Detour into the basics

I detected through a comment the work of George Mokray - he build a set of A and B quanta modules that connect via magnets, and form a tetrahedron and an octahedron, which then join together to a cube. I spend some time investigating his suggestion to build tensegrity quanta modules, and simply need to keep track of some important experiences I gained in this process.

Tetrahedron split into four volumetric quarters, bottom quarter split into 6 A-Quanta modules

My spatial imagination improved while working on my tensegrity structures, but I still have trouble conceptualising a 3d object from a 2d still image. Initially, I was unaware that the four quarters were identical, and that the same applied for the A-quantas - there's only one set of edge lengths which can be build in two orientations.

A Class-2 tensegrity tetrahedron requires only four struts, two joints and seven tendons. As the a-quanta module is an irregular tetrahedron, there are two different strut length and seven different tendon lengths that need to be calculated (or experimentally derived). Symmetry brings a lot of stability and balance two class-1 tensegrities, irregular objects belong to uncharted territory.

Nevertheless, I used my copy of Fuller's Synergetics to refresh my knowledge, and started creating a CAD file to have some plans with precise measurements. I plan to do some 3d printing in the future, which means I better familiarise myself with CAD software. And potentially I could design single struts with a bend, instead of using two struts and a join.

Besides building an irregular tetrahedron as Class-2 tensegrity, the challenge to join many of them remains tricky. George used magnets in the faces to link the modules together - magnetic polarity will still require face bonding. However, depending on the design of the strut end, three magnets could be installed at each end.

The next steps will be designing the strut ends to easily attach tendons, and deciding how much curvature I will use. Building has to wait for a while- first I will have to set up the printing environment,  which hopefully will solve of the technical problems I have with OpenSCAD.