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“Astral Conjunction” Woven Self Interlocking Irregular Great Quasitruncated Icosidodecahedron 150 units 5-fold view.
A few years back I discovered a series of interlocking polygonal macro-structures which were themselves composed of compounds of regular polygons. Each polygon represented one edge of a “macro-polygon.” For example, 3 regular triangles “represented” the 3 edges of one “macro-triangle. When I developed this series, I noted that a similar but distinct series should also be possible, where the 3 regular triangles “represented” the 3 vertices of one “macro-triangle.” My initial plan in this design was to fold a complement to the first compound of 30 triangles which I designed several years back. As I was working on a rough draft, I noted how very similar the new compound looked in relation to the older compound, so I opted to mix it up, and turned this into a woven solid. To do this, I disconnected the exterior 30 vertices of the triangles, wove them into 2-fold axes, and connected them to exterior pentagonal stars.
Preserving convenient paper proportions required a very nuanced balanced between the interior and crimp angles. The proportions of unmodified straight edges were too wide, while narrow interior angles made the units too short in terms of the distance between adjacent vertices which form a pentagonal face. Hence wide-angled crimps were used here. This is also the first time I have seriously utilized “star prism” crimps, perhaps similar to the ones Francesco Mancini used in his “Stars Tangle” compounds, although I cannot be sure they are the same. The crimped units here (like the Shaft Twist units I have used recently) are not flat-foldable. I also designed this without using POV-ray, so I had to adjust the proportions through trial-and-error.
Regarding the name, the pentagonal faces are stars, and the entire construction is a woven solid. Thus I nicknamed this Astral Conjunction (perhaps also in honor of the recent conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn, although they are of course not stars). The geometric name reflects the uniform polyhedron which most similarly visually relates to this construction, but the relationship between the this construction and the geometric description is still fairly weak.
Regarding the weaving, it is perhaps easiest to think of this as having the same interior weaving as the first compound of 6 pentagonal prisms, around which are 60 additional units, which are then “topped” with 12 pentagonal stars.
This uses three different paper proportions.
Designed by me. Folded out of Mohawk Skytone paper. (This is a wonderful parchment paper which visually looks almost identical to Elephant Hide, but has considerably fewer gsm.)
60 units
Designer: Francesco Mancini
Folder: Francesco Mancini
Paper: Copy
Unit size: Rectangle, 1:3.1
Reference: Lang's polypolyhedron #30
I'm not very satisfied by the single color, maybe I'll refold it with the same colors of the 12 stars
Byriah Loper already tried to render this polypolyhedron, it seems to me that his units look different from mine
Two former Santa Fe SD40-2's, BNSF 1747 and 1739, lead a transfer job past the Old Union Depot Interlocking tower in Kansas City, MO. I had wondered why the tower said "Union Depot" when it is nowhere near Union Station, and today I learned why. This is the site of the original Kansas City Union Depot, which was replaced by Union Station in 1914. Kansas City outgrew Union Depot and there was little room to expand, which was in part why the new Union Station was built.
A long time before anyone would have considered this a "merger" consist (and what a stupid idea, these railroads are already to big to be managed properly but I digress) a 335 bangs across the diamond crossing with the former Western Railway of Alabama in downtown Opelika. Much has changed here at "the interlocker" since this hot August afternoon 15 years ago; Macon to Sheffield trains 334/335 were re-routed off the Central of Georgia over a decade ago and those Southern-era signals were replaced when CSX installed PTC back in 2017. But the stately tower of Lee County's historic courthouse in the background still stands and although traffic is down trains still roll across the Central every day.
Back in 2010 those UP Aces were still the new power and looked pretty sharp, it's a shame how ragged most of them look now. Of course that trailing NS Gevo probably looks terrible in the current day too, not that it has ever been a unit of any interest.
Early 1990's, we are looking east at the Conrail (P.R.R.) and NS's (Wabash) Elm St. interlocker at Logansport, IN. A Jason Jordan photo.
Still wishing to see my family for the holidays. Plane tickets are so expensive :( Nothing like a £70 ticket from London! EasyJet needs to come to the other side of the pond :D
Praha, Česká Republika
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On August 28, 1989, just a few days after Clee's retirement, we got word of a southbound inspection train coming down the CE&D. It was a gray and hazy day, but you've got to do what you've got to do. Operator Bobby McClara is coming down the steps for the rollby.
