Magnetic Tensegrity Sculpture
Available from my friends at Grand Illusions Ltd.:
From Grand Illusions: BUY NOW Magnetic Tensegrity Kit
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Magnetic Tensegrity Sculpture: a thin cable is held under tension via magnetic attraction of two magnets to levitate a metal ring in defiance of gravity. Amazingly the cable can be placed in any orientation and the ring remains suspended. Another fun precision machined kit to assemble by Kontax Engineering Ltd.
Tensegrity Icosahedraon Ornament Kit
Get this well engineered and affordable kit here:
From Etsy: BUY NOW: Tensegrity Ornament Kit (makes 6)
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Tensegrity Icosahedron Ornament Kit: make the famous tensegrity icosahedron inverted by the architect Buckminster Fuller out of gold paper straws and specially designed 3D printed elastic connectors. Six struts (three parallel pairs) float isolated from each other but held in a stable configuration by a net of 24 connecting tendons. A fun DIY design by Tensegrity Adventures (kit makes six ornaments)
Buxstix: Revolving Tensegrity Sculpture
Get this well made and unique device here:
From Etsy: BUY NOW: Buxstix Tensegrity
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Revolving Tensegrity Sculpture: three stainless steel struts are held in stable equilibrium by elastic tension in this elegant desk toy by architect and inventor Stephen Lawrence. Entitled “Buxstix”, this manipulable fidget includes an acrylic base and three glow in the dark beads that slide in curious motion. Another fun take on the tensegrity concept, invented by Kenneth Snelson and made famous by the architect Buckminster Fuller in 1949.
Mini Tensegrity Table
Get this well designed kit here:
From Amazon: BUY NOW: Tensegrity Stand
Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
Mini Tensegrity Table: thin but strong cables provide the support in this precision machined version of the tensegrity concept, where flexible tethers under tension are placed in balance and create an illusion of levitation. The first tensegrity structure was invented by Kenneth Snelson in 1949 and the concept was later made famous by the architect Buckminster Fuller. This stand by Kontax Engineering Ltd came as a kit and was a lot of fun to assemble.
Similar spinning scupture available here:
From Art of Play: BUY NOW: Mezmoglobe Kinetic Object
Tensegrity Mobile Stand
Get this well designed kit here:
From Kontax: BUY NOW: Tensegrity Stand
Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
Tensegrity Mobile Stand: thin cables levitate and support a smartphone at an angle in this high tech precision machined version of the tensegrity concept, invented by Kenneth Snelson and made famous by the architect Buckminster Fuller in 1949. This stand by Kontax Engineering Ltd came as a kit and was a lot of fun to assemble.
Levitating Cube Tensegrity
Get the 3D print files here: Levitating Cubes
Similar fun tensegrity prints often available on Etsy
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Levitating Cube Tensegrity: connected only by four segments of fishing line! An amazing 3D print creation by @heliox_lab where the beautifully symmetric configuration is stable in all orientations. Another fun take on the tensegrity concept, invented by Kenneth Snelson and made famous by the architect Buckminster Fuller in 1949.
Single Strand Tensegrity
Get the 3D print files here:
From Thingverse: Make Now: Single String Tensegrity
Click here for more tengerity in my collection.
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Single Strand Tensegrity: a vertical chain- when held under tension a single length of thin chain can become a rigid support structure. In this design four 3D-printed struts each act like an archer’s bow to stretch the chain under tension. Beads placed on the chain interlock with the ends of the struts. Design and .stl files by Ernie Condone and printed by Roger Key (thanks!)
Magnetic Tensegrity Table
Available here:
From sphidget.com: BUY NOW: Magnetic Tensegrity Table
See similar scupltures here: Tensegrity on @physicsfun
Folow this link for Mova kinetic globes: Mova Globes- Earth and Planets
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Magnetic Tensegrity Table: This CNC machined tensegrity sculpture replaces the center tension member (chain) with a pair of attracting neodymium magnets. Made from 6061 aluminum and nickel plated steel chain, the “Impossible Table” is the creation of Kevin Sayers of sphidget.com. The table can support up to about a kilogram of mass, and makes for a nice display stand for my Mova globe of Pluto (swipe to view). Another fun configuration of the tensegrity concept, invented by Kenneth Snelson and made famous by the architect Buckminster Fuller in 1949.
Tensegrity for the Desk
Get similar tensegrity sculptures here:
From Etsy: BUY NOW: Tensegrity Sculpture
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Tensegrity for the Desk: an elegant, and stackable, desk toy version of this popular tensegrity configuration by maker/designer Micah Murdoch. Constructed from poplar wood, the design assembles easily with clever ball and socket connectors at the ends of the nylon support lines (3 long, 1 short). Stacking them seems to only increase the illusion of floating with the subtle way these structures defy gravity. Another fun configuration of tensegrity concept, invented by Kenneth Snelson and made famous by the architect Buckminster Fuller in 1949.
Tensegrity Table
Get this 3D printed/hand painted tensegrity art here:
From Etsy: BUY NOW: LUNA Tensegrity Display Table
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Tensegrity Table: A wonderful three string version of the suspension equilibrium table. The LUNA tensegrity stand is 3D printed and then painted by hand, with designer Anthony Yap incorporating a celestial moon phase motif to nice effect, and clear nylon fishing line for an almost invisible means of support. Another configuration related to the concept of tensegrity invented by Kenneth Snelson and made famous by the architect Buckminster Fuller in 1949.
Tension Suspension: Tensegrity Scuplture
I made this device from these components:
From Amazon: BUY NOW: heavy guage copper wire (for frame), inexpensive necklace chain (for connections), and hobby wire (to fasten chain to copper frames).
Check out these other Tensegity toys I've posted.
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Tension Suspension: an interesting take on tensegrity where one heavy wire frame seems mysteriously suspended above another. This sculpture features strings (chains used here to make it look more dramatic) in tension equilibrium, with the top wire frame hanging from the bottom frame by the strand in the center, and the other three strands in tension to keep it from tipping over. This configuration is related to the concept of tensegrity invented by Kenneth Snelson and made famous by the architect Buckminster Fuller in 1949.
Tensegrity Icosohedron Toy: The Skwish
Available here in a variety of colors and wood types:
From Amazon: BUY NOW: Kwish Tensegrity Toy
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Tensegrity Icosahedron Toy: an architectural engineering inspired toy for tots- believe it or not this design is sold as a toy for babies: the Skwish rattle by the Manhattan Toy Company. Six wood struts float isolated from each other but held in a stable configuration by a net of 24 connecting elastic cords. This configuration of three sets of parallel struts forms a Jessen’s icosahedron under tension, and was invented by the famous architect Buckminster Fuller in 1949. A physics toy for ages 0 and up!
Tension Integrity Icosohedron: Tensegrity
A nice version of this tensegrity icosohedron is sold as a toy for tiny tots:
From Amazon: BUY NOW Tensegrity Toy
Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
I constructed this version by referring to the images and descriptions of tensegity on Wikipedia
Tension Integrity Icosohedron: Six brass struts float isolated from each other but held in a stable configuration by a net of 24 connecting cables. I made this sculpture using hollow brass tubes and weaving through them a single strand of fishing line, which is connected after passing through each tube exactly four times. This configuration of three sets of parallel struts forms a Jessen’s icosahedron under tension, and was invented by the famous architect Buckminster Fuller in 1949.