Name: Kinetic Chess Set - Second Limited Edition
Brand: Degrees of Freedom
Price: 1749.0 USD
Availability: InStock

Kinetic Chess Set - Second Limited Edition

$1,749.00

Shipping calculated at checkout.

Free domestic US shipping

Low stock - 4 items left
Backordered, shipping soon

The Second Limited Edition Kinetic Chess Set draws from the disparate fields of origami engineering, woodworking, and aerospace to create a truly unique and tactile user experience during both setup and gameplay.

LE2 is a continuation of the design developed for LE1 and a tremendous disruption in the group of artisans and suppliers tasked with bringing this hardware into reality. The result is a preservation of the product's pedigree, but a 65% reduction in price.

Each of the 25 sets in this Second Limited Edition run is individually laser-marked with its piece number, run, and design version.

While we offer flat rate shipping for all international orders, packages may be subject to additional import duties during delivery depending on the country. Due to the variety of locations that we serve, we rely on customers to manage regional policies and fees for their specific order.

Learn More

Origins of the Kinetic Chess Set

Inspired by an origami fold pattern, designed as a present for a loved one.

Watch Video

The Kinetic Chess Set

Weighing in at almost eight pounds, the Kinetic Chess Set carries a solid walnut playing surface in a precision-machined, black-anodized aluminum chassis. Four integrated panels are joined using brushed stainless steel hardware in an origami-inspired mechanism which can dynamically transition between storage, setup, and playing states. Self-centering on the playing surface and securely stored piece trays, our custom magnetic chess pieces are CNC machined from solid blocks of a resin-infused birch laminate normally reserved for high-touch objects like knife handles, jewelry, and pistol grips. The force of their magnetic base is subtle, leaving play uninterrupted and feeling more like additional piece weighting.

Thanks to the set's single degree of freedom playing configuration which is constrained by its planar resting surface, even with its cantilevered corners, it feels as solid and square as the surface below it.

Design Features

The set never has to be emptied or flipped during setup. Pieces can be arranged directly between the piece trays and playing surface.
The origami bird informs setup as well as use. Position A1 on the walnut playing surface is marked with an origami bird, and also indicates the direction of panel movement when opening as well as which panel goes to the top while closing.
Proper board layout is indicated by laser-marked icons in the piece trays. The white piece tray's king icon is on the right side of its queen, and is on the same side as the origami bird which marks square A1. The black piece tray's king icon is to the player's left of the queen.
Pieces will always appear perfectly aligned, whether on their individual playing squares during gameplay or in their piece trays upon opening, and even after bumps while playing and shakes while stored.
Panel bottom edges feature discrete elastomeric bumpers which dampen panel contact and safely grip their supporting surfaces.

Materials

Black-anodized aluminum chassis (CNC-machined 6061-T6 Aluminum Alloy)
Brushed stainless links (CNC-machined 316 Stainless Steel)
Polished stainless steel fasteners (CNC-machined 316 and bearings (316 SS)
Resin-infused birch laminate chess pieces (CNC-machined birch laminate)
Laser-patterned black walnut playing surface (catalyzed lacquer fini

Solid Walnut Playing Surface

We laser-patterned and stained a pair of book matched solid walnut panels for each chess set. Our unique playing surface texturing results in a smooth, clearly patterned surface both in color and reflection while preserving the continuous grain afforded by its single piece construction.

Machined Stainless Steel Links

Brushed stainless steel links and 24 stainless steel ball bearings ensure that the user feels only the movement of the underlying mechanism during articulation, and not the compliance of its constituent parts.

CNC Machined Chassis

To improve robustness over long-term use, we replaced the solid wood construction of our early prototype with a metal-wood hybrid design. Each set is machined from solid aluminum plate

Micron Precision

CNC Machined Construction

We use the most advanced manufacturing processes available to build our products. This precisionis essential to achieving the tactility which characterizes our authentic hardware.

The Invixiball is one of those rare objects that’s both fun and fascinating — a perfect blend of form and function. Whether it’s displayed as a sleek desk accent, bounced around like a playful stress-reliever, or simply rolled between your fingers while you think, this seemingly simple lattice sphere continually surprises.
Visually, its precise geometric pattern and uniform shape are incredibly eye-catching. Tactilely, it’s light as a feather, yet feels as solid and strong as a space-grade alloy. The way it compresses and rebounds gives it kinetic energy you wouldn’t expect from something that looks so elegant and sculptural. The bounce has a uniquely satisfying “ping” to it — a blend of sound and sensation that’s oddly addictive.
It’s the kind of object that draws curiosity, invites interaction, and holds up to all the attention it gets. If you’re even slightly intrigued, don’t hesitate — you won’t regret adding one of these to your collection.

Mathematical Sculpture for Fun

Exactly as promised (have not and will not do the compression test though).
Quality precision manufacturing.
While not an enjoyer of math, I have always appreciated pieces like this. It started with buckyballs, tensegrity and more, now there is this Invixiball. Somewhere down the line someone will probably try and anodize this from both heat and electrochemically. But I will just keep it as a sculpture toy.

Kinetic Chess Set - Second Limited Edition