Hi everyone, this item is my own design, based on a classic math shape, as in the title. It is made from 20 pieces interlocking each other. Unlike in Frabjous, the locks provide counterbalance forces, so it doesn’t need any glue or any squeezing to stay in this shape (unless you unlock many of them simultaneously).
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clever!
Looks like the vertices form a dodecahedron, like the frabjous, is that right?
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That is right.
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May I ask, how do the “counterbalancing forces” work?
P.S. your mathematical yarn sculptures on your Instagram page are really cool, thanks for sharing those.
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Thanks! I started a youtube channel teaching people how to make those youtube.com/@epimono
In Frabjous, there is only one kind of join, located at the vertices. In order for the shape to hold, you either glue or make it very tight, which can be challenging because even with the laser cutter’s precision, the result is not that consistent. Some places are a little too loose, and some are too tight.
In this model, besides the joins at the vertices, there is another kind located where tetrahedra meet. This join, more like a lock, stops the join at the vertices from falling apart. The joins at the vertices are not doing nothing either. At the end, for each piece, it is balanced by 9 forces in three dimensions. The problem with Frabjous (a genius design) is each piece has only 4, which don’t provide a force that stops it from falling out of its designated plane, without the help of glue or strong friction. I do prefer the simplicity of Frabjous though.
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Love that you did it with no glue. The acrylic adds interest.
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That looks amazing!
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A Christmas tree of your stuff would be really awesome.
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Wow, that must have been a nightmare to assemble! It sounds like multiple pieces have to slot together at once. Nice job!
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Really nice work!
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Thanks! I have practiced about ten of them so far. In the beginning, it took me about four hours to assemble; now, it’s less than two.
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I’ve only been laser cutting for 6 months, it’s a totally new craft for me and I’ve been enjoying experimenting and browsing in awe of artists who create projects like you have done here. However, I’ve been an experienced crocheter for over 35 years and yet the topographical crocheted pieces you have on your Instagram still took my breathe away. You have a new “follower”, wow. Thank you for sharing your talents.
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Thank you! What an honor! I haven’t crocheted for too long, but I have been thinking about shapes in general for many years. I’m so glad you like my work. I’ve been making tutorial videos if you would like to try this style of crochet as well.
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Oh I definitely will! I subscribed to your YouTube channel and when I get a chance I’d love to try out some of those patterns. A number of years ago I read a scientific journal article on the use of hyperbolic crochet to illustrate mathematical concepts which I found fascinating in spite of always being weak in math. I made a few for my son who was studying engineering but I never took it further. I think this will be fun to try and I find them so beautiful. Maybe I’ll even finally understand some geometry (or whatever type of math it is that explains these things lol). It’ll be awhile before I attempt any laser cut versions though! Thank you for the inspiration!
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