The Soma Cube

A TelExperiment by Sebastian Marius Kirsch

The Soma Cube was

General Public License. For personal/non-commercial use only.

duction and distribution is allowed under the terms of the GNU

[soma-e.tex,v 1.3 1997/06/17 17:08:30 skirsch Exp skirsch]
c 1996,1997 Sebastian Marius Kirsch. All rights reserved. Repro-
invented in 1936 by Piet
Hein, a Danish poet and
puzzle inventor. It rep-
PSfrag replacements
resents all possibilities of ◦
combining three or four 90◦
cubes in a ‘not-straight’360◦
way. Its seven pieces180
can be assembled to form crease
edge
thousands of figures;◦ it
360 crease
is a kind of three-dimensional
Tangram in this aspect. A
A first origami version of B
the Soma Cube was intro- 1
duced by Steve Biddle in 2
16 squares
his book ‘The New Ori-
gami’. Steve Biddle uses 6–8
Sonobé units to produce2 ×
the pieces and arrives at the impressive number of 120 units. Maarten
van Gelder has developed a Soma Cube whose pieces are each folded from
a single square; he uses box pleating techniques developed by Max Hulme.
I am presenting a version that is folded from ticker tape. My version gets
by with seven 1.1 m long strips of ticker tape; each piece requires between
40 and 60 squares.
All seven elements are folded from the same principles. Instead of describ-
ing each element step-by-step, I will therefore describe the basic elements
and the methods of extending them. These methods are then presented
with four of the pieces; the remaining pieces are only described verbally,
but are constructed from the elements that have already been described.
Before I start, I would like to thank two people: Philip Noble, whose
FlexiCube has contributed much inspiration to this model, and Heinz
Strobl, who has worked his way through the whole instruction and who
has helped by removing many blunders and mistakes.
This is a translation of a German article that originally appeared on
no. 22 of der falter, the magazine of Origami Deutschland. I dedicate
this translation to Jan Polish, whom I tried to teach the model at the
Würzburg ’97 Convention at one o’clock at night, but in vain. I hope
that my diagrams are clearer than my verbal instructions.
rag replacements
360◦ PSfrag
90◦ replacements
180◦
90◦
360◦ PSfrag replacements
crease 360◦ 180◦ 90◦
edge 180◦ crease 360◦
◦
360 crease crease edge 180◦
1 Some
A edge
introductory
360◦ crease
remarks crease
◦
360B crease A edge
1
1.1 ASymbols B 360◦ crease
A
2 The B diagrams distinguish
1 between aB 180◦ A edge
16 squaressimple1 fold and the edge of2 the strip. For 1 B crease
2 ◦ and 9016
6–8folds (180 ◦ squares
), a thin line is used 2 90 ◦ 1 360◦
216
×(squares
). For the edge of the 16 squares
6–8strip and 360◦ 2
creases, 2 ×(
6–8 a thick line is used ). An open6–8 16 squares
2
arrow (
× 2×
) is used to indicate that the end
◦
6–8 360 crease
2 ×( ) is used
of the strip is to be laid across a frame, and a filled arrow
to indicate that the strip is to be pulled through under a frame.
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1.2 The ‘Witches’ staircase’
Before beginning,
360◦
the strip must 180 be ◦ A
divided into squares.
crease
This is done easi- edge 90◦ A
est with a 360
fold◦ that
crease B
is called a ‘Hexen- A
B
treppe’ in German.
Some people may 1
still know this from
kindergarten,16 but I
squares B 2
will briefly repeat 6–8
how to produce 2it.× PSfrag replacements
You begin by folding a valley fold of 45◦◦ in the middle of the strip. Both
end of the strip are now perpendicular 90 to each other. Now you fold B
◦
360
along the edge of A to the left, A along◦ the edge of B down, and so on
180 the resulting staircase.
till the end of the strip. Then you undo
crease
edge
1.3 Locking the ends 360◦ crease
The ends are locked by shorten-A
ing the remaining strip to two squares,B
sharpening it a little, and tucking it 1
into the opposite slot. Long fingernails 2
16 squares
and/or tweezers can be helpful for the
last bit. 6–8
2×
rag replacements
◦
90
2360 ◦The basic unit

