Funs Limcube Alien Cube

Funs LimCube Alien Cube

Funs LimCube Alien Cube is a 3D-printed puzzle from the LimCube series by FangShi (Funs Puzzle). At first glance it looks like a double Ivy Cube, because every face has two large "petals". After a few moves, though, you'll notice that the mechanism hides another type of turn, which is locked at the start. The whole puzzle is built around this hidden move.

How the Alien Cube works

All moves turn around the corners, and the puzzle has 8 axes of rotation, with 120-degree turns. At the start it seems that only the large corners can be turned. Each such move shifts the petals of three adjacent faces. However, once you align the three large corners surrounding a small one, that small corner unlocks. It then turns together with three inner edges and three petals, so you can scramble the puzzle much more thoroughly than before.

What the puzzle is made of

• 12 petals that move between the faces,
• 4 large corners, which are the main axes of rotation and can also be turned in place,
• 4 small corners, which only change orientation,
• 4 inner corner extensions hidden under the small corners. On the faces they appear as small edges, which can also change orientation.

There aren't many pieces, so the puzzle is simpler than it looks. Most of the time goes into understanding when and how the hidden turn unlocks. After that, solving goes much more smoothly.

Who is it for?

The Alien Cube is not meant for speedcubing or setting times. It's a puzzle for people who have already mastered the 3x3, Skewb or Ivy Cube and want to figure out an unusual mechanism instead of learning ready-made algorithms. Thanks to its original shape, it also makes a great addition to a collection. For a child's first puzzle, it's better to choose something simpler.

Specifications

• Manufacturer: FangShi (Funs Puzzle), LimCube series
• Type: corner-turning puzzle with a hidden turn
• Construction: 3D printed
• Size: 56 mm
• Weight: approx. 125 g
• Axes of rotation: 8, 120-degree turns
• Colour: Black