After the southbound train passed, we heard that there was a track geometry train coming north after meeting the inspection train. So we decided to hang out and wait, and ended up with a HUGE surprise.
Metra F59 97 leads the way of an outbound Heritage Corridor commuter as it crosses the Chicago River. Note the full moon and the cool drawbridge making the scene.
Southbound tote train R121 rattles the windows as he rolls south past Haley at 1:15 in the morning on October 23, 1987.
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The Giant's Causeway, Portrush, Northern Ireland.
20 Interlocking Irregular Hyperboloidal Dodecahedra 600 units 5-fold view.
At long last, I have completed an update on this model, the largest wireframe polyhedron compound ever. In this version, I have slightly lengthened the proportions, adjusted several angles, and expanded the tabs, strengthening several of the locks. The original version also needed a refold out of better paper. I should have precreased more of the tab folds for a cleaner result, but overall I think that it turned out well, and the final construction is extremely tight and sturdy. The coloring here is tetrahedral, so that there are 5 colors, 4 dodecahedra in each color, where each dodecahedron represents one vertex in a compound of 5 tetrahedra.
10 different paper proportions.
Designed by me.
Folded out of Zander's Elephant Hide paper.
An interlocking mechanism for Romsey’s lever frame. A few visitors have asked at exhibitions whether I could add it, so I thought it would be a fun challenge. Interlocking prevents unsafe or conflicting movements through the junction. Drive bars are black and the grey slopes are the ‘dogs’ that engage with the locking pins on the yellow locking bars. 3 locks are included, although more could be added, as it’s modular.
1) Lever 7 (Down Main Points) locks lever 8 (Up Points), so you can’t send an up train across to the branch if the points are set to allow a train to cross the junction on the main
2) Lever 8 (Up Points) releases lever 16 (Up Branch Starting Signal) so you can’t pull the signal until the points are set correctly for the branch
3) Lever 18 (Up Main Starting Signal) locks lever 8, so you can’t change the points if you’ve given the train the signal to start
A northbound Hiawatha Service train slams the diamonds at Grayland Crossing on Chicago's northwest side. Metra's Milwaukee District North Line crosses UP's former CNW "40th Street Line" here, once an important route to 40th Street Yard, but long since singled and truncated north of Cragin to serve a few industries. Interlocking piping and cranks remain hidden in the brush here- who knows how long they've been dormant for.
Designer & folder: Michal Pikula
Paper: 80gsm copy paper (Optix, Quill)
Unit: rectangle 1:2, rectangle 1:3.6
120 units
Folded in February 2014
It is possible to make variations by changing paper ratio, adding more cubes or interlock them different way.
When the interlocking signal is pulled into the clear position the distant signal changes from yellow to green. When the interlocking signal is at stop, the distant signal shows "proceed, prepared to stop"
NS Lima District northbound crosses the former DT&I main at Morris Interlocking in Lima. The six axles make a sweet sound as they clump across the diamonds.
48 Interlocking Squares 192 units
3-fold view. This design applies a macro-polygonal technique to the secondary compound of 6 squares to form a fairly straitforward compound of 24 squares. 6 squares were then added for facial stabilization. Following this, I made the decision to add an additional 12 squares to help fill in the open square faces. 6 additional squares were then added to reinforce the 12 additional squares. All of the squares possess identical paper proportions (.875x6.6875), but each set of sqauers has a distinct weaving relationship.
I initally envisioned this as similar to "Rebar," but it is visually unlike the former, so its relation is primarily in principle.
Designed by me.
Folded out of copy paper.
I have never seen this type of building block. If you know something about it, please share your knowledge with us.
I wonder whether this system any stronger than traditional bricks. The overlap makes it seem as if it is. If the blocks were actually in contact with one another (and even connected), then it might be effective. However, since the blocks are separated by a layer of cement, isn't the wall only as strong as the cement itself?
I'm no structural engineer, and there may be something I'm not picking up on that makes this system superior. However, if it were better, why is it this is the first time I have ever come across it in over four decades of looking at old buildings?
Goldendale, Washington.