# How can I solve the Gear Cube Extreme?

The Gear Cube Extreme is another Mechanical Puzzle. I ordered it not so long ago and a friend of mine "accidentally" scrambled it. Now I want to solve it again but I have no idea how or even where to start as it is my first non standard Rubik's cube to solve.

Here's how I solve it:

1. Solve the middle layer
2. Solve the corners
2.1 Resolve middle layer parity and centers (if there is a problem)
3. Move the edges to the correct layers
4. Move the edges into the correct positions
5. Rotate the edges into the correct orientations

0. Notation

I'm using R, L, B, F to indicate a 180-degree turn of each side. This is because, as you know, you cannot rotate each side except in increments of 180. U, D, however, will refer to 90 degree turns of the upper and lower layers.

If I refer to a corner using three letters, those letters indicate the faces that corner touches. For instance, the UFL corner is the upper front left corner.

1. Solve the middle layer

This step is pretty easy, honestly, and you should be able to do this intuitively using the side moves. However, a couple algorithms that can help if you're truly stuck on this: use R B R to move the edges to a more understandable position, and R2 or L2 to rotate the middle slice 180 degrees to solve the centers.

2. Solve the corners

For now, keep one hand firmly on two pieces of the center layer, and don't move it. If you do, you'll need to restore it, which isn't a difficult problem, but I'm not going to cover how to do it because it shouldn't happen. We'll restore the middle layer at the end of this step.

I solve this in two steps: first, by solving the bottom layer corners; then, by solving the top layer corners.

The algorithm I use to solve bottom layer corners is pretty simple: R U R U' R' This moves the UFL corner into the DFL position without disturbing the other pieces on the bottom layer. The process for solving the bottom layer pieces is simple:

• Find a bottom-layer corner on the top layer, and find where it should go. Use U to place the piece in the UFL position, and use D to place its target location in the DFL position. Then, execute the algorithm.
• Here, 'target location' refers to a spot relative to other properly-placed pieces.
• If there are no top-layer pieces on the bottom layer, then just move a piece there for reference.
• If there are no bottom-layer pieces on the top layer, find an incorrectly-positioned piece on the bottom layer and swap it with any top-layer piece.

After this, you're on to the top layer corners. One algorithm should be sufficient here: R U R U' R' (U' D) R U' R U R'. This swaps the UFL and UBL corners. Executing this strategically should lead you to a solved upper layer.

2.1 Resolve middle layer parity (if it exists)

If the two middle layer pieces you've been holding onto are flipped, then execute the following algorithm: D' R D R (D' R)2 D' R' U' D R'. At this point, there will be one yellow corner on the top, and a corresponding purple corner on the bottom. Proceed from the beginning of Step 2 - this shouldn't take long to complete.

If there's a problem with a particular center, just rotate an adjacent L/R or F/B slice 180 degrees and check again.

3. Move the edges to the correct layers

This step takes only one algorithm: (R U R' U')5. This swaps the UF and BR edges. Use this as many times as needed, placing an incorrect edge in each place and swapping them.

4. Move the edges into the correct positions

For this, you need two algorithms. These images are courtesy of Ruwix.

Left: R2 U R2 U; Right: R D R U2 R2 U2 R D' R'

This should cover most cases intuitively. Use U and D to move the pieces in position.

If you end up with three pieces on one layer that need to be swapped, then do not solve the middle of the three first and you'll be alright. To do this, use the second algorithm twice - the first time will flip two edges on the other layer, but the second time will flip them back.

5. Rotate the edges into the correct orientations

Next, you'll need the following two algorithms:

• (R U)2 (R )4 (U' R')2 (CCW)
• (R U)2 (R')4 (U' R')2 (CW)

These two algorithms will do strange things. They both turn the bottom front edge piece in different directions, which is really the focus of them, but they also turn the UL, UB, and UR edges as well.

The first step is to solve the bottom-layer edges. If the top layer has a solved edge, move it into the UF position. If it doesn't have one, do so immediately after you solve the first bottom-layer piece. For each unsolved edge on the bottom layer, execute the appropriate algorithm above.

If the cube is not solved, flip it over. Repeat this process for all the edges again.

If the cube is still not solved, flip it over again. Once you repeat the process again, the edges are guaranteed to be solved.

This document provides a much simpler solution!

In brief:

1. Solve corners
2. Solve as much as possible of the edges
3. Solve the rest using simple moves exchanging edges and centres

Here is an extract from the document:

1. Restore puzzle to be flat (easy - do flips as needed).
2. Solve the corners (easy - faces cannot rotate 90 degrees).
3. Use step A to solve as much as possible, use Step B, and repeat until solved (repositioning the cube as appropriate): A. Flip the right face clockwise 6 times. (Exchanges front/rear and top/bottom of the vertical center layer). B. Flip the bottom face clockwise, flip the right face twice clockwise, flip the bottom face counter clockwise, flip the right face twice counter clockwise. (Exchanges front/rear of vertical center layer and left/right centers.)

Really easy!

• It should be noted that this is a solution document for the Gear Cube, and not the Gear Cube Extreme; therefore, this doesn't answer the question. Does that source have a solution for the Gear Cube Extreme that could be edited into this answer? – Aza Sep 9 '15 at 7:20
• That is true, my bad. Don't see a solution to the Extreme there, sorry guys! – oxydog Sep 9 '15 at 13:55
• No worries! It happens. – Aza Sep 9 '15 at 15:10

Jaap's Puzzle Page has lots of helpful twisty solutions. Here's the link for the Gear Cube Extreme: http://www.jaapsch.net/puzzles/gearcube2.htm

This site also has steps to a solution, with some pictures to assist: http://ruwix.com/twisty-puzzles/gear-cube-extreme-ultimate-how-to-solve-gearcube-solution/

• Welcome to Puzzling! Whilst this may answer the question, it would be preferable to include the essential parts of the answer here, and provide the link for reference. I understand this may be difficult, especially with content from Jaap, but it really is something we look for and appreciate. Thanks! – Aza Jun 6 '14 at 3:36
• I just realized (after reading a different Stack Exchange site) that posting links only was not the preferred thing to do, and then I saw that you've politely pointed out the same thing. It is acceptable to post the applicable content from a page (RuWix doesn't seem to prohibit it) along with a link, or do I need to paraphrase it? – bkuehner Jun 6 '14 at 7:09
• The standard advice I'd give is: do what you think would be most helpful. Jaap's puzzle tutorials are notoriously difficult to read, despite their thoroughness. In this particular case, I might suggest summarizing the steps and algorithms used, but it's really up to you. Just be sure to cite your sources and you'll be alright! And, thanks for taking the time to improve your post. – Aza Jun 6 '14 at 7:12