Jybercon - Unique Rolling Fidget Toy, Mix & Match!

The Jybercon is the coolest new rolling fidget toy!

This unique shape rolls in a meandering zig-zag pattern with just a slight slope, with a highly satisfying motion and rhythm.

Designed with a cool style bar in the center, the two interchangeable sides can be swapped with prints of other colours, but also with other of the opposite shapes, making two other shapes possible: the Sphericon and Bicylinder!

Origins

My initial idea was inspired by Makers Muse on Youtube, who explained the concepts of those other two shapes; my idea was simply, “wait, both these shapes have a square cross section, I wonder what you get if you join them..?” - I figured out the faces formed a figure 8 or ∞, so initially I called it an ‘Infinicon’, but unfortunately that name already exists for other things... but when rolling, it is more of a tacking/jibing/rounded-triangle-wave motion anyway - hence the final name! (A boat ‘jibes’ or ‘gybes’ when zig-zagging downwind.) However the latest design - version 35C - is the result of many adjustments over the last year!

I acknowledge that I may not have been the first to have thought of combining these two shapes into a 'Jybercon', (in Jan 2025,) and that the 'sphericon' and 'bicylinder' are not of my invention. However the model itself and it's three part adaptation (using a bayonet type connector), requiring changes to a true mathematical shape and the center of inertia, is entirely a Quirkoneer original design, made in 3D using Shapr3D and Blender. (I simulated the rolling in Blender!)

Caveats

When printing the models, the latch mechanism I designed is a little tricky to print, due to the overhangs. I spent a long time prototyping different support mechanisms until I thought it was predictable enough to share; however I only had an Ender 5 Pro and PLA to test with. 

I didn’t want to change the sawblade-like connectors though, as I feel that is half the appeal of the design! 

I will include detailed slicing notes if you aren’t able to use my slicing setup as is.

The parts are each in a single colour, so do not require a multi-colour printer, if you print them separately. I would print all 3 parts in one colour, then all 3 in another colour, and swap the center pieces afterwards!
 

General disclaimer ‘not for children under 3 years’, due to risk of breaking parts, but I've not broken one myself, it's a fairly solid build.

Assembly

Once you have removed the supports, (the squiggle support may need a little cleanup if it isn't pulled off in one piece), assembly is pretty self-explanatory, but make sure you push the sides together before trying to twist!

Note though that a too low print bed may cause a too tight fit, requiring sanding down the base of the two sides, or the catches on the center. But an initially tight fit should loosen a little with use.

Best for children 10+ years, and probably best to have an adult try assembling and loosening it a bit first.

Requires no additional components besides the print.

How To Use:

The best place to try it out is usually a cafe table - usually those have enough slope to roll something on!

A slope too steep will cause the path to skid and not roll so well. A small table only needs an offset of about a sticky note pad, or 1 inch per 100 inches across. However the bicylinder configuration will roll anywhere, and the sphericon one will take a steeper slope than the Jybercon.

Rolling the Jybercon takes some skill; it can get stuck facing the wrong way. 

Technique 1: Place the larger curve down on the surface, with the middle tangent of the curve parallel to the slope - the large curve is the corner of the zig-zag path - and start it rolling downhill.

Technique 2: Place the side of the center square on the surface; one lower corner of the square will have the long curve and the other the point of the cone. tilt the square so that the ‘cone point corner’ is facing downhill more than the ‘curve’ corner; tip the Jybercon back (uphill slightly) on the smaller side a little, and let go; it should tip forwards and start rolling, if there is enough slope. This method is harder to aim, but you can start multiple of them at once!

I'll try and link some videos for this as it's tricky to explain. But you should be able to figure it out! If printing for kids, I suggest printing two, and giving them the bicylinder or sphericon before the Jybercon, as they are easier to figure out how they roll.

Licence

Free for personal use only, as per stated licence. Commercial production, selling of physical prints, and sharing of the digital files are strictly prohibited. Commercial licensing options (and purchaseable products) will be available soon, under the Quirkoneer brand.