Prime Link: 8_3_3

thingiverse

The 8_3_3 prime link can be displayed in two versions: thin and thick, both within a constant radius tube. The thin version features a halved-sized tube to enhance visibility of crossings, while the thick version shows the tube at full scale. These models are easy to print with minimal support material. To learn more about the 8_3_3 prime knot, visit its page on the Knot Atlas (http://katlas.math.toronto.edu/L8a15). For further insights into tight knots, refer to Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ropelength). RidgeRunner, a software developed by this author, creates these models using an algorithm that minimizes knot length while maintaining a tube around the knot. This software is available for free at http://www.jasoncantarella.com/wordpress/software/ridgerunner/. The unique shape of the model results from minimizing a specific function; altering this function would generate a different model. A movie showcasing the tightening process of this prime link is available on (http://www.jasoncantarella.com/movs).