180◦
Length of the strip = 42 × width
crease
edge
I will now describe how to make a basic unit with three cubes. The
360◦ crease
variation
A
with two cubes is easy to produce: Just make each frame two
squares
B shorter.
rag replacements
1 12◦ Valley fold field no. 11 down. (Field no. 9 for a unit with two cubes.)
90
360◦
16 squares ◦
180
6–8
crease
2×
edge
2 Form a loose horizontal frame, based on the shown valley folds.
360◦ crease
A
B
1
2
16 squares
6–8 PSfrag replacements
rag replacements
2×
90◦
3 ◦◦ Lay the tape one time around 360
90 4 ◦ Valley fold the tape to the back
360 the frame. This is the vertical
180◦ and to the right.
180◦ frame.
crease
crease edge
edge
◦ 360◦ crease
360 crease 1
A
A 2
B
B
1
2 16 squares
16 squares
6–8
6–8
2×
2×
rag replacements PSfrag replacements
3a
90◦ Variation of step 3 for piece 3, 4, 4a90◦ Variation of step 4 for piece 4, 6
360◦ 6 and 7: Pull the tape through 360◦ and 7: Let a loop stick out on
180◦ under the frame on the right, lay 180◦ the underside.
crease it over the frame on the left. crease
edge edge
360◦ crease 360◦ crease
1
A A
B B 2
1
2
16 squares 16 squares
6–8 6–8
2× 2×
rag replacements
90◦
5 ◦ Pull the tape through under the
360 6 Valley fold and mountain fold
◦ horizontal frame on the back and the tape: a right-angled triangle
180
creasein front. is produced.
edge PSfrag replacements
360◦ crease 90◦
A 360◦
B 180◦
1 crease
2 edge
16 squares 360◦ crease
6–8 A
2× B
1
2
16 squares
6–8
PSfrag replacements
2×
rag replacements 90◦
7 ◦ Tuck this triangle behind the ho- 8 Pull the tape through under the
90 360◦
rizontal frame. vertical frame underneath and
360◦ 180◦
◦ over.
180 crease
edge 1
crease
edge ◦
360 crease
360◦ crease A
A B
B
1 2
2 16 squares
16 squares PSfrag replacements
6–8
6–8 2 ×◦
90
2×
rag replacements 360◦
9 Repeat steps 6–8 and pull the 10 180◦ Lock the ends.
90◦ tape through under the hori-
crease
360◦ zontal frame one more time. edge
◦
180 ◦
360 crease
crease
edge A
6–8 B
360◦ crease
1
A
2
B 16 squares
1
6–8
2 2×
16 squares

2×
 3 Extension of the basic unit
The described basic unit can be extended by allowing a loop to stick out
in step 3 or 8, and by weaving around it afterwards. If you let the loop
stick out on the second frame, the woven unit is perpendicular to the basic
unit. If the loop sticks out while weaving the basic unit (steps 8–9), the
woven unit is in the same direction as the basic unit.
Before continuing, you should first try to make a basic unit with two
cubes, since five of the seven pieces are based on this unit.

4 PSfrag
The pieces of the replacements
cube
90◦
Using the basic unit, the seven pieces of the
360◦
cube can now be folded. They can be assembled 180◦
into thousands of figures—into arches, walls,crease
monuments, snakes, ships and much more. An edge
example is shown on the left. 360◦ crease
While pulling the tape through under a cube,A
the tape can occasionally be caught. You canB
help it by first putting a small strip of paper 1
in as guidance. Thin tweezers or a thin metals 2
strip can also be used as guidance for the
16 tape.
squares
After the first steps, the diagrams usually omit6–8
the beginning of the strip, because it would get
2×
in the way during later steps. Please do not be alarmed by this omission.

