Home page.

Adhesive labels for the Shashibo.
Version of Wednesday 26 February 2025.

The download contains a dozen .svg images that can be printed on adhesive label paper, cut out, and attached to a Shashibo. They are found in the download's sticker_12 directory. Here for example is file sticker_12_1.svg:

In the same directory are three .html files which may be found convenient:

• view_1_4.html
• view_5_8.html
• view_9_12.html

Each will display labels for four atoms, arranged so that when printed they will fit on either letter-size (8½ × 11 inch) or A4 size (297 × 210 millimeter) sheets of adhesive-label paper. Still, images for the twelve atoms are provided in separate .svg files for users who prefer to do their own formatting.

Explanation of the markings according to color of typography

In purple: As elsewhere in this report, this is the atom number (1 through 12) followed by a letter (A through D) indicating to which face of the atom this label is applied.

In turquoise: Near the center of each edge of each face is a letter (A through D) specifying which other face of the same atom is adjacent along that edge.

In brown: As elsewhere in this report, assembly instructions are marked with the letter H for "hinge". These indicate how each atom is connected to a neighboring atom.

In gray: When the labels are printed at the correct scale, this line will 61 millimeters (2.4 inches) long, which is the length of the edge of a Shashibo cube. This line, which is not part of any sticker, is provided to help the user determine whether their printer driver has "automatically" rescaled the images.

The tricky part of attaching the labels is getting face 1A correct. After that, everything is mechanical, following the turquoise and brown markings.

Here is an image repeated from the home page:

this image is from group_12 in the download, and it represents the loop severed between atoms 1 and 12

• If face 1A is placed in positions 1A, 2A, 5A, 6A, 9A, or 10A, it will work.
• If face 1A is placed in positions 3A, 4A, 7A, 8A, 11, or 12A, it will not work.

Failure is indicated when the hinge markings cannot be made to agree. However, if labels 1A and 2A have been placed on adjacent atoms, and their hinge markings are consistent, then the first step is successful, and completing the application of labels is mechanical.

Suggested is to manipulate the Shashibo into some shape where all the faces with letter A are visible; then the loop can be more easily discerned.

Incidental note: The present author has not disassembled an atom to examine its contents. However, thorough information about placement of magnets within the atoms is provided by the United States patent 10,569,185 document. Therein, figures 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B, 4C, and 5 are particularly informative as to the placement of the magnets that are essential to the Shashibo's operation, revealing that:

• the magnets of atoms 1, 2, 5, 6, 9, and 10 are arranged in one polarity;
• the magnets of atoms 3, 4, 7, 8, 11, and 12 are arranged in the opposite polarity.

These numbers correspond to the correct and incorrect atoms for applying label 1A.