Star Trek: TNG - Tensegrity Table

prusaprinters

<p>I was creating a Geordi La Forge visor for a friend and thought it would be awesome if it "floated" for display. Looking around the "verse" I found this table and really liked how the arm options looked.</p> <p>I decided to remix it and add a Star Trek themed spin on it for the visor to sit on.</p> <p>To create this, I printed it out, sanded it and prepared it for filler primer using Spot Putty. I then glued the pieces together and did some final prep.</p> <p>I then took fishing line and started to join it all up. This was the most difficult because I was having issues keeping the tension on the strings while I got it all hooked up. To solve this, I drilled holes in some small plastic tubing. I then fed the fishing line up through the hole, through the plastic tube, then back down into the hole where I tied a knot.</p> <p>This allowed me to pull on the knot end to add tension on the strings (as the plastic would bind on the string). Once I had it all measured and tensioned, I could drop some superglue in the holes and add a little "kicker" to cure it instantly.</p> <p>I then did a final round of spot putty on the holes and sanded them as flush as I could. After a final primer, paint, and sealer, it was done.</p> <p>...</p> <p>If I were to do this again I would change a few things.</p> <ol> <li>I would probably try to make a tension system on the bottom to help aid in putting it together.</li> <li>I originally modelled caps to place over the strings in the top, but they didn't work. I would probably find a way to explore this again as the sanding result wasn't as perfect as I would like.</li> <li>I had no idea how much weight it could take when I created it. The visor (because my local hobby store only had rods and not tubes) was heavier than intended after paint, resin, etc. and so the strings buckle slightly. Had I used tubes it wouldn't have been an issue.</li> </ol> <p>...</p> <p>I've only started to dabble in 3D modelling, so hopefully it works well for everyone. Let me know if you have any issues and I'll try and fix it.</p> <h3>Print Settings</h3> <p><strong>Printer Brand:</strong></p> <p>Creality</p> <p class="detail-setting printer"><strong>Printer: </strong> <div><p>CR-10</p></div> <p><strong>Rafts:</strong></p> <p>No</p> <p class="detail-setting supports"><strong>Supports: </strong> <div><p>No</p></div> <p><strong>Resolution:</strong></p> <p>0.16</p> <p class="detail-setting infill"><strong>Infill: </strong> <div><p>25%</p></div> <p><strong>Filament:</strong> Hatchbox PLA White</p> <p><br/> <p class="detail-setting notes"><strong>Notes: </strong></p> </p><div><p>I printed all of these flat on the bed. Everything printed well except the arms that had a slight print error with the bevel. I'm not sure if this was my printer or what, but something to be aware of. </p></div> </p></p></p> Category: Decor