Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Everything Else => Topic started by: Dervacumen on December 18, 2011, 10:58:51 pm
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I want to fabricate a bunch of dodecahedra with holes in the center of each face. As proof of concept, I figure it's best and least expensive to produce a few hundred pentagons with a hole in the center of each and then glue them together to make several dodecahedra. Is there anyone here that has the means to produce a couple hundred accurate pentagonal pieces with a hole in the center? The edges of each face would have to be at an angle of about 116.56 in order to be glued/epoxied together. I'd like each pentagon to have a side of about 2" with a hole of about 1.5". 1/4" material thickness for each face is probably fine for this project. That should give a good idea of the scale however all of it is flexible within say 20% of the stated dimensions.
Anyone in the plastics business that can help with this? Plastic seems less expensive than wood, but I'm open to anything I can assemble with common materials - glue, epoxy, bondo, you know, the stuff we use in this hobby. I'm beginning a search for a supplier and thought I would start here.
Cheers,
Derv
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I suggest the 3D printing folk. They can either extrude it, or CNC it.
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them laser cutters can cut a 90 degree angle, I dunno about 116 though.
maybe one of those companies that supply mathematical supplies to schools??? i remember seeing a bunch of clear colored plastic or acrylic shapes like cubes and other whatnots in my math lab back in the day.
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them laser cutters can cut a 90 degree angle, I dunno about 116 though.
maybe one of those companies that supply mathematical supplies to schools??? i remember seeing a bunch of clear colored plastic or acrylic shapes like cubes and other whatnots in my math lab back in the day.
I could take them with 90 degree angles and grind them down to 116 pretty easily, so this might be the way to go.
Problem with premade shapes is the hole in the center, and the crazy markup. By the time the thing goes through production to wholesale, to distributor...I'd rather pay someone a premium to fabricate directly. I guess I can make a jig to drill them out but I'd rather have them supplied that way.
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I suggest the 3D printing folk. They can either extrude it, or CNC it.
I've been frequenting several forums and from what I've seen the cost using those 3D printers is pretty high per piece. I didn't think of them having access to a CNC machine though.
Turning a 4x8 sheet of acrylic into a bunch of pentagons with a hole in the center will leave some scrap but I think it's the way to go. Even if I do have to grind down the edges afterwards.
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First quote for 200 1/8" thick polycarbonate pentagons 2" along each side, with a 1" hole in the center, not beveled on the edges = $528 + tax.
The price of the material is about $4.50 per square foot. I really only need 130 or so, so I could get the cost lower I guess.
Just FYI in case someone is interested.
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First quote for 200 1/8" thick polycarbonate pentagons 2" along each side, with a 1" hole in the center, not beveled on the edges = $528 + tax.
The price of the material is about $4.50 per square foot. I really only need 130 or so, so I could get the cost lower I guess.
Just FYI in case someone is interested.
i'm intersted in what kind of project you have planned with a ton of dodecahedrons... :)
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There are some folk here who have access to CNCs. Ask around.
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I don't know what your project is, so this is probably not helpful, but I remember there is a math toy out there that was a bunch of plastic pentagons with hinges on the edges. They would connect and you could make a dodecahedron from it. I don't know if sealed edges are critical to your project, but the size sounds about right, and sonme time with a drill press could give you the holes you need.
I don't remember where it is found, but it was like this:
http://www.google.com/patents?id=8vojAAAAEBAJ&printsec=abstract&zoom=4#v=onepage&q&f=false (http://www.google.com/patents?id=8vojAAAAEBAJ&printsec=abstract&zoom=4#v=onepage&q&f=false)
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I don't know what your project is, so this is probably not helpful, but I remember there is a math toy out there that was a bunch of plastic pentagons with hinges on the edges. They would connect and you could make a dodecahedron from it. I don't know if sealed edges are critical to your project, but the size sounds about right, and sonme time with a drill press could give you the holes you need.
I don't remember where it is found, but it was like this:
http://www.google.com/patents?id=8vojAAAAEBAJ&printsec=abstract&zoom=4#v=onepage&q&f=false (http://www.google.com/patents?id=8vojAAAAEBAJ&printsec=abstract&zoom=4#v=onepage&q&f=false)
This is only a prototype, so this may fit the bill. I just need the basic shape and size so I can play around. The final will be done with software but having actual parts is so much more...tactile...that for this application math is a good end point but not a start. I have easy access to a drill press so I can center the holes well enough. Thanks for the hint.
Merry Christmas for those who celebrate. Enjoy the season for those who don't.
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First quote for 200 1/8" thick polycarbonate pentagons 2" along each side, with a 1" hole in the center, not beveled on the edges = $528 + tax.
The price of the material is about $4.50 per square foot. I really only need 130 or so, so I could get the cost lower I guess.
Just FYI in case someone is interested.
i'm intersted in what kind of project you have planned with a ton of dodecahedrons... :)
New dress for lady gaga
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First quote for 200 1/8" thick polycarbonate pentagons 2" along each side, with a 1" hole in the center, not beveled on the edges = $528 + tax.
The price of the material is about $4.50 per square foot. I really only need 130 or so, so I could get the cost lower I guess.
Just FYI in case someone is interested.
i'm intersted in what kind of project you have planned with a ton of dodecahedrons... :)
New dress for lady gaga
Life size D&D dice?
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This isn't going well. It's too expensive for a prototype. I think I will consider wood instead. Or I could just get in to the engineering side and model the whole thing in CAD. I don't want to learn how to use a CAD package to do this. I'd rather give someone a cut on of the profit for their services.