Calvins Puzzle Sam Gear Orbit Bandaged-4 Cube

Calvins Puzzle Sam Gear Orbit Bandaged-4 Cube

Sam Gear Orbit Bandaged-4 Cube is a bandaged version of the Gear Orbit Cube puzzle. It was designed by Sam Jiang and is made by Calvin's Puzzle. The base is a 3x3x3 cube with a gear mechanism inside. Each face has four small circles that turn together with the face. "Bandaged-4" means that bandaging, i.e. joining some of the pieces together, applies to four faces. Because of this, some moves are blocked and you have to solve the cube differently from a regular 3x3. The cube has a black body.

How the Gear Orbit mechanism works

The circles can't be turned on their own. They only rotate when you turn the face they sit on. When you turn a face by 90 degrees, its four circles also move by 90 degrees. They are driven by a planetary gear system whose central gear is hidden in the middle of the face. So every move changes not only the position of the 3x3 pieces but also the orientation of the circles, and you need to take that into account while solving.

With gear mechanisms, the teeth can sometimes skip and get out of alignment. The manufacturer planned for this. When you remove the cap from the center, you can see part of the mechanism. You can then loosen the cube, realign the teeth and tighten it again.

How it differs from the standard Gear Orbit Cube

The standard version solves like a 3x3 with extra circles. The Bandaged-4 version has restricted moves, so familiar algorithms and patterns only work partially. In practice you have to work out a solution yourself, because there is no ready-made method for this cube like the ones known for the classic 3x3 cube. It's a puzzle for your collection and for figuring out at your own pace. It's not suitable for timed solving: it has no magnets and it is not a speed cube.

Who is it for?

For people who solve the 3x3 comfortably and enjoy unusual puzzles: shape mods, bandaged puzzles or gear cubes. For a beginner it's a tough choice. Without a good knowledge of the 3x3 and the ability to create your own algorithms, it's easy to get stuck. For a child's first cube, a classic 3x3 model is a better choice.

Specifications

• Manufacturer: Calvin's Puzzle
• Designer: Sam Jiang
• Type: 3x3x3 cube with a gear mechanism, bandaged version on 4 faces
• Magnets: none
• Dimensions: approx. 6.3 x 6.16 x 6.1 cm
• Body color: black
• Packaging: plastic box