NeoCube
My latest cool toy is the NeoCube, a 6x6x6 cube of 216 small neodymium-iron-boron magnetic spheres which can be arranged into an amazing assortment of geometrical and non-geometrical shapes. You can create various polyhedra, even Buckyballs, and all kinds of familiar shapes, too. It's basically a 3D tangram on steroids. As fascinating as it is addictive. It is mesmerizing to rearrange the spheres. I carry mine in my pocket and will often spend around 45 minutes at a time just playing with it -- at home listening to NPR or in the car waiting for my wife. A supreme time-waster!
Warning: arranging the spheres into a cube is not as easy as it seems in the first video below. That is your first challenge.
It's not cheap, but if you try to buy the magnets yourself, it will cost much more. There are also some cheap Chinese knock-offs, but I'd rather give my money directly to the inventor. What's interesting is how the NeoCube was thought up by a 20-something car salesman from Monongahela, PA who describes himself as a square fiddling around in his basement. He began by posting demo videos to YouTube. In no time he was inundated with requests and sold out immediately. Now that's cool.
NOTE: I made a Buckyball as per these instructions (scroll down). First you make pentagons and stick them together. It's really amazing how they just snap into place as if they had a mind of their own. Then I made a compound version shown here. I added a ball to the center of every pentagon and then used the remaining balls as a chain. The magnets are so powerful, the chain easily holds the weight of the entire ball, even as the ball rotates!
Favorite (15)
elisabeth
I feel a bit stupid asking this, but I'm assuming these are pretty powerful magnets, and wondering if it is ok to be carrying around a lot of strong magnets in one's pocket? I mean, can it affect things like cell phones or credit card/atm card/bus pass strips? or other people's pace makers or other medical devices?
Daniel
At the risk of stating what might be obvious to some, you definitely don't want to leave these within the grasp of small children who might ingest. The magnets can get caught internally by attaracting to one another through intestinal or other walls.
Anon
"I [...] will often spend around 45 minutes at a time just playing with it -- at home listening to NPR [..]. A supreme time-waster!"
I count two.
Chris
I got a NeoCube and let me tell you this guy is not exaggerating.
I don't remember what I did with myself before I got my NeoCube.
A friend of mine described it as being more addictive than caramel coated crack...
TTF
Neat looking toy - but it's not much of a tool. It seems like this thing does the opposite of what a tool does...
jonathan peterson
wrong url - it's theneocube.com
I did my own some months ago. Mine are a bit larger and gold. Everyone at work thought I was nuts for spend $50 on some magnets. And they can't keep their hands off of them.
Buy extras, you WILL lose magnets. I know there are 2-3 stuck to metal somewhere within 10 feet of me, but can't find them and there are 5 more that are stuck somewhere in my car after rolling off the dash.
S.L.P.
Actually, I found these to be a marvelous tool for keeping myself entertained on long car/train rides. I keep them in my briefcase and I've never gotten bored with them once. Also, something to realize if you're concerned about the magnetic field: the spheres arrange themselves into a "closed loop", with little outside magnetic field. If you can store them in a way that they won't shift much, you can simply put them into a cube and store them without worrying. Of course, on their own they are quite magnetic and I still probably wouldn't stick them into my pocket with my cell phone or anything. And the child-safety thing is still something to be worried about, of course.
Laral
On the order page is a barely visible link to the Warnings page: http://www.theneocube.com/warnings.html . It is probably not recommended in a household with small kids because spheres will inevitably be lost and then found by toddlers. Read this startling article on the consequences of swallowing strong magnets: Swallowing Multiple Magnets Poses Danger to Children http://www.rsna.org/media/pressreleases/pr_target.cfm?ID=203 .
lloydel
I got the bonus pack that includes 216 magnets for the 6 x 6 cube, 27 for the medium 3 x 3 cube, and 8 more for a 2 x 2 cube. When they arrived all were accounted for, but after two hours, when I finally got the large and medium cubes constructed there were no more. Some where around here, there are 8 strong magnets, probably stuck to other things. Fun, yes. Also hard to keep together--at least until one becomes more skillful.
How do I learn about how to think about these things? Lined up verses interlinked, it seems interlinked is stronger. I need some education. The balls having polarity is probably a bit confusing.
