Art is subjective… so build your own art by turning those flat 2D wall into interesting colorful 3D patterns that match your style, display your logo, or even be used as interesting shelves for your collectibles!
Inverse Tetrahedrons
I got inspired by 3D origami paper wall art that can look a bit like this:
I liked the idea of using multiple connected tetrahedrons as they can fill a plane nicely and still have an interesting 3D effect. Though these are difficult to connect by themselves unless you add something extra on the back of each tetrahedron.
So I decided to inverse this tetrahedron and create something new that still gives a fun and exciting 3D experience, but also allow for some extra space on all sides to easily connect the individual parts.
The Individual Parts
Each “triangles” part consist of two inverse tetrahedrons combines. Or from a 2D point of view: two triangles - let just call them that for now.
On the backside of these triangles there are dovetail slots to combine multiple of these “triangles”-parts together with simple printable connectors:
The connectors have a double function:
hold two “triangles” parts together
affix the entire artwork to the wall using the printed hole in the connector
To mix things up these also a “hexagon” part which consists of a hexagon from a 2d point of view, but it has a different design compared to the triangles which can break up the pattern in interesting ways.
Combining “triangles” and “hexagon”s with connectors will allow you to create a great variety of artworks. Make a several horizontal lines to be used as shelves. Create a large hexagonal shape that includes your logo or favorite Pokémon. Or even redesign and remix some of the parts to extend the options for yourself and others!
Done with the your design and want to close of those leftover dovetail gaps? Use the “cap” part to print a cap in any color you like to close that gap. Since the gaps are always placed at regular intervals you can choose a contrasting color to highlight this pattern.
Time to switch it up?
Tired of your art piece? Just disconnect the pieces and reconfigure them. Check back on this page to see if myself of someone else remixed new parts that you can use, or just print a few more parts with different colors.
When the connector is sized properly no gluing or screwing is required for assembly.
How To Print:
BIG FLAT SIDE GOES ON THE BUILD PLATE - rotate the model if it's any other way!
Use the fastest print settings you are comfortable with.
Use your favorite colors!
Change the infill to Gyroid (tasty!) and use only 4% infill - that should be more than enough unless you plan to store relatively heavy parts on these in shelf configuration.
Scale the triangles to your preferred size. The 100% will give you triangles with edges of 100mm (or about 4"). I'm confident this model and the connectors can be scaled down to 50% of perhaps even smaller if you want. Scaling it up is not an issue, but how large of a printer do you even have?!
For printing multiple “triangles” of the same color try lining them up in a hexagonal pattern - especially when using dual colors this will give you a slight variation between each of the pieces due to differing orientation.
For the connectors: first print one at 100% (or whatever your chosen scaling for all parts is) - then test fit and adjust it with 0.5% up or down depending on fit. This is the only way because of variation between printers, nozzle wear, materials, temperatures, etc. Aim to have a tight fit that doesn't slide around anymore but doesn't require a hammer to place or remove.
Remix Guide:
Triangle edges: 100mm
Dovetail base width: ⅓ of triangle edge
Dovetail depth: 1/10 of triangle edge
Dovetail angle: 60 degrees
Triangle height: 65.72mm (not quite a perfect tetrahedron, but was a choice of aesthetics, faster print time, and less material used)
Dovetail height: ½ of triangle height with slope of 45 degrees for support-less printability
Those are all the measurements you need to reconstruct the exact same model - or just use the provided STEP files as building blocks.
Remix IDEAS:
Require more inspiration, want to expand your artwork, or just train your modeling skills? Here are some ideas that I've already been toying with, but are yet to de 3D modelled and printed:
Half of a triangle for when you want your artwork to have straight edges both vertically and horizontally.
Inverted square to spice up your art.
Inverted dodecahedron or icosahedron to spice up your art even more!
Remix models with inverted spheres but keep the same outside dimensions for a more bubbly yet less origami look to your artwork.
Extended / angled connectors which allow you to break the strict triangular tessellation pattern!
Caps with holes for standalone pieces to be hanged to a wall.
Varying heights by cutting of the ‘top’ or ‘bottom’ of the inverted tetrahedron for more variation in the third dimension.
Designing a version for the fourth dimension.
Combining 4 2d-triangles into a large triangle with a new geometric design feature.
Design a frame to go around the outside of your artwork that could also replace the caps.
Shell out the core to house a tiny 3D artwork or one of your collectibles inside.
Single triangles for when you need to have more fine control over your artwork.
Create waves, make it spiral, or add pips…
Share your artworks
Please share your artworks - I would love to see them.
I'm still printing more parts before placing them on the wall, but this is what I got so far:
LEN polygon
