From: Charles J Knight (c.knight_at_juno.com)
Date: 03/21/00
Date: Tue, 21 Mar 2000 15:28:37 -0800 Subject: Re: ball connection Message-ID: <20000321.154537.-229719.3.c.knight@juno.com> From: Charles J Knight <c.knight_at_juno.com>
> > simpler joint? We know that a flexible connector works, based on
> > models we've built, usually from aquarium tubing and skewers.
> >
> > A rubber disk, that would work like a tinkertoy connector. It
> would
> > be the ultimate in simplicity, and easy to cast. The rubber would
>
> It's a good thought. I'm not sure how useful for a house
> weighing 5-10 tons that we want to pick up and fly over possibly
> populated areas, but it could certainly be used for more stationary
> settings. No question.
Thank you. But, remember, that not all structures are going to be
permanent homes. There will always be a need for outbuildings, and
even portable, temporary buildings. We're talking about living lightly,
not statically.
As a portable greenhouse, or garage, etc...this might just be a
cost-reducing component that would make it viable...not to mention
do-it-yourself-able. (OK, so I personally keep Home Depot in business,
singlehandedly...I admit it!)
Similarly, would a tensegrity 5-prism be a viable 5-strut connector?
Seems like it might have some possibility as a "flexible" connector,
simply requiring that the builder "plug in" the strut ends to the
tensegrity
struts. It'd be a lot lighter, too, than a nearly solid metal disk.
> I'm just worried about it pulling apart with all the weight
> on board. Remember that we also want to pull on 40,000 lbs. of water
> on-site for ballast and thermal mass...
For the home, specifically...and we were talking about bringing that
onboard *after landing.* Again, not all structures will require this.
-- Chuck Knight
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