lacements
90◦
360◦
180◦
crease
edge
60◦ crease
A
B
1
2
16 squares
6–8
2×
 crease
edge
360◦ crease
A
B
1
2
4.1 Piece 1 16 squares
6–8
Length of the strip = 55PSfrag
× width
replacements 2×
90◦
1 Fold a basic unit with three 360
rag replacements 2 ◦ Mountain-fold the tape to the
90◦ cubes. Let a loop stick out 180◦
right and lay it once around the
◦ during the repetition of step 8. loop.
360 crease
180◦ Pull the tape through under the edge
creaseframe one more time. 360◦ crease
edge A
360◦ crease B
A 1
B 2
rag replacements 1 16 squares
902◦ 6–8
16 squares
360◦ 2×
6–8◦
180 PSfrag replacements
2×
crease
edge 90◦
3 Mountain-fold the tape to the 4 Pull the tape through under the
360◦ creasetop. 360◦
loop on the top and between the
A 180◦
two cubes in the middle.
B crease
edge
1 ◦
2 360 crease
16 squares A
6–8 PSfrag replacements B
rag replacements
2× 901◦
90◦ 3602◦
360◦ 16 squares◦
180
180◦ 6–8
crease
crease 2×
edge
edge
5 Pull the tape through under the 6 Lock the ends.
◦
360◦ crease
360 creaseloop on the top. A
A B
B 1
1 2
2 16 squares
16 squares
6–8
6–8 2×
2×
 crease
edge
360◦ crease
A
B
1
2
4.2 Piece 2 16 squares
rag replacements 6–8
Length of the strip = 58PSfrag
× width
replacements 2×
90◦ ◦
1 ◦ Leave 16 squares at the begin- 90
2 ◦ Valley-fold the beginning twice:
360
360
180◦ ning, then fold a basic unit with A triangle forms. Tuck this
three cubes. Let a loop stick 180◦ triangle into the loop.
crease
edgeout during step 8 of the ba- crease
edge
360 creasesic unit. Then complete the unit. ◦
◦
360 crease
A
A
B
16 squares B
1
1
2 PSfrag replacements 2
16 squares
90◦
6–8
rag replacements 6–8◦
360
2 ×◦
90 2
180×◦
360 ◦ crease
3 ◦ (new position) Lay the tape one ◦ edge
180 4 (old position) Mountain-fold the
creasetime around the loop. (cf. piece360 creasetape to the top.
edge1/2–5) A
360◦ crease B
A 1
B PSfrag replacements 2
1 16 squares◦
90
2 6–8
360◦
16 squares 2×
180◦
6–8 crease
2× edge
rag replacements
5 Pull the tape through under the ◦ 6 Lock the ends.
360 crease
90◦ loop on the top, between the two A
360◦ units in the middle, and once B
180◦ more under the loop on the top. 1
crease 2
edge 16 squares
360◦ crease 6–8
A 2×
B
1
2
16 squares
6–8
2×
 crease
edge
360◦ crease
A
B
1
PSfrag replacements 2
4.3 Piece 3 16 squares
90◦
6–8
Length of the strip = 53 × width
rag replacements 360◦
180
2
◦ ×
90◦
1 Fold a basic unit with two cubes.
360◦
2 Lay a two cube wide frame
crease
◦ Let a loop stick out during step
edgearound the loop, as indicated by
180
8. (cf. piece 1/1) 360◦ creasethe dotted lines.
crease
A
edge
◦ B
360 crease
1
A
2
B 16 squares
rag replacements1
6–8
902◦ 2 ×
16 squares
360◦
◦ PSfrag replacements
180
6–8
2×
crease 90◦
edge 360◦
3 Mountain-fold the tape to the 4 Lay the tape once around the
360◦ creasetop. 180◦
new frame.
A crease
B edge
◦
1 360 crease
2 A
16 squares PSfrag replacements B
6–8 901◦
2× 3602◦
rag replacements 16 squares◦
180
6–8
crease
90◦
◦ 2×
edge
360
5 ◦ Mountain-fold the tape to the
180 6 While pulling it through.
360◦ crease
crease left and pull it through under the A
edgeoriginal loop. B
◦
360 crease 1
A 2
B 16 squares
1 6–8
2 2 ×
16 squares
6–8
2×
 PSfrag replacements
rag replacements 90◦
◦
360
90◦
180◦
360◦
crease
180◦
edge
7 Pull the tape throughPSfrag
crease between ◦ 8 Lock the ends.
replacements
360 crease
edgethe unit, on the right under the
A ◦
360◦ creasenew frame, and under the loop. 90
B ◦
A 360
1 ◦
B 180
2
1 crease
16 squares
2
16 squares 6–8edge
360◦2 crease
×
6–8
2× A
B
1
2
4.4 Piece 4 16 squares
6–8
Length of the strip = 60 × width
2×
This piece is one of the most difficult.
PSfrag replacementsTwo distinctive loops have to
stick out. This makes the first steps particularly
◦ unstable. Persevere!
90
1 Fold a basic unit with two cubes, 2 ◦ Tuck this triangle under the
360
rag replacementsand let the vertical frame stick 180◦ frame.
90◦ out (cf. steps 3a, 4a of the ba- crease
360◦ sic unit). Pull the tape through edge
