#rhinoceros

Stellation of polyhedra refers to the process of extending the faces (or edges) of a polyhedron outward to form new, more complex shapes. These new shapes, called stellations, are created by adding extra vertices, edges, and faces that “project” outward from the original polyhedron’s structure. You can create an infinite number of new polyhedral forms, depending on how you extend the faces and edges. In this short tutorial video, I am modeling a stellated icosahedron. I use basic modeling commands…

A dual polyhedron is a concept in geometry where two polyhedra are related in such a way that the vertices of one polyhedron correspond to the faces of the other, and the faces of the first polyhedron correspond to the vertices of the second. The process of creating a dual polyhedron is called duality, and it applies to many regular, semi-regular, and some irregular polyhedra. In the case of Platonic solids, the cube and octahedron are duals of each other….

The truncated octahedron is an Archimedean solid, characterized by a mix of hexagonal and square faces, and it has a very symmetrical and regular structure. Buckminster Fuller called this solid “Mecon”. The truncation process includes the cutting the edges of a polyhedron. We do this by dividing every edge of the polyhedron into 1/3s. Then, we carefully re-connect these division points to generate new, planar polygons. In the case of a truncated octahedron, we transform the 8 regular triangular faces…

Buckminster Fuller used the term “dymaxion” for a variety of his designs, and one of these was the dymaxion map. It was based on the geometry of a polyhedron. While the dymaxion map is more directly related to the icosahedron, Fuller’s work often involved using other polyhedral shapes. One of them is the cuboctahedron. He used this term for various conceptual and practical designs, particularly in the context of his ideas on efficiency and structure. The cuboctahedron itself is notable…

A Buckyball, (or Fullerene), is a molecule of 60 carbon atoms with a structure resembling a soccer ball. It is a specific type of fullerene, often referred to as C60, where the carbon atoms form a series of pentagons and hexagons in a pattern that creates a spherical shape. This structure is similar to the arrangement found in a truncated icosahedron, with 12 pentagonal and 20 hexagonal faces. The buckyball is named after architect Buckminster Fuller, who popularized geodesic domes,…

Truncation in mathematics and geometry refers to cutting off parts of a shape, typically the vertices, edges, or other extremities, to create a new modified figure. This process is often used with polygons, polyhedra, or functions. A truncated tetrahedron is a polyhedron we can derive from a regular tetrahedron by truncating (cutting off) its four vertices. This process creates a new shape with additional faces while maintaining its symmetry. In this tutorial video, I am modeling and unrolling a truncated…

In Rhino, layouts are used to prepare drawings for printing or presentation. They provide a way to organize and display 2D views of your 3D model, such as top, front, side, and perspective views, in a way suitable for producing printed or published documents. In this short tutorial video, I show the basic usage of the Rhinoceros layout system. So, this Rhinoceros Layout Tutorial video is for beginner-level CAD users. Therefore, you can use it to create PDF posters and…

A cube is a three-dimensional shape with six square faces, twelve edges, and eight vertices. It is one of the most familiar geometric solids and is a special type of rectangular prism where all sides are of equal length. A cube has a high degree of symmetry. Angles between its faces are right angles. It is often referred to as a “regular hexahedron”. Also cube is one of the Platonic solids, known for its perfect symmetry and simplicity. Nevertheless, the…

A dodecahedron is a three-dimensional polyhedron with twelve flat, regular pentagonal faces, twenty vertices, and thirty edges. It is one of the Platonic solids and is highly symmetrical, with each face being a regular pentagon. The dodecahedron’s shape is unique among the Platonic solids because its faces are polygons with five sides, unlike the others which have triangular faces. Due to its symmetry, the dodecahedron has been used in various applications, including as a model in geometry and in certain…

An icosahedron is a three-dimensional polyhedron with twenty triangular faces, twelve vertices, and thirty edges. It is one of the five Platonic solids and is highly symmetrical, with all faces being equilateral triangles. A regular icosahedron has equal edge lengths and angles between its faces, making it one of the most symmetrical shapes in three-dimensional space. In this short tutorial video, I am modeling and unrolling an icosahedron. I studied this beautiful solid here, here, and here before. The Icosahedron…