Home of the Rubik's Electronic Timer

 

Latest News

Rubik's timer 2.0 software and firmware is released.

Please visit the Download page.

 

Last updated on: December 11, 2007

 

Introduction

The Rubik's electronic timer is a self-contained electronic device that accurately times your puzzle solutions-- timing begins as soon as you pick up the cube from the puzzle pad and timing ends as soon as you return the cube to the puzzle pad.  The puzzle pad is made of open-cell sponge rubber, a durable and dense spongy material that can withstand repeated cube slamming without damaging your cube or the timer itself.  Solving time is displayed on a graphical LCD display.  Averaging calculations, scramble sequence generation, PC computer connection, and other features make this timer the complete tool for timing your puzzle solves.

 

 

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Technical Support

 

 

Design Journal (Ended)

 

Who Are You and Why did you Make This Thing?

This timer was designed by Mission Designs LLC, based in New Hampshire, USA.  Mission Designs is a small software and electronics company that works with hardware and software in small computer systems.   My name is Eric Johanson, the founder of Mission Designs and I have been avid speed-cubist for about 3 years now, and have competed in the Rubik's championships of 2003 and 2005.  After competing in the 2003 Rubik's World Championships, I found the SpeedStacks timer cumbersome and awkward to use because of the hand pads and the fact that it could not readily be used in your lap.  I also wanted something to keep track of my averages and generate scrambles.  I figured there might be other people like myself who desired a timer specific to Rubik's speedcubing, so I presented the idea to SevenTowns Ltd, the holder of the Rubik's trademark and copyright.  They agreed to endorse it as an official Rubik's product.  I spent over $10,000 in capital to design the timer and to buy some equipment to produce it in small quantities-- I have no plan of recovering this investment.  I spent the time and money to design and build the Rubik's timer because I wanted to.  The timer was first offered for sale on www.rubiks.com on September 15, 2005.

 

Where can I Buy One?

The timer can be ordered online at www.rubiks.com.

 

What About the SpeedStacks Timer?

The SpeedStacks timer remains the only officially sanctioned timer for WCA (World Cubing Association) tournaments.  The Rubik's timer is not officially sanctioned for WCA tournaments because the start/stop protocol for timing differs from the established SpeedStacks protocol (using hand pads).  This would make solve times achieved with the Rubik's timer incompatible with the times achieved with the SpeedStacks timer.  At some time in the future, the WCA could agree to sanction this timer, but that does not appear likely in the immediate future.

 

The Rubik's timer does have an external port which will operate the SpeedStacks large tournament display.  SpeedStacks was very forthcoming in providing the technical information necessary to interface with their excellent large tournament display.  You can see the SpeedStacks products at their website, www.speedstacks.com.

 

 

 

The Rubik's name and logo are copyrighted by Seven Towns, Ltd.