Wireframe dome connectors

thingiverse

Human: Dome nuts make great prints. You can now easily create hubs for geodesic domes with flexible vertices by printing dome nuts. A least six long, flexible, and bendable wires (I used stainless steel spring wire) will be needed to do this project. First print a V1 dome using 12x pentahubs then add as many Vs as you need with additional hexahubs. The image provided here shows how a 2V dome is done. You can also try making little Z-shaped hooks at the ends of the wire to prevent them from coming loose. Next connect full circles between the hexagon nuts. I used thinner wire, but it will be up to you to calculate your own dimensions. Keep in mind that you should solder the loops closed into circles for more secure results. Now it's time to bend and assemble your wires together. You only have one (actually two) way to do this when following the bending plan provided here. My first prototype was a bit rough since I had free-handed the whole project, so I advise taking some time to nail in the reference points onto a wooden board. Also use straight wire that hasn't been coiled before. Unfortunately the wire I used turned out too thin for my taste - but it was a fun little toy anyway! Not to mention it became quite bouncy and can be crumpled at any time. You might find this link to http://desertdomes.com/domecalc.html helpful, though remember that your lengths calculated are based on straight struts only and may not apply to this current project. Here are a few additional things to note - V1 is done by solid angles while rings for the V2 use circumferences. For V3 and above, you'll have to come up with those figures yourself. If anyone has the necessary formulas let me know! Instructions for completion: Simply find some wire, set your parameters, start printing and get bending - until it's just right, or rather, looks like you're on top of the world!