http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php Shapeways: Bring your creativity to life in 3D http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=6482&th=1362#msg_6482
This is my third (and last) post in this section about the objects I received on Friday. There is more to show, but I will probably post about the other objects later, in other sections (problems of design or problems of printing).

I really like interlocked shapes, and I guess 3D printing is one of the best way to actually create them.

So to begin, here are two Brunnian (or Borromean) links.
First the famous Brunnian rings or Brunian circles (seen in the coat of arms of the Borromeo family).

Such an interlocking cannot be obtained with standard rings, so I cheated a little bit by giving them a kind of ondulation. All the 3 rings have the same shape and have a nice symmetry (I put the ondulation even where not necessary to keep this symmetry).

The property of all brunnian links is that that even though the 3 links are interlocked, no two of them are actually linked: as a consequence, if you remove (break) just one of them then the two other ones will fall apart.

The Brunian links with each link having an ellipse shape have the same topology as the previous one but don't required any trick.

It is an interesting object to play with.

And last but not least, I am really happy to have received the Dod'net: it is a network of interlocked dodecahedra.
The printing is just FANTASTIC: there is no defect. It is just perfect.

Here are some details.

Of course it is probably very fragile (I did not try to stress it), but I am amazed that such a structure could be printed and arrived with no damages!
Congratulation to all those who manipulated it without breaking it (including myself )!]]> Magic 2009-09-12T17:30:53-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=6503&th=1362#msg_6503 two Brunnian models and of the Dod'Net on my channel at YouTube.
Enjoy!
]]> Magic 2009-09-13T19:51:55-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=6507&th=1362#msg_6507 gibell 2009-09-13T23:19:46-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=6511&th=1362#msg_6511 I have to think about it: perhaps it could be done by modifying the design, with for instance one of the ring being planar?]]> Magic 2009-09-14T07:03:12-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=6721&th=1362#msg_6721 Galbot 2009-09-21T10:55:31-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=6746&th=1362#msg_6746
I was so fascinated by your object that I had to copy it and build my own.



And another one I'm tinkering with, 5 equilateral triangular pyramids intersecting (stl at bottom of post);



]]> crsdfr 2009-09-22T05:16:36-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=7056&th=1362#msg_7056
Actually, your design seems a little bit different from mine: the thickness seems different depending on where you are along the ellipse, while mine has always the same section. Or perhaps is it an illusion due to the camera?
Anyway, the links look great in Blue Jeans.

I also like the five interlocked tetrahedra (I have seen in another post that you also have a multicolored version that is even more beautiful).

By the way, I have designed a new shape made of interlocked "rounded stars".
I will show it as soon as it arrives. Stay tuned! ]]> Magic 2009-10-03T17:14:54-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=8448&th=1362#msg_8448 ]]> lensman 2009-12-20T16:24:42-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=8453&th=1362#msg_8453 This distance depends on the area that is in "quasi-contact". The larger the area, the larger the clearance.

If I had to give some values, I would say that:
- 0.5 mm is probably the minimum for Detail Material
- 0.75 mm the minimum for Strong and Flexible material.
- 1 mm should be safe whatever material.

Please if someone has a different experience, do correct my statements.
]]> Magic 2009-12-20T17:37:50-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=8461&th=1362#msg_8461 lensman 2009-12-21T03:30:56-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=34224&th=1362#msg_34224 smiteo 2011-09-13T20:23:07-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=34225&th=1362#msg_34225 Youknowwho4eva 2011-09-13T20:25:58-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=34226&th=1362#msg_34226
]]> smiteo 2011-09-13T20:44:21-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=34229&th=1362#msg_34229
First off...

Welcome to Shapeways!

re: support sprue sizing... the size of the sprue would depend upon the dimensions of the part it is supporting. You can find the base stainless steel design rules here, but if you want to ignore those and push the boudaries, the advanced stainless rules are here. Also, see the design rules for Silver for silver info, in particular, check out Duann's ring that broke with 0.7mm wires.

Have Fun!

Paul]]> stop4stuff 2011-09-13T22:09:32-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=34230&th=1362#msg_34230
]]> smiteo 2011-09-13T22:29:54-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=34231&th=1362#msg_34231
With the dimensions you give, you'd be looking minimum 2mm for stainless and probably around 1.2mm for silver (I've not got any real experience with silver, but this is my 'educated guess' as the dimensions are really for 3D printed wax that is invested and cast)... you need to start thinking along the lines of material volume and supported material mass - there's no real hard and fast answer unless someone has done it already.

]]> stop4stuff 2011-09-13T22:47:36-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=34235&th=1362#msg_34235 Youknowwho4eva 2011-09-14T00:55:47-00:00