◦ under the frame twice and fold a ◦
180 360 crease
creasetriangle. A
edge B
360◦ crease 1
A 2
B 16 squares
1 6–8
2 2×
16 squares
6–8
2×
rag replacements
3 Pull the tape through 4 (new position) The loop on the
on replacements
the
PSfrag
90◦ top and on the bottom under back is a result of the last step.
90◦ Valley-fold the tape twice.
360◦ the vertical frame, let a loop ◦
360
180◦ stick out in front (as indicated
180◦
creaseby the dotted lines).
edge crease
◦
edge
360 crease
360◦ crease
A
A
B
B
1
1
2
16 squares 2
16 squares
6–8
6–8
2×
2×
rag replacements PSfrag replacements
90◦ 90◦
360◦ 360◦
180◦ 180◦
5
crease Tuck the triangle into the loop. 6 Lay the tape once around the
crease
edge edgeloop.
360◦ crease 360◦ crease
A A
B B
1 1
2 2
16 squares 16 squares
6–8 6–8
PSfrag replacements
2× 2 ×◦
90
rag replacements 360◦
7 (new position) Mountain-fold 180 8 ◦ Mountain-fold the tape to the
90◦ the tape to the top, pull it left and lay it once around the
360◦ through under the loop on the creaseloop.
edge
180◦ top and in the middle twice, so ◦
creasethe vertical crease is hidden. 360 crease
edge A
◦ 2× B
360 crease
A 1
B 2
16 squares
1 PSfrag replacements
2 6–8◦
16 squares 290
×
360◦
6–8 180◦
crease
9 (new position) Mountain-fold 10
rag replacements edgeLock the ends.
◦ the tape to the left and pull 360
it ◦
90 crease
360◦ through on the right and in the A
◦ middle three times. B
180
crease 1
edge 2
◦ 16 squares
360 crease
A 6–8
B 2×
1
2
16 squares
6–8
2×
 crease
edge
360◦ crease
PSfrag replacements
A
90B◦
3601◦
1802◦
4.5 Piece 5 16 squares
crease
edge
6–8
Length of the strip = 44 × width ◦
2×
360 crease
This is a variation of piece 1. You begin withA a basic unit with two
cubes, let a loop stick out during step 8 and continue
B as in piece 1.
1
2
4.6 Piece 6 16 squares
6–8
Length of the strip = 54 × width
2×
This piece consists of a basic unit with two cubes, where the vertical
frame has been formed into a loop, and a unit with two cubes that has
been woven onto it.
PSfragfor
You can follow the directions replacements
piece 4 until step 5, but you may not
let a loop stick out during step 3! Just imagine90◦ that the loop in step 3–4
is not there. 360◦
Then you do not weave a single cube onto 180the
◦
loop, as in pieces 4/6–7,
but you weave two cubes onto it as in piece 3. You lay the tape to the
crease
back around the loop and allow a three-squares edge long frame to stick out
behind. Then you turn the cube for 90360clockwise
◦ ◦
crease around its vertical axis.
Now you can follow the directions for piece 3.A The loop is in the same
position as in piece 3/2. B
1
2
4.7 Piece 7 16 squares
6–8
Length of the strip = 56 × width
2×
This is a mirror-image version of piece 6.
You follow the directions for piece 4 until step 5, but do not let a
loop stick out during step 3! Now you turn the basic unit around its
vertical axis again, but in the opposite direction as in piece 6, that is,
counter-clockwise.
Now the tape will stick out to the back. You lay it once around the
loop to the left, so it lies on the front side. Then you can follow the
directions for piece 3 and weave two cubes onto it.
In the pictures of pieces 6 and 7, the two cubes at the bottom are the
basic unit, as you see it in piece 4/4. The two cubes on the top are the
cubes that are woven onto the loop.
Ticker tape? What’s that?
META: This page is to contain a short article on ticker tape,
where to get it, etc. Unfortunately, it is not written yet. Expect
it for the final revision, which is to come out in a few weeks.
(Just before the OUSA Convention, to be precise.)

META: I can only judge from my experience here in Ger-

many, where you can occasionally find a few rolls of ticker tape
still on stock in some office supply stores. I’d very much wel-
come any tips from people in other countries regarding where
to find rolls of ticker tape or any other foldable paper tape in
their country.