How to build a tensegrity icosahedron

The model I sold most so far is a simple 6-strut icosahedron with elastic string. It can collapse entirely and bounces back fiercely afterwards. The cord is much more durable than rubber bands, my favorite product tester is my neighbour's son, who hasn't manage to destroy his toy for more than half a year now.

The bamboo sticks I used have a diameter of 5mm, with a 1mm wide groove at either end. The elastic cord has a diameter of 0.8mm, the knot prevents the string from sliding out of the groove, especially once the model is fully assembled. The tension level can be increased by looping the cord more than once, but unless you will do with all connections the symmetry can be compromised.

Slideshow

Here's a little slideshow with most of the models for 2011. Enjoy.

Market Dates

I just confirmed my bookings for the Rose Street Artist's Market for January and February. Keeping up my old habits, I will appear fortnightly on Sundays in Fitzroy, offering you the unique opportunity to buy an original piece of tensegrity art.

• January: 16 and 30
• February: 13 and 27

 Red white delight

Tensegrity Octahedron (12 struts)

 Halfcast

Tensegrity Octahedron mounted on 4-strut tensul (12 + 4 struts)

 Red Barrier

Tensegrity Icosahedron (6 struts)

 Hope

Tensegrity Tetrahedron (6 struts)

 Redfaced

Tensegrity Vector Equilibrium (24 struts)

 Tensultower

Five stacked 3-strut tensuls (15 struts), ca 130 cm high

Copperhead

Tensegrity Tetrahedron mounted on a tensul (6 + 3 struts), ca 160 cm high

Tetroid
Tensegrity Tetrahedron (6 struts)

New season

I decided to continue my presence at the Rose Street Artist's Market for at least two more month. I will give you the exact dates once my booking is confirmed. I plan to separate the toys more from the sculptures, which will sell from now on with a signed authenticity certificate. I can't bring all of them to the market, here's the current portfolio of available sculptures.

 Cyber Invasion

Variation on 6-strut tensegrity

 Kongquered Bridge

Variation on 6-strut tensegrity

 42

Tensegrity Octahedron with mixed chirality (12 struts)

 Atlas

Tensegrity sphere on five-strut tensul (30 + 5 struts)

 Zebra

Tensegrity sphere (30 struts)

 Dodeca

Tensegrity Dodecahedron (30 struts)

 Buckyball

Tensegrity Buckminsterfullerene (90 struts)

 Squared copper Octa

Tensegrity stellated octahedron (48 struts)

 Wechselbalg

Tensegrity sphere (30 struts)

 Green Horizon

Tensegrity Octahedron (12 struts)

 I-trap

Tensegrity Cuboctahedron with suspended tensegrity icosahedron (24 + 6 struts)

 Black Horizon

Tensegrity Octahedron (12 struts)

 Forced Reincarnation 2

Tensegrity Octahedron (12 struts)

 Forced Reincarnation 1

Tensegrity Octahedron (12 struts)

 Trinity Cube

Tensegrity cube (12 struts)

 Copped cube

Tensegrity cube (12 struts)

Red Octa

Tensegrity octahedron (12 struts)

Neon Logic

Tensegrity Icosahedron (6 struts)

Prime cube lifted

Tensegrity cube on 3-strut tensul (12 + 3 struts)

Thank you

The first part of my experiment ended today - I had my last appearance on the Rose Street Artist's Market for this year. I'd like to thanks all my customers, everyone stress-testing my constructions (besides the real clumsy ones) and everyone showing an interest in my tensegrity sculptures. I wanted to find out whether I could produce tensegrity structures that were appealing enough to the general public to be sold.

I spend 13 sundays in Fitzroy, and learned to enjoy my time on the market thoroughly. I started with a cut-loss strategy, hoping for a break even after one market season, willing to discontinue the experiment in case of utter lack of business.

Now it's time for a break, ironically mainly because I broke my foot. However, once I'm back on both feet I will arrange market dates for the next year. Until then, I can work on some aspects of my market presence I neglected a bit. On the product side, I want to introduce more colour. Due to my outdoor workshop setting the Melbourne weather prevents more colour temporarily, but summer has to come one day.

Thank you all for your interest and support.

Market Dates Update

I managed to break a bone in my foot, so I'm a bit less mobile at the moment. That means I have to cancel my appearance for next sunday (November 14) on the Rose Street Artist Market. Nevertheless, I'd like to thank all my customers for their interest in my work, and I'm confident to be back on two feet in time for the remaining market dates.

November: 28
December: 12 and 19

See you in Fitzroy!

Market Dates

I booked some dates for the Rose Street Arts Market, and found some inhabitants for some of my sculptures as well. If you want to find out who lives in a tensegrity sculpture, you can find me on the Rose Street Artist's Market each second sunday until November.

• August: 8. and 23.
• September: 5. and 19.
• October: 3., 17. and 31.
• November: 14. and 28.

See you in Fitzroy!