{"id":926,"date":"2025-06-25T10:19:08","date_gmt":"2025-06-25T10:19:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/inventorics.com\/?p=926"},"modified":"2025-06-25T10:21:00","modified_gmt":"2025-06-25T10:21:00","slug":"cluster-3-from-container-to-connector","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/inventorics.com\/?p=926","title":{"rendered":"Cluster 3: From Container to Connector"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re returning to the detergent bottle<\/strong> \u2014 and to the techniques we explored earlier with pressed plastic panels in the Pearse structure. But this time, the goal is to preserve more of the bottle\u2019s original shape while still transforming it into a structural element.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Can we press parts of the bottle \u2014 but not all \u2014 and make use of the existing form, especially the necks and openings? Can we design a system that uses these bottles not just as raw material, but as functional nodes within a larger, repeatable geometry? Instead of randomly fusing plastic parts together, we\u2019re asking: Can we build with minimal modification \u2014 and still end up with a system that\u2019s modular, scalable, and structurally sound?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Fig 01: Digital visualization of pressed detergent bottles connected into triangular nodes<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We started by preserving the necks and caps of HDPE detergent bottles, using them as connection points for pipes. The body of the bottles \u2014 particularly the flat base or midsection \u2014 was melted and pressed together to connect 2-6 bottels, allowing us to stable junctions without distorting the necks. These pressed-together “nodes” become the key units of construction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Fig 02: Variations of nodes made from different numbers of pressed detergent bottles.<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The bottles remain recognizable, maintaining their original identity while gaining new structural purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Self-Stabilizing Shape: Bucky Dome<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We needed a shape that\u2019s modular, repeatable, and self-stabilizing once closed. Naturally, we arrived at the geodesic dome<\/strong> \u2014 a structure made from interconnected triangles that distribute force evenly and curve naturally into a sphere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But there\u2019s a challenge with geodesic domes: they require multiple strut lengths and complex joints where up to six elements meet at a node. This isn’t ideal when working with reused and modular materials and aiming for simplicity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead, we explored hexagon and pentagon domes. In a 3V frequency dome, triangles can be converted into hexagons and pentagons \u2014 \u00a0simplifying the design. Each node now has only three pipes instead of five or six, and all the nodes are \u00a0identical and can be repeatable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Digital First: Simulating the System<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before jumping into physical prototypes, we recreated the concept in 3D. We modeled detergent bottles as nodes, connected by pipes of fixed length, and observed how the nods bend in the 3D space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Fig 03: Digital visualization of a Bucky Dome using detergent bottle connectors and pipes <\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We explored the feasibility of the system, the curvature needed, For our current dome size, each triangle must bend about 11\u00b0 per edge \u2014 a movement of around 5 cm in space. The digital simulation helped us validate that this should be physically achievable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Fig 04: Detailed view of a single node with measurements and bending angles.<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

Physical Testing: Flat to Form<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We moved to physical tests to see what actually works with real bottles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is also where the main strategy became clear:
Build the nodes flat \u2014 let the material and geometry do the shaping.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Fig 05: Process of melting and pressing to produce the first physical node<\/sup>.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We heat and press the bottle bodies while keeping their necks intact, creating flat junctions. During assembly, the fixed-length pipes force these flat nodes to bend in space. This results in:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • A natural curvature of the structure<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Emergent geometric self-organization<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • A system shaped not just by design, but by material behavior<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    In other words, the geometry becomes the shaping force \u2014 and HDPE\u2019s flexibility makes it possible.
    We tested two approaches:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    • Cutting the bottle sides<\/strong> to press them more easily. It worked, but compromised the structural integrity.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • No cutting<\/strong> \u2014 just pressing intact bottles. This method preserved form stability, saved time, and kepta little bit more the bottle’s visual identity.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
      \"\"
      Fig 06: Two node variations using three bottles: one with cut sides, the other uncut.<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
      \n\n\n\n

      One Node as a Toolkit – Many Shapes<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      The long-term goal: create a single connection system that can form multiple structures. Could we use the same bottle node \u2014 plus 2\u20133 pipe lengths \u2014 to build domes, tunnels, cylinders, and more? A modular kit could adapt to different shapes \u2014 for now all digitally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \"\"
      Fig 07: Showing compatibility across different shapes, Overlay of red and green node variations with measurements.<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      In digital experiments, we tested a larger geodesic dome and a cylindric shape that normally requires two types of nodes.( red and green) We found that the flexibility of the real material might allow us to use just one node design. Small differences in triangle shape should be tolerable \u2014 the physical system should absorb those variations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n\n\n\n

      What\u2019s Next?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      We\u2019re now looking to define the limits<\/strong> of variation. How far can we push the nodes digitally before they no longer behave similarly in the real world? Finding that threshold means we can predict what other shapes \u2014 beyond domes \u2014 might be built with the same toolkit.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      We\u2019re returning to the detergent bottle \u2014 and to the techniques we explored earlier with pressed plastic panels in the Pearse structure. But this time, the goal is to preserve more of the bottle\u2019s original shape while still transforming it into a structural element.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,19,11],"tags":[39,43,21,42,5],"class_list":["post-926","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-digital-studies","category-physical-studies","category-prototyping","tag-cluster-3","tag-dome","tag-model-building","tag-plastic","tag-reuse"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/inventorics.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/926","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/inventorics.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/inventorics.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inventorics.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inventorics.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=926"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/inventorics.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/926\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":944,"href":"https:\/\/inventorics.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/926\/revisions\/944"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/inventorics.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=926"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inventorics.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=926"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inventorics.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=926"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}