Bubble Blocks by DaveMakesStuff

Last crawled date: 3 years, 1 month ago

These “Bubble Blocks” are formed using the “Weaire–Phelan structure,” the most mathematically efficient way for equal-sized bubbles to fit together to make foam.
The structure is made up of two pentagonal dodecahedra (12-sided) and six tetrakaidecahedra (14-sided) that form a translation unit with a lattice periodicity which is simple cubic. In crystallography, this structure is also known as the A15 Frank-Kasper phase.
The cluster pictured above shows this eight-part translation unit.
The pentagonal dodecahedron has 12 pentagonal female snaps. Each tetrakaidecahedra has four male snaps on the faces that connect with the pentagonal dodecahedron. Faces shared by neighbouring tetrakaidecahedra are flat.
Expect to do some post processing to smooth the edges of the snap surfaces.
The models above are printed with translucent filament on an FDM printer. Some are bottom lit, some are in regular room lighting. I would love to see these printed in clear resin.
The plain shapes with no snaps are also included. Note that the shapes are derived directly from the A15 Frank-Kasper phase, so the pentagonal faces are contoured, not flat.
There is a good introduction to the “Weaire–Phelan structure” here: http://www.steelpillow.com/polyhedra/wp/wp.html
These functional pieces are derived from the Weaire–Phelan structure:
"Bubble Bowl": https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4765118
"Bubble Coasters": https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4766393