A STEM Project: A Flexible Cube Which Can be Turned Inside Out

Eight flexible cubes are connected so that they create one larger cube.

In this blog entry, I will be revisiting a design that I made previously because I want this design to be included in this series of four blog entries where I will be recreating, in the style of, Naoki Yoshimoto's "Shinsei Mystery" puzzles.

This design is a large flexible cube where eight small cubes are taped together to create a larger cube. When the cubes are flexed, it creates different configurations.  It takes eight flexes to get back to the original large cube.  

The cube can be flexed to create different configurations.

 I made the eight cubes and glued colored cardstock on all of the 24 outer squares.  This allows for the  transformations of the cube to be easily seen.  It takes four flexes to turn the cube inside out and eight flexes to get the cube back to the original configuration.

The Cube has been turned inside out in four flexes.

Here is the PDF of the cube.   I used 65 lb. cardstock. 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jr5ZXYR1lStGng2yT04gdrBLWSUUH02q/view?usp=sharing 

Here is the .Studio file. 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xu5LHrh0Tun2eY9mqHCRChkWQHfZRU7H/view?usp=sharing 

Here is the SVG.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VpkS8eZm6sRKEqb38yRCc66cNLWRQ6FL/view?usp=sharing

Make eight cubes. Tape the eight cubes together with 4 strips of tape as shown. 

 Place the bottom cubes with the tape facing outward as shown. The opposite side of the cube should look exactly the same as the photo.  Place the top cubes with the tape facing the ceiling.



Next using 4 strips of tape, place the tape on the sides going upward as shown. There will be 2 strips of tape on one side going upward and 2 strips of tape on the other side going upward. There is a total of 8 strips of tape used in this model. The opposite side of the cube will have the same tape placement.