Hi, I love the UI & UX of shapr3d. I have never enjoyed auto cad’s UIUX and it turned me off from doing cad work myself.
I’m working on a simple design right now to learn the program, or so I thought.
The goal is the Platonic solid of the dodecahedron.
I need a handful of versions
Made of faces: actually 12 pentagon bodies with a depth that is proportional to the radius. Technically I only need a single body that can be mirrored around the side surface. Can this be done as simply as sketching a pentagon then a second and lofting them? I tried this and failed to get the proper angle the times I tried.
Skeleton version: basically offset edge of face from first to create a center void?
Solid single unit.
Solid dodecahedron fitting inside the first on the list.
I want to thank the team behind shapr. Creating a beautiful Intuitive CAD program is game changing. It’s helped me more easily begin to properly learn CAD.
I’m currently renovating my home. Before attempting the dodecahedron I used shapr and magicplan to create models of the condo. With these I have modeled new custom furniture. One of the pieces, my entertainment wall, will be my first project from start to finish on shapr3d that is a real object. The design is simple, but it’s very rewarding to know how much I’ve learned about CAD so far. Shapr allowed me to model the unit while in the lumbar yard parking lot to double check everything and make my cut list (had them cut down plywood sheets to save time on my end).
In short, what am I missing with the dodecahedron? I’ve tried many ways and have yet to achieve perfection. I can believe I can upload the files if that’s of use.
Hi Andrew,
I found this to be an interesting challenge. But I think I figured out at least the first part. A body to mirror to make the full dodecahedron.
Select the body and mirror on any face until the dodecahedron is complete.
I’m using Shapr3D to design and build our house as well. It’s an amazing tool. Being able to build anything here first helps to find issues before costly materials and time are wasted. The topography was a fun modeling challenge as well.
Thank you for your reply.
I have tried this method, however, I used 5 sketches mirrored on the base sketch. Planes may be better to use.
My biggest takeaway is one question, how are you able to input the angle of rotation as the full decimal? Mine always rounds it to 116.57 even when I type out the full number. I also tried converting it to fractional notation but it failed.
I believe this is the issue. Is there a setting or configuration I can change? I am on my macbook Prousing shaper.
Also, would it be possible to share the shaper file with each step so I can try and figure out what my problem is?
Your house model looks incredible. Right now I’m just doing a condo so no terrain.
Glad it worked!
Ive found that dimensions, angles, and such can be inputted to greater accuracy than is displayed.
The Split Body tool is a game changer.
Looking forward to all the neat toys and tools the Shapr3D team can come up with.
Thanks for the compliment on the house. It’s been an… adventure
Yeah, it has made it much easier. Your method was better than using sketches, it’s going to be how I do it from now on. I like the logic of it.
For some reason, I forgot that dodecahedrons do not tessellate! I think part of my issue when I made mine was I expected them to do so.
However, I was still getting messed up with pentagonal pyramids for some reason.
While it probably isn’t true, it seems minor things are tweaked in each minor update and the unit specificity does. That’s likely completely wrong, but it seems half the time units auto round and sometimes they don’t.
It also drives me nuts you cant paste the number in, and copy numbers.
I love the UI but the lack of many features has got me using Fusion 360 as well. I wish it weren’t so. Shapr is great as a basic starting point before going too detailed and whatnot. I like it a lot and am considering getting an iPad Pro just to use shapr on.
Obviously, I’m conflicted. Like the fact that I cant seem to figure out how to export just a single body from a document. However, I believe that’s on my end and a lack of know-how.
Hello there!
I’m just chiming in because complex solids and polysurfaces are what I’m doing on a daily (you could say hourly) basis. I still need to figure out a few things in Shapr3D, (like rebuilding with another UV count) since using behemoths like Rhino and gaming engines like Unreal Engine 5, then moving on to simpler workflow and less tools is not as easy as I thought. Who said that simplicity is actually simple?
Well, basically, no matter the shape, I can provide you with at least a geometrically perfect reference one (Ellipsoid Icosahedron? No problem, hehe) with 0.001 mm accuracy or smaller.
The only thing that I can’t do for you is to choose the best way to get it done according to your preferences. If there was only one way to do something instead of dozens… sigh
It’s frustrating to know about weird stuff and to keep it for myself only. Playing with shapes is cool, but I still can’t get used to keep any “knowledge” for myself only, even after decades modeling.
Of course, I’m not bragging and the point here is only to be of help if I can be.
Do let me know if there’s anything you need. If I can’t, no doubt someone will. The community here is truly amazing.
And… figuring out (almost) alone such a complex shape as you did is a bit of an insane thing. Kudos!
Using the (circular) pattern tool could have helped a lot, but as far as I remember, it’s been available for a bit over a couple months or so. Just noticed that you posted your question about a year ago!
Using patterns is often the fastest and most reliable way to get complex shapes done, but it’s not necessarily the best way for everyone and every shape… heptadecahedrons are never going to be (topologically) regular, and you may need to try out hexadecagonal pyramids or pentadecagonal prisms instead!
I love playing with geometric solids. I always wanted to make a Rhombicosidodecahedron in CAD and later print it out on my 3D printer.
I found Shapr3D and gave it a try. I must say I fell in love with Shapr3D and after some work I managed to get my solid made. It is not printed yet, think I will eventually make into a lamp or an infinity mirror ‘Rhombic”
R, hi Thanks for this discussion. I too chose to model a dodecahedron as a challenge to learn shapr3d. I was sucessful at following your instructions so again thanks! I was however further challenged to use only the compass and straight edge. Youtube had a demo of Euclid’s method). My first go yields an odd plane for one of the faces but the parting planes technique can get the shape and the translate to a better position.
I apologize for lack of replies. I ultimately used the suggested method with success. its a simpler method that other popular ways.
Geometries are fun and frustrating but wonderful things.
From the help here I was able to successfully create and test my project. As of today like all great inventions, it is too costly to be economically viable. I may not know that without the help of those in the thread. I designed an artificial coral reef scaffolding system, using the geometries in shaper3d I then imported them to nTopology. To my knowledge the first if not only occurrence of this. Then I latticed and lightweight the objects before using a resin printer to print them.
I have a few images of the project posted publicly on my personal instagram
In the future I hope to be able to widely share images and possibly stl files to those who helped in the thread. If anyone reading this is an expert at sintering or copolymer bonding agents I am always looking to learn more as I am now trying to figure out how to manufacture at a reasonable cost.
If anyone has questions aside from the literal outcome of the project, let me know. If I can help with geometries or shaper3d I’m more than happy to lend a hand.
