Impossible Table
Impossible Table
3D
Published 2020-08-11T11:14:21+00:00
I originally uploaded this to Thingiverse, but as their website has been having significant stability and speed issues, I am uploading it here as well.
This is a hanging table top where tension forces are used to keep the table upright and balanced instead of compression forces on standard legs. The end result is an object that seems to defy gravity and physics.
This was inspired by a video I saw online of someone doing a similar thing with yellow wire/pipe cleaners. I liked the idea and thought I'd make it a tad more classy and stylized. The end result is something strong enough to hold a light object or cactus planter without any problems.
Edit - One of my friends told me this type of object was called a "tensegrity". After doing a bit of research, it turns out there is a whole class of objects that use this principle. Very interesting stuff!
Also, be sure to share your makes! This was a lot of fun to make and I'd love to see how yours turn out :)
This prints without supports w/ 0.3mm layer height. I'd recommend PLA, but it should work with anything that prints well.
To Assemble:
The assembly is fairly simple but kind of a pain in the rear unless you have a second set of hands or a way to hold the parts during assembly. Likely the easiest way to put this together would be: * Remove any flange or flashing where the parts touched the bed (or use a raft). * Glue the "legs" into each base. There are notches to help you out here. * Cut three equal lengths of string. Tie them between each corner. Use a ruler or similar to make sure each is exactly the same length tied on before continuing. * Tie a piece of string between the two center posts and pull it tight enough to create a small amount of tension. Tada! You are done! Woohoo! Now do it four more times until you get it perfect, heheh. It's not easy to put together.... Pro Tip: If you understand how to tie a square knot and transform it into a slip knot and back, you can adjust the length of each leg to get the best results w/o measuring. If you don't know how to do this, look it up or find a boy scout, sailor, or creepy neighbor who collects rope.
| Date published | 11/08/2020 |
| Support Free | YES |