DianSheng 2-layer cylinder

DianSheng 2-layer cylinder

DianSheng 2-layer cylinder is a two-layer, cylinder-shaped puzzle, which the manufacturer also sells under the Chinese name Yuan Zhu. The easiest way to describe it is to compare it with a two-layer SQ-1. The principle is similar, but there is no middle layer. You get just two layers, top and bottom, and the whole puzzle is round, about 70 mm in diameter and about 4 cm high.

How this cylinder works

The layers turn relative to each other just like on a regular cube. On top of that, you can make 180-degree turns along the vertical cuts, which move some of the pieces from the top to the bottom and vice versa. As you solve it, the positions of the pieces change, and so do the shape and colour pattern of both layers. You won't find this kind of mechanism in NxN cubes. That makes the cylinder a great introduction to Square-1-type puzzles. It teaches you how to move pieces between layers without the extra challenge of the middle slice.

This is a shape mod puzzle for fun and for collecting, not a speedcubing cube. It has no magnets or tension adjustment. The design is simple, and the turns are fairly short and straightforward. Thanks to its small size, the cylinder fits in your pocket.

Who is it for?

For anyone who has already solved a 3x3 cube and wants to try something with a different move logic. For collectors of cuboids and shape mods. As a cheaper and simpler step before buying a full Square-1. The cylinder is not a WCA event, so you buy it for the puzzle itself, not for competition practice.

Colours

There are two versions to choose from, differing in body colour: Black and White. The mechanism is the same in both.

Specifications

• Manufacturer: DianSheng
• Type: two-layer cylinder-shaped puzzle (shape mod)
• Diameter: approx. 70 mm
• Height: approx. 4 cm
• Weight: approx. 80 g
• Release year: 2018
• Official WCA event: no
• Colour versions: Black, White
• In the box: puzzle