Geodesic Domes: Complete

This project was a fun one!

I don't rememeber where I first saw a geodesic dome, but they absolutely fascinate me and I've wanted to build one for a while. I started with a 1.5m diameter dome for my nieces (Fig. 1). I cut it out of a strong box that contained a saw using a hardboard template and a Stanley knife. The joins were made with gummed tape - the same sort of thing you see on the back of picture frames. It's not sticky until you dampen it and it dries to make a really strong bond, especially on cardboard.

Fig. 1 - The initial prototype, built from scratch in around 2 hours.

To build larger versions, I needed more cardboard. We tried to get recycled cardboard, but the amount we needed and the sizes of the panels made it difficult to source cardboard. In the end we ordered 200 sheets of 1200mm x 800mm double-walled corrugated cardboard. I think the sheets are designed to sit on top of items on a pallet, but they are perfect for our purposes!

Fig. 2 - Here's what 100kg of cardboard looks like.

Fig. 3 - Tools needed: Sellotape, an awl, a pen, a Stanley knife,
a steel ruler, some grey board strips and some split pins.

Fig. 4 - Greyboard template.

Fig. 5 - You can produce two triangles with three cuts.

Fig. 6 - Hello.

Fig. 7 - Hello.

Fig. 8 - Hello.

Fig. 9 - Hello.

Fig. 10 - Hello.

Fig. 11 - Hello.

Fig. 12 - Hello.

Fig. 13 - Hello.

Fig. 14 - Hello.

Fig. 15 - Hello.

Fig. 16 - Hello.

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