This Sawtooth Polyhedral explores the contrast between sharp, complex geometry and the softness of nature. Its dramatic, spiked form is constructed from 60 individual faces, each framed by a 3D-printed border designed to interlock with the neighboring pieces with almost LEGO-like precision.
Inset within each frame is a piece of clear laser-cut acrylic, UV printed with an intricate pattern of winding green vines and delicate flowers. The transparency of the acrylic allows the botanical pattern to appear suspended within the structure, while overlapping faces create unexpected layers of color, light, and detail as the piece is viewed from different angles.
What I especially enjoy about this design is the contradiction between its form and its surface. The sawtooth geometry is angular, pointed, and almost aggressive, while the flowing vines and tiny blossoms soften those edges and give the piece a more organic character. The result is a polyhedral that feels simultaneously mathematical and botanical, engineered and delicate.
It’s also a combination of several of my favorite fabrication techniques—3D printing, laser cutting, UV printing, and precision assembly—all coming together to transform a complicated geometric form into something that feels unexpectedly alive.
Once again super impressed with your ability to come up with and design these intricate forms, as well as your helper’s ability to assemble a beautiful shape from a pile of pieces! Another winner!
WOW! Your creativity and ability to visualize, plan and execute the steps needed to create these works of art is amazing. I always look forward to your new creations.
Mind blown! That looks absolutely fabulous! Love the delicate colors of the vines and flowers against the stark edging. I do a LOT of LEGO, but your design looks beyond my capability to put together!
Another beautiful one of a kind piece of art, masterfully made with a combination of ingenuity, creativity and aesthetic sense. I agree that the contrast between the agressive spikes and the flowing vine and floral pattern balance the piece and makes it appealing.
I´m glad you enjoy the whole production process. Thank you @pubultrastar for sharing and inspiring the rest of us.
Did you spray hammered metallic paint on 3D-printed structure after assembly and before inserting the acrylic panels?
I can’t imagine how you come up with the designs plus how you assemble all of the parts. The finished product is awesome looking. They are all works of art.
can you share how many individual unique pieces there are in the design? How was the plex installed? looks like there is an undercut…Two 3d printed pieces per panel? Amazing CAD work. What system are you using?
There are 60 of these 3D printed shapes, and I used glue to keep them together. There were small gaps in some of the edges, which were filled with silicon sealant. It was then primed and spray painted.
There are 60 acrylic faces that snap fit into each 3d printed part with no glue.
I design in Fusion 360. This particular shape was exported from a photoshop plugin called Flexify 2.0, and then imported into Fusion to manipulate. I wasn’t sure how feasible this shape would be to make due to the convex and concave angles, but it went together without much resistence.
I can’t imagine her patience in being the assembler of all of these.