Joe
I just ordered mine (bonus pack) and I cant wait for them to arrive! I actually wish I had selected the rush shipping. I also kind of wish I had ordered two sets of the bonus pack. I know people are going to want to play with them and some will get lost. It could also make a nice gift.
yclept
Don't put these suckers anywhere near a wallet or purse, unless you want to replace all your cards that have magnetic strips.
My son discovered the entertainment value in rare earth magnets years ago, and after a few very inconvenient incidents I have banned them from my household.
Cameron
The best price I could find on a neocube was at http://www.EdwinScience.com . And they also have diferent sizes: 4mm,3/16",5mm and 10mm spheres.
Ray
I bought two sets one set was the 3/16" (4.7mm) set and the other was 6mm gold plated sets. I must say that bigger is better. The 3/16" seems so small now. I also would agree with #12, the best prices I have seen are at http://www.EdwinScience.com
I have been eyeing on of there 10mm sets.
Jon
I'm thinking about getting one from Edwin Science, but I just hope no one's selling these things larger than 2 cm. Ones that big can break bones!
James
I got some NeoCubes from Edwin Science, and they weren't as strong, and the coating came off. http://www.TheNeoCube.com is the name brand with the best stuff.
corey
Buy the Cybercube for only 27.99 at http://www.thecybercube.com/?ref=cordawg92
use the promo code cordawg92 for an additional 10% off :D
dave
yeah, corey i just bought a cybercube today, next time il use your code for 10% off. Cybercubes rule!
Robert
yeah thanks man i used your code too
Danny
Wow, I can't believe you people didn't even read the article. The knock-offs aren't as good. The original NeoCube is only available at www.TheNeoCube.com
Edwin
I don’t charge you for fancy packaging, and you don't need promo codes to get the best price. The 4.7mm cube is $24.99. This the exact same strength as the ones sold on TheNeocube.com. My plating does not flake off. I sell cubes make from 4.76mm, 6mm, 8mm and 10mm diameter spheres. Plus you can choose from Nickel or Real 24K gold plating.
Sorry for the promotion, but I wanted to set the record straight.
Thanks
Edwin
Jesse
The "20-something car salesman from Monongahela, PA" is not the inventor. He buys the "chinese knockoffs" and sells them as "neocube". He's told people at one too many a cocktail party that he was the inventor, and now he believes it. And so do you (the reviewer), apparently. What did he invent? Neodymium magnet spheres? I think not.
The cybercube and neocube are the same thing, both from the same Chinese seller. The buckyballs which are much more popular (go to compete.com and compare theneocube.com to getbuckyballs.com) are also N35 strength, but are 5mm, which in volumetric terms is 20% more. Google: ((4 / 3) * 3.14 * (5^3)) / ((4 / 3) * 3.14 * (4.7^3)). The only magnet sphere brand that stands out even slightly, are zen magnets (zenmagnets.com), but I've only seen them on eBay and small toy stores.
charles
Neocube QQMag Toy http://www.iqmagtoy.com/qqmag
Very amazing Neocube Show
Laral
@Jesse:
The inventor invented an art puzzle using the spheres, not the spheres themselves, which are available at a lot of sites. It's like saying that Rubik didn't invent anything because he didn't invent the mathematical construction called a cube. Where are you getting your data that you find so conclusive as to make accusations? Do you have marketing statistics to back your assertion about popularity?
NightCabbage
Ah, I don't really care who invented them - everyone's just ripping them off now...
However, I will say this.
I own both Zen Magnets and BuckyBalls.
The Zen Magnets are easily better.
- Zen Magnets come with 6 spares (BuckyBalls come with none).
- Zen Magnets are 5mm (BuckyBalls are a little smaller).
- Zen Magnets are all the same size (BuckyBalls vary differently - which makes them not sit quite right).
- Zen Magnets are stronger - N38 (BuckyBalls are N35).
Fred
Yea, I wouldn't give the neocube guy too much credit for putting 216 magnet balls together, and I own a set. And to respond to Laral, go to compete.com and compare getbuckyballs.com and theneocube.com. You'll see that although buckyballs are newer to the market, they get Much more attention. I hadn't heard of zen magnets until yesterday, but from what sparse info I can find, it sounds like their product is top notch.
JandeJong
I have experiences with having a Neocube in your pocket. It realy hurt my testicles, and it can damage your mobile phone or other magnetic things like credit cards. So be aware. Tjeck out some safety rules at www.deneocube.nl