Tensegrity hexagons

Tensegrity Hexagons.

Tensegrity is a structural principle where elements under compression do not touch each other. They're are only connected and hold in place by tensioned members (usually cables). The term "tensegrity" is short for "tensional integrity and was proposed by Buckminster Fuller in the 1960s.

This experimental model is a study on fabricating such a tensegrity structure. The boundary conditions are set to avoid assembly of the members and making additional support material obsolete. The focus here is on FFF/FDM as fabrication method. The intertwined hexagonal rings are only connected through fine strands to each other for stabilization. They're just filament extruded into the air. This technique is called bridging.

Geometry was created using Rhino/Grasshopper.