Mini Voronoi Cylinder Cage 3.5×25mm

thingiverse

A three-dimensional structure consisting of a cylinder with an intricate pattern of arcs, known as a Voronoi pattern, has been created to accommodate a small cylindrical object within its inner cavity. The Voronoi pattern is comprised of arcs with an average diameter of 1.5mm and is sustained by at least three arcs at any given height along the cylinder's axis, ensuring structural integrity. The structure was designed using computer-aided design (CAD) software, specifically Rhinoceros 5 and T-Splines, utilizing the Grasshopper programming tool to automate the process. A trial version of these programs was used to generate a mathematically correct Voronoi diagram on a UV-unwrapped cylinder. The resulting structure features a seamless Voronoi pattern that perfectly junctions when reprojected onto the cylinder's surface. This complex design required multiple attempts and revisions, with each iteration building upon previous steps. To achieve this intricate design, several techniques were employed: 1. The Voronoi pattern was first generated on the UV-unwrapped cylinder using Grasshopper. 2. The mesh was then projected back onto the cylinder, creating a new surface that followed the Voronoi pattern. 3. A cage was created around the Voronoi cells to define their shape and size. 4. T-Splines were used to generate pipes around the Voronoi pattern, effectively creating a seamless transition between the cells. 5. The final structure was then printed using an Ortoprinter with a resolution of 0.2mm, without any raft or support. The use of computer-aided design software and programming tools allowed for the creation of this complex structure with precision and accuracy.