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Geodesic Dome from Laser-Cut Cardboard

by Design that Matters on June 30, 2016

Table of Contents

Geodesic Dome from Laser-Cut Cardboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Intro: Geodesic Dome from Laser-Cut Cardboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Step 1: Design the dome panels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

File Downloads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Step 2: Notes on the dome design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

File Downloads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Step 3: Inspirations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Step 4: References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Advertisements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

http://www.instructables.com/id/Geodesic-Dome-From-Laser-Cut-Cardboard/
 Author:Design that Matters Design that Matters
We are a non-profit that solves problems for and with the poor in developing countries using design.

Intro: Geodesic Dome from Laser-Cut Cardboard

In this brief tutorial, we will show you how to build geodesic domes using cardboard or foamcore board panels. We manufactured our panels using a laser cutter with a
2'x3' area. If you are highly motivated, you could also create these panels by hand, using the same design template.

We assembled our domes using Makedo screws (https://www.make.do), an amazing and re-usable tool for cardboard prototyping. If you're impatient to get building, you
could also assemble your dome using zip-ties or binder clips.

NOTE that this Instructable is a draft! Help us make it better by putting your suggestions in the comments!

http://www.instructables.com/id/Geodesic-Dome-From-Laser-Cut-Cardboard/
Step 1: Design the dome panels
We have designed panels for what's called a 2v-dome with 40 panels, and a 3v-dome with 75 panels. Cut from 2'x3' cardboard stock, the 2v-dome is 36 inches tall, and
the 3v-dome is 54 inches tall. You can create an even larger 3v-dome with an additional bottom strip of 30 panels that will be almost six feet tall, but it isn't as stable as
the other two domes.

Attached are the dome panels as a CorelDraw file. This is the format that works best with the printer driver for our Epilog Legend 36EXT laser cutter. Please request
other file formats in the comments!

http://www.instructables.com/id/Geodesic-Dome-From-Laser-Cut-Cardboard/
File Downloads

2V-geodesic-dome_v4.cdr (76 KB)

[NOTE: When saving, if you see .tmp as the file ext, rename it to '2V-geodesic-dome_v4.cdr']

3V-geodesic-dome_v4.cdr (65 KB)

[NOTE: When saving, if you see .tmp as the file ext, rename it to '3V-geodesic-dome_v4.cdr']

http://www.instructables.com/id/Geodesic-Dome-From-Laser-Cut-Cardboard/
Step 2: Notes on the dome design
Our goal was to make the biggest possible geodesic dome using panels cut from 24"x36" cardboard using our 60W Epilog laser cutter.

We first considered a 2V 3/8th dome design, which has just 40 panels. Note that most dome calculators provide parameters in terms of struts and hubs.

See the attached Excel spreadsheet for all of our calculations.

File Downloads

150522 Geodesic Dims.xlsx (26 KB)

[NOTE: When saving, if you see .tmp as the file ext, rename it to '150522 Geodesic Dims.xlsx']
Step 3: Inspirations
Makedo "Geo" dome https://mymakedo.com/showcase/view/geo-dome/ https://mymakedo.com/blog/makedo-how-to-geodesic-...
Tanaka Satoshi's Cardboard Cinema: https://mymakedo.com/blog/cardboard-cinema-dome1 See also his Flickr stream: https://mymakedo.com/blog/cardboard-
cinema-dome1
3d model of a 3v dome https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model.html?redir...
Clever laser-cut dome skeleton https://www.uni-weimar.de/medien/wiki/GMU:I_am_a_...

Step 4: References
1. Desert Domes reverse dome calcs

given "long" strut length, calculates remaining dimensions goal is to make what Desert domes considers a "3/8 dome"; presumably a "5/8 dome" includes the
sphere centerline and below that the surface begins curving inwards again.
2V: http://www.desertdomes.com/rev2calc.html
3v: http://www.desertdomes.com/rev2calc.html
General ratios: http://www.desertdomes.com/rev2calc.html

2. Geo Dome UK

gives total quantity of panels by type (bounding struts) and panel assembly diagram
CONFUSING: in 2V diagram, what GeoDome calls the "A" strut, Desert Domes calls the "B" strut and vice versa.
http://geo-dome.co.uk/2v_tool.asp
http://www.instructables.com/id/Geodesic-Dome-From-Laser-Cut-Cardboard/
 in 3V diagram, Desert Domes and Geodomes use the same ABC notation http://geo-dome.co.uk/2v_tool.asp

HOWTO GENERATE PANEL DIMENSIONS:

estimate maximum strut length using example triangles in CorelDraw. Goal is to fit two triangles on each 24"x26" cardboard sheet, including 1/25" thick assembly
tabs on each triangle face. this looks like 22.5 inches.
in 2V dome, using Desert Domes calculator, this max length is the input for the A strut in 3V dome, using Desert Domes calculator, this max length is the input for
the C strut

HOWTO CALCULATE THE NUMBER MAKEDO FASTENERS

assume three fasteners per intersection/strut

subtract three fasteners for every "base" strut

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http://www.instructables.com/id/Geodesic-Dome-From-Laser-Cut-Cardboard/