1. WHAT IS CUBEZO ?

Cubezo is a dynamic cube that can flip infinite times and eventually goes back into its initial configuration. It starts from a cubic configuration, transforming into two different open shapes and then goes back to a second cube configuration of a different color. Nonetheless, it is possible to return to the initial figure in as few as six transitions. Of these transitions, it is possible to move forward or backwards.

 This, can result in a plesant experience for those who like to have an object in their hands while de-stressing or thinking. It is also a beautifully designed object to have on your desk, or around the house.

 It is so versatile that it can become a fun icebreaker among friends or even with a potential employer during a job interview. One of the most interesting moments is exactly when you see the different reactions from people whom have never seen Cubezo before. During this time, you can enjoy people’s surprise when they discover Cubezo’s hidden magic.

Cubezo is designed to become a 3D puzzle project. We have also developed another version of it with the hinges clipping into each other and that can be assembled by anyone. Its two basic components, can give life to other forms that we don’t even know about at this time. It will be fun to receive feedback during the kickstarter campaign, while different people play with the prototypes. Despite its simple form, the assembling of Cubezo is a great challenge for those ones whom have never attempted it. In addition, its base components can represent a newer version of puzzles in the 3D form.

Cubezo is also a magic trick; its beauty, comes out of its particular shapes. The way it is designed, lets the user discover two additional objects out of a single one, which indeed are complementary to each other. 

2. THE INVENTOR:

 My name is Filippo Guenzani and I’m an “out of the ordinary” mechanical engineer and also a dreamer.

My life nonetheless, has always been guided by the question of who do I want to become. To that question, I answered myself that I wanted to be an inventor. However, I did not know what it really meant. Infact, I thought that an inventor is a person who would create something new, and a genius with a vision who is able to design something unseen. 

 So, while I was growing up, I realized that I had really good ideas, but I did not really know how to put them into practice. And that is when I decided to study engineering.

Through engineering, I acquired that there can be infinite numbers of problems. However, there are also infinite solutions. From an engineer’s point of view, life can be seen like a guessing game, only to be solved with the skills and abilities made from years of experience in this field.

Today, I’m here to show you one of these creative solutions that I reached through engineering and also thanks to collaboration of a multidisciplinary team of friends and colleagues.

3. HOW DID WE GET THERE ?

Since October 2016, I have been collaborating with a Gallarate local paper artisan named Augusto Andreotti, who showed me one of his paper based inventions. He was able to insert a so called “platonic solid” into a dynamic cube, which were both made of paper. However, Mr. Andreotti was not quite successful into eliciting people’s interest, except for mine; after showing me his beautiful creation, I felt compelled to bring forward this design and give it a more durable form. 

 The first idea was to try to print the same geometry all in one step, using 3D print technology. At that time, a series of experiments started: by using other materials, new  measurements, updated technical solutions and machinery, it was possible indeed, to create the print.   

These last three years, have been quite of a journey; among extreme sports training, daytime work, and several unsuccessful versions of the Cubezo, I eventually reached the final version. The rudimentary forms of Cubezo, were initially paper based and then became made of Nylon. More specifically, this newer version had a very special feature: a series of integrated hinges that allowed for its hidden magic.

To understand whether I could protect the Cubezo idea through a patent, I researched in different areas and found out that there were already several versions of it. Among its predecessors, are Pfeiffer and Yoshimoto’s cubes. In respect of these, Pfeiffer first designed the dynamic cube, and then Yoshimoto hid the Escher’s platonic solid inside of it.

While investigating on these earlier versions, I realized that we actually added something more: the mechanical hinges. In particular, these type of hinges we designed, allowed for the user to see Escher’s solid only in the a last step, conserving the element of surprise.

4. WHAT’S OUR PLAN AND WHY HELP US? 

However, during the Cubezo’s journey, we discovered that some of the versions created were not to affordable for everyone. 

So, the next step was to move from the prototyping phase to a final design that kept in consideration costs and affordability. To solve that, we began to design Cubezo based on an injection mold which is now allowing for its actual production with a cost effective strategy. 

5. TIMELINE:

• October 2016 paper dynamic cube received
• 2017 titanium hinge prototype 
• 2018 first Cubezo prototype completed
• 2019 Cubezo to mount prototype completed
• July 2020 Cubezo injection mold design completed
• September 2020 Kickstarter campaign
• October 2020 injection mold production start
• October 2020 3D production start
• November 2020 delivery of 3D print 36mm puzzle version of Cubezo start 
• November 2020 assembly of 48mm versions of Cubezo start 
• December 2020 delivery of 3D print 48mm versions of Cubezo
• December 2020 injection mold ready for production 
• January 2020 SOP: series production start
• March 2020 1st deliveries of Cubezo orders 

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