INFINITY CUBE in WOOD

[Robert Hornby]

I surely don't understand all the "emphases" on using mitered corners. Especially on wood ones.  Is it just to avoid seeing any endgrain??
   ...lew...  (an engineer without any "artistic" thought)

Just like with aa wooden picture frame, using miter joints gives a uniform appearance with the grain looking like it is continuing around the corner, looks more like one continuous piece. When gluing, it also gives a stronger joint, more of a hybrid end grain/side grain surface.

Yes the mitered joints just give a more pleasant appearance, and there is a greater surface for the glue.

Hi , On the isometric drawing it would be interesting to see all the hidden lines on the back faces of the square timbers , shown dotted to see where they actually go/end up ??
Willy

 
I did consider showing hidden lines but it got too messy.

No, I won't be dowling the joints, they will not need it.
Robert, are you going to dowel the joints?

[Lew Hartswick]

:-)   Well Rosettes and Plinth blocks use to do great job before mitered joints on window and door trim. I know all about those from doing some work on a house in VA for a few years. :-)
   ...lew...

[Robert Hornby]

Actual progress has commenced with the cutting and mitering of some of the pieces. I am using a home made mitre block which I have dialed in to be sure the cuts are precisely 45 deg. I made a test join with a couple of scrap pieces to see how the join came out and I am happy with it. I tried to pull them apart with my hands but failed and had to give quite a hard knock with a hammer, so the joins will be strong.

[Kim]

That's looking good, Robert!  You'll have it done in no time 

Kim

[Admiral_dk]

Looks like you managed to get some extremely clean 45 degree cuts on the mill 

Per     

[Robert Hornby]

I have been distracted lately with other stuff around the house and not been able to spend much time in the workshop. However I have managed to cut some more wood for the cube. It is a bit tricky making sure the bits are glued together at 90 deg.

[mklotz]

Due to a lack of display space in my den of antiquity, I elected to make a miniature version.  To assure 90 degree angles, I cut some slices from a piece of aluminum angle and flattened the edge to allow room for glue squeeze out.  Each joint was clamped as shown in the photo.  I've used this trick in past projects and it's always served me well.

Making a miniature like this  is fiddly at best.  My usual wood glue took too long to dry so I used super glue.

[Kim]

That's very nice Marv! And quite small!  Shouldn't have any problem stowing that somewhere in the Den of Antiquity 

Kim

[Robert Hornby]

Thanks for the idea Marv, of the mini square to assist with the clamping to acheive the 90 deg. I just used my square, but your method would be much better.
Bob

[Robert Hornby]

Finally finished the cube. It really it is only an exercise in cutting the wood to exact lengths and getting the 45 deg angles right.

[Kim]

Wow!  That looks great!  Well done, Robert!   

As you said, it's really just an exercise in expertise and precision, nothing more.  But then, doesn't that describe almost everything we do? 

Kim

[springcrocus]

Looks very impressive! Nice work.

 Regards, Steve

[mklotz]

Here's your next project...

This is a miniature tensegrity table. 'Tensegrity' is a Buckminster Fuller portmanteau of 'tensional' and 'integrity' and refers to structures where the flexible members are under tension and the rigid members are under compression. You can read more about it in Wikipedia...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tensegrity

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qwp4OrFCpTo" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qwp4OrFCpTo</a>

[Admiral_dk]

Thank you for showing that Marv ...!

I have never heard of the concept before - so there are some rather unique examples in your link + in your case, I kind of think that you might know them from the Math too ....

Per

[Robert Hornby]

Here's your next project...

This is a miniature tensegrity table. 'Tensegrity' is a Buckminster Fuller portmanteau of 'tensional' and 'integrity' and refers to structures where the flexible members are under tension and the rigid members are under compression. You can read more about it in Wikipedia...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tensegrity

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qwp4OrFCpTo" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qwp4OrFCpTo</a>

Thanks for that Marv, I will certainly give it a go.