Functional Classic Rubik's Cube

I printed this mostly in ABS. It is a challenging print, the parts have difficulty sticking to the print bed. I had to reprint the ones that came loose several times. 

I wanted a cube printed in tough material like ABS or PA(Nylon) with the ability to add tiles from PETG or PLA, so I wanted indentations for tiles in the parts. 

While adding the insert tile features I wanted, the rotational mechanism was improved by cutting out the inner parts with a spherical shape and applying the same spherical shape to model the interlocking part of the three basic segments. This facilitates better interlocking and a much smoother rotational aspect of the faces. Combined with ABS or PA that glides better together it rotates easily without additional lubricants. 

The centre parts clicking into the ball is a very tight fit, there is only 0.1mm tolerance, so takes some effort to push in, but it assures that this part doesn't pop out easily and make the cube come apart. 

The print layout has all the part and the proposed orientations for best print quality. 

Rubiks cube i2 v3 files

This version has zero fit tolerances applied, so dimensional print accuracies should be checked before using this model. After some use with the first models, the parts becomes very loose. Iteration2 version 3 (i2 v3) improves long term fit tolerances and speed performance.

Print Layout and Settings

I used the following print settings:

Layer Height: 0.16

And the proposed layout for getting the parts printed as follow:

Cube Assembly 

Start with the centre ball and clip in four of the six centre parts: 

The proceed to insert the four centre pieces at the corners of the middle layer.

Now add the four outer corner pieces.

Add the four centre pieces for this layer.

And finally insert the centre piece and click in place. Add a tile below the centre ball at the bottom helps the clicking in process. 

Now flip the cube around and repeat filling in with corner pieces followed by centre pieces. Finally click in the last middle piece. 

 Tiling the cube

I used the following standard pattern as a guide for the colour tiles. 

The tile can click in, but tends to fall out at times, so I glued mine in. 

I am very please with the final result. It's amazing how far 3D printer, print materials and print quality evolved in such a short space of time. I would never have imagined that one day I would be able to design and print my own Rubik's cube when I started playing with cubes over 40 years ago.