Dayan Tangram Cube

DaYan Tangram Cube

DaYan Tangram Cube looks like a cube, but mechanically it is not a 3x3 variant. It is a shape mod of the three-layer Pentahedron, a triangular prism with turning faces, fitted into the shape of a cube. It has 5 axes of rotation. The name comes from the cut pattern: the same layout repeats on each of the 6 faces, just rotated, and when scrambled, the faces resemble the shapes of the Chinese tangram puzzle. This version is stickerless, in a bright colour scheme.

How this puzzle works

You don't turn the faces of the cube here. Instead, you turn the layers defined by the faces of the hidden prism. Two axes turn in 120° steps, and the other three make 180° turns. The puzzle does not change shape (no shapeshifting) and stays a cube no matter how scrambled it is. This makes it easier to get your head around than many other shape mods.

At first, the cuts themselves are the most confusing part, because it's hard to see right away where the axes run. Once you understand how the moves work, you can usually solve the Tangram Cube in a few steps. Reviewers tend to rate it as a puzzle of medium difficulty. It is a bit more demanding than the regular Pentahedron, because the face centres need to be placed in the correct orientation. If you want something harder, try the Tangram Cube Extreme. It has additional cuts and, unlike this model, it changes shape.

Mechanism and build quality

According to users, the mechanism turns smoothly. This is a puzzle without magnets, so don't expect the feel of a modern speed cube. Some people report a noisier spring. Lubing helps with this, but to reach the spring you need to remove a few pieces.

Who is it for?

A good choice for collectors and for anyone who can already solve a 3x3 and wants to try a different geometry without jumping straight into a very difficult puzzle. It also makes a great gift for someone who enjoys unusual puzzles. It is not a puzzle for timed speedcubing, but one for figuring out the mechanism and finding your own algorithms.

Specifications

• Manufacturer: DaYan
• Type: shape mod, 5 axes of rotation (three-layer Pentahedron in the shape of a cube)
• Shapeshifting: no
• Magnets: none
• Size: approx. 60 mm
• Weight: approx. 112 g
• Colour scheme: stickerless bright