buckyball extension.

thingiverse

Buckyballs serve as the foundation for geodesic domes, characterized by uniform edge lengths and one type of vertex. Each vertex connects two hexagons to a pentagon in a dome. Nonetheless, real-life domes are more intricate due to space requirements. Extensions or joining balls pose challenges because of their angled faces. One approach to add an extension is demonstrated here, maintaining the faceted dome appearance. The tube end could be duplicated as desired. Several domes can also be combined for uses like greenhouses or shade houses. To illustrate, fused bucky balls are uploaded but note that these shapes aren't exact due to Sketchup limitations. Printed half-scale in PLA with minimal 3% fill, a full-sized version might reach 3M height and be constructed of rod with joiners, more likely welded steel tube.