectangles from different colored papers or color the white paper in 6 different shades.
Step-3: Folding of rectangle-shaped paper
For accurate folding, measure the halfway or fold the sheet in equal sides and open it. A creased line will appear. Now fold both the sides of the paper to touch the lines. Repeat the same process to create five more.
Step-4: Pasting And Assembling
Now apply fevicol on the outer side of the rectangles. And start making a cube by joining the outer end of one side of the rectangle to the inner side of another rectangle’s side. Similarly, add the third rectangle’s flap to the first one.
Now paste the fourth rectangle on the open part of the cube. It will form in a complete cube. Follow the same pasting and assembling process to make eight cubes.
Step-5: Setting Up The Cubes Properly
Place four cubes with the same colors in a row. Put another four cubes of the same color in the second row. Attach both rows in pairs with the help of transparent tape. Put a little tape on one end of the cube and fold it a bit to attach with another piece of tape on the reverse side.
Complete the process by joining four similar-colored cubes. You will get two rows of four cubes attached, connected in top and bottom sides in the inner part.
Step-6: Fold, Flip, And Play
Now the paper infinity cube is ready to use. You can flip it, rotate it, and solve the puzzling parts.
3d Printed Infinity Cube
With the evolving 3d printing technology, you can 3d print some unique and out-of-the-box infinity cube ideas easily. Either you can design your CAD file or download available files from the internet. Here are five infinity cube printing ideas that you can try to 3d print-
1. Yet Another Fidget Infinity Cube
This infinity cube is printed at 0.2 mm layer height with 0.4mm nozzle width. You can use up to 20% infill as per your printing model. It is better to off the fan for better adhesion during the first layer of printing. After that, keep the fan on.
Keep moving the model diagonally and use 3-5 vertical perimeters for better prints. Print at the coolest temperature to prevent warping. The creator has made the files by using Tinkercad. It has over 59606 downloads and six remixes.
Who made it- Austin Vojta
Where to find- Thingiverse
How much time it will take-4.5 hours
Cost-Free to download
2. Kobayashi Fidget Infinity Cube
This infinity cube is available in 3 different-sized STL files (8mm, 15mm, and 20mm). You can opt for PLA or PETG filament in 0.2mm layer height with 20% infill. Even you can customize colors and certain designs. It has more than 16000 downloads and three remixes. Users have printed this cube successfully.
Who made it-First Last
Where to find- Thingiverse
How much time it will take-5-6 hours
Cost-Free to download
3. PLA Infinity Cube
You can download the files of different cubes that you need to connect by using pins later. Just print eight cubes (four cubes of the same color) and eight connectors in PLA.
Your printing resolution should be 0.1mm with 50-100% infill. After printing them, you need to use sandpapers for finishing and then assemble the cubes. It has over 14000 downloads.
Who made it-Anuradha Gunawardana
Where to find- Thingiverse
Cost-Free to download
4. Fidget 3D Transformer Cube
The creator has provided a detailed instructional video that you can see while printing it. Just follow the instructions. You can use both PETG and TPEE for printing hinges. It does not require a mechanical hinge.
You can assemble it without using glue. You need to print it at 0.2mm resolution. You will require to print eight base cubes, eight connectors, and 32 inserts. Just follow the video for more details and color explanation.
Who made it-Porshen
Where to find- Thingiverse
Cost-Free to download
5. Infinity Cube with Dice
You can experiment with the infinity cube by converting it into a mathematical or alphabetical cube. Creator has printed eight cubes of 20mm in 0.2mm resolution at a 5-10% infill rate. You can use flexible TPU filament. Creator has not shared any instructional video, and it has over 500 downloads.
Who made it-Lingguo Bu
Where to find- Thingiverse
Cost-Free to download
6. Twin Spiky Stellated Dodecahedron Infinity Cube
You can use TPU filament for printing it in 3 sizes- 20mm, 25mm, and 30mm. Creator has made 48 polyhedron squares and made files in Fusion 360. The resolution should be 0.2mm with 20-45% infill in low extrusion temperatures.
You can customize printing angles and dimensions by following the instructional videos. It has more than 2000 downloads with successful prints. So you can print them too!
Who made it-Lingguo Bu
Where to find- Thingiverse
Cost-Free to download
Infinity Cube DIY
You can DIY a wooden infinity cube too! The creator named Menucha has made such cubes in 3 different sizes. You will need thin wooden craft blocks, watercolors, and duct tapes. Just follow these steps-
- Prepare eight thin wooden cubes of the same sizes.
- Take a water-filled bowl and pour the watercolor in it. After mixing it, dip all the cubes inside and leave them for a few minutes. Take them out, rub them, and let them dry completely.
- Put four cubes each in two rows. Then stick them horizontally with the tape. Now connect the internal cubes horizontally. Flip the joined cubes and follow the same process on the reverse side.
- Now you need to join two more right cubes and left cubes in a vertical position. Cover the extra tapes with some stickers.
- Your DIY infinity cube is ready. You can flip, rotate, and play with it.
Advantages Of Infinity Cube Fidget
Here are some of the major benefits of using infinity cube fidget-
Focus And Concentration
It is one of the fidgets available for increasing concentration and focuses at work or home. It helps to focus on a particular task while playing or rotating the tiny cubes and arranging them. You can play with it while focussing on other tasks.
It will also help you to focus on meeting lectures and seminars while occupying your mind in one place. Since your hands will be busy rotating these rows, you won’t be able to think or do other stuff while listening to anything.
Interaction And Therapy
It is good stuff for engaging people undergoing therapy, overcoming addictions, and experiencing negative thoughts. It will keep their hands and mind busy and tend to lower their addictive tendency. You can also use it for interaction with people while doing therapy or any other interactive discussions. Thus, it is therapeutic stuff also.
De-Stress Fidget Toy
You can use this toy for releasing stress, taking rest, and relaxing. It can divert your mind from anxiety and anxious temperament. You need to rotate and flip the cube rows and maintain your focus. Do not take it as a challenge. Rotate, flip, pause, and repeat!
Mental Exercise And Problem Solving Skills
They are great for mental growth, mathematical solutions, and problem-solving skills. You can learn different angles, combinations and permutations, positions, and directions of the cube. And can apply your knowledge while solving the puzzle.
It will boost your knowledge and is great for mental exercise. It would be best to use both your brain’s left and right hemispheres while solving it with both hands.
To Combat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
It is helpful to combat ADHD symptoms because it will keep your mind busy and occupied with cube arrangements. It maintains focus and improves mental focus as well as the growth of the brain. You can keep your mind focussed at one time with its help.
How To Use An Infinity Cube
The infinity cube is a set of smaller cubes that can rotate on every side. It is a challenging game, keeps focussing and busy the player. Both genders of different age groups love to play for entertainment, passion, therapy, or just as a game. There are no hard and fast rules on how to play with the infinity cube. You can try some of these tricks-
Use Both Hands
Always play with both your hands for faster results and better performance. You can hold the set in one hand and rotate different small cubes and inner cubes with another hand, which will help you decode the puzzle faster.
Proper Stacking Of Cubes
Like other puzzle games, the infinity cube game requires you to do proper stacking of cubes. Rotating some of the inner stacked cubes and outer cubes simultaneously will help you to solve the puzzle.
Analyze And Remember Different Combination Of The Blocks
If you are playing with the cube for competitive puzzle games, try to analyze different combinations and remember their patterns. You can also use another cube to stack and rotate them simultaneously. The cubes should be set in the inner space correctly.
