Nested Polyhedra

Made on a Glowforge
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I’m Robin, it’s a pleasure to meet you.

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I’ve been circling this idea for a while, wanting to nest one polyhedron inside another, but I could never decide on a method to calculate the angles and sizes. Short version: I figured it out.

Notes:

  • 1/8 BB plywood.
  • It’s a bear to put together. Gotta take your time, the model gets very rigid as it gets more complete.
  • 5 different parts, a total of 240 pieces.
  • Overall size: 5" diameter
  • No glue.
The three quarters view is probably the best for seeing the inner and outer structures. Inside is a icosahedron, outside is a dodecahedron. (for some reason it won't upload again, so scroll back up.)

You get some fun symmetries when you start aligning the model in certain ways,

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It can look radically different depending in the viewing angle.

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Overall, the design is really sturdy, despite the fact that the struts are only 0.125" x 0.125" thick. I may scale the connectors up and see about making this at a very large scale. As it stands now the longest elements are the dodecahedron edges, at 1.44". I could jump that up to be 19" long, I wonder how large the model would be? Let’s go see. HAH! It’d be 71" in diameter, just under six feet. That’s crazy. Like “can’t fit into the house” crazy. I wonder if the 1/8" baltic would stand up at that size or if it would collapse under its own weight?

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Anyway, there you go, the latest creature.

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The next time we see @evansd2

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Ooooo very cool. 240 pieces though, my fingers ache just thinking about it.

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Another WOW!

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Definitely don’t look at this then…

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:flushed::flushed::flushed: ya, that would make my hands very angry, your dedication is admirable!

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I’ve been thinking a lot about combining the “faberge fractal” idea and something like this - i.e. making a super intricate geometric object that imitates those renderings.

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(I’ll add - yes, you could take those FF images and etch similar designs onto panels to attach to any number of the type of objects shared here and elsewhere, but I’m thinking more of something where the structure itself provides the complexity, and this creation is the closest to that idea that I’ve seen…)

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Gah! My brain itchez!

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“You have been circling this idea for a while.”…I am astonished at what goes on in your head. I forget why I have entered a room, and dwell mostly on things like breakfast choices. Your designs raise the bar and remind me of why I love this forum.

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Great build.

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