An explanation sheet for making
Straw Polyhedrons
Materials and tools |
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Example 1: Making a regular tetrahedron (1) Preparation of connectors |
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1. In order to make parallel connectors cut
6mm diameter straw into 2 cm length. Make
twelve 2 cm pieces. |
2. Make a slit in the middle of the connector.
Do not cut one third of the circumference
of the straw. |
3. Hold the both end of the connector and fold it to open the slit. |
(2) Preparation of edges | ||
4. 4mm diameter straws are used to make edges. We use opposite side of the mouthpiece as an edge. Cut the edge into proper size. We use twelve 4mm diameter straws for making a regular tetrahedron. | 5. Make one straight slit on each mouthpiece side of 4mm straw. | |
6. Connecting edges, insert a mouthpiece
into an edge end of another 4mm diameter
straw. |
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(3) Assembly of connectors and edges | ||
7. Bend twelve 4mm straws | 8. Insert a 4mm straw into two connectors like the picture above. | 9. Make another combination of 4mm straw
and two connectors. Connect the two combinations. |
10. Two edges are connected. | 11. Connect one more edge. | 12. Insert remained slit mouthpiece into
free end of the edge in order to make a equilateral
triangle. |
13. Insert 4mm straws into connectors like above picture. | 14. Put connectors and 4mm straws like above picture. | 15. Insert a 4mm straw into a free open end of an edge. |
16. Insert new 4mm straw edge into connectors. | 17. Connect 4mm straws. Repeat 15-17 two times. | 18. Finished regular tetrahedron. |
Example 2: A regular hexahedron Materials: Twenty four (24) 4mm diameter straws and 24 connectors |
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Finished regular hexahedron | The expansion of the regular hexahedron |
Example 3: An irregular hexahedron Materials: Eighteen (18) 4mm diameter straws and 18 connectors |
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Finished hexahedron | The expansion of the irregular hexahedron |
Example 4: A regular octahedron Materials: Twenty four (24) 4mm diameter straws and 24 connectors |
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Finished regular octahedron | The expansion of the regular octahedron. An octahedron consists of eight equilateral triangles. |
Example 5: A regular 12-hedron Materials: Sixty (60) 4mm diameter straws and 60 connectors |
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Finished regular 12-hedron | The expansion of the 12-hedron 12-hedron consists of 12 regular pentagons. |
Example 6: A regular 20-hedron Materials: Sixty (60) 4mm diameter straws and 60 connectors |
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Finished regular 20-hedron | The expansion of the 20-hedron A regular 20-hedron consists of 20 equilateral triangles. |
Example 7: A skeleton of soccer ball Materials: One hundred and twenty (120) 4mm diameter straws and 120 connectors. |
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Soccer ball skeleton | Making the soccerball This soccer ball skeleton consists of 20 equilateral triangles and 12 regular pentagons. |