Using joints to create geometry (truncated icosahedron)

[DaveGadgeteer]

I want to generate a truncated icosahedron. I created a pentagon component (one micron thick) and a hexagon component with the same parametrized edge length.

Then I grounded one pentagon and pasted 5 hexagons, and started defining joints at the midpoints of each edge. I'm using cylindrical joints, and it seems to me that these should result in the hexagons meeting the pentagon and each other at the correct angle. But before I've added many joints between hexagon edges I start getting errors with messages that the joints are not possible.

Is this method not feasible?

My goal is to define the truncated icosahedron geometry with lines that can then guide shapes that I can sweep profiles along to generate an outline structure, with special features added at intersections that can support LEDs etc.

Is there a better way to generate this geometry?

[etfrench]

A search for "soccer ball Fusion 360" will give you quite a few different methods for creating a truncated icosahedron.

[davebYYPCU]

One micron thick, error prone, use a surface body (Patch), to select correct midpoint.

Revolute midpoint, worked for me.

Might help....

[g-andresen · Accepted solution]

Hi,

take a look at this tutorial by Kristian Laholm

günther

[DaveGadgeteer]

It's not clear why he chooses the particular starting lines, but it does work.

[MichaelT_123]

Hi Mr DaveGadgeteer,

Please consider look into: 

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-design-validate/platonic-solids/m-p/8438153

In the PlatonicSolids.f3d file you will find complete set of regular 3D polyhedra and also their respective truncated (0.33333...) forms.

If you want to make them parametric use the scale feature with parameter (or parameters in a case of an ununiform scaling) 

When joints are required the rich sketches should facilitate additional tricks 😉.

Regards

MichaelT