Octahedral 5v, Mexican method

 

The so-called Mexican Method is named after the work of Mexican mathematician Hector Alfredo Hernandez Hernandez. With this system of triangle subdivision, strut lengths are equalized along each set of three paths followed by the struts. As a result, the number of unique strut lengths equals the dome’s frequency.

The method can be applied to geodesic domes based on either the octahedron or icosahedron, but the equal-length feature begins to break down at frequency 6.

This 5v 1/2 Mexican method dome calculator is multi-purpose

This is also a reverse geodesic dome calculator

It will calculate any size of dome and display the lengths for each strut, total amount of material required, the weight of your geodesic dome and even the amount of material to cover your geodesic dome. Enter any value in any yellow box and it will calculate all other corresponding values. For example you can specify a 2-foot length for strut “B” and all other struts and related values will be calculated.

NOTE:

If you enter a measure in feet, your results are in feet or, in the case of floor area, square feet. Same goes for meters.

When entering in feet, decimals are fractions of a foot or square foot (for example: 2.75 = 2’9″).

Spherical radius
Spherical diameter
Height
Floor area
Perimeter
feet (or meters) of pipe/lumber
NOTE: if you are bolting conduit, regardless of dome size, add an extra 48 feet or 15 meters to total above (based on 3″ or 8cm for each strut).
160 STRUTS ANGLE
12 X “A” 12.6°
24 X “B” 12.4°
36 X “C” 11.7°
48 X “D” 10.6°
40 X “E” 9.0°
160 STRUTS
For conduit, you can round bend angles to the nearest degree. For timber domes, angles should be to the nearest tenth of a degree.

Click here for assembly diagram

 

 

Struts are vertex to vertex

To connect together with bolts, you need to make them longer to drill holes in them.

 

Connecting struts

Many types of connectors are available for steel and timber geodesic dome. For more information, click here.

hub6 hub41.jpg
If you use hubs
40 X 6-way connectors 17 X 4-way connectors 4 X 3-way connectors
OR
If you bolt struts together
61 bolts
61 nuts
122 washers
For more information on cutting, bending and flattening struts, click here

 

Floor Surface and Capacity

Your calculated floor surface area is
SQUARE FEET/SQUARE METERS
NOTE: RESULTS INTHIS SECTION ARE BASED ON FEET.

Geodesic Dome floor

Capacity

Concrete Cubic feet Cubic yards
4″ slab
6″ slab
8″ slab
Plywood 1/2″ 4′ X 8′ sheets
Estimated standing capacity
Estimated dining capacity
Estimated conference capacity
For more info on capacity, click here

How much will your geodesic dome weigh?

NOTE: RESULTS INTHIS SECTION ARE BASED ON FEET.
Your calculated geodesic dome diameter is
1/2″ 3/4″ 1″ 1 1/4″ 1 1/2″ 2″
EMT
Wall thickness 0.042″ 0.049″ 0.057″ 0.065″ 0.065″ 0.065″
Lbs.
kgs.
STEEL SCHEDULE 40
Wall thickness 0.109″ 0.113″ 0.133″ 0.140″ 0.140″ 0.154″
Lbs.
kgs.
ALUMINUM SCHEDULE 40
Wall thickness 0.109″ 0.113″ 0.133″ 0.140″ 0.140″ 0.154″
Lbs.
kgs.
LUMBER
2″ X 4″
2″ X 6″
2″ X 8″
Lbs.
Kgs.

 

How much will your geodesic dome cost?

The tables show sample costs. Material prices vary with suppliers and area.

Your calculated geodesic dome requires
feet (or meters) of pipe / lumber
NOTE: RESULTS INTHIS SECTION ARE BASED ON FEET.
Galvanized pipe – Steel Schedule 40
Your estimated pipe dollar cost is:
1/2″ @ $13 /10′ length
3/4 @ $17/10′ length
1″ @ $25 /10′ length
1 1/4″ @ $34 /10′ length
1 1/2″ @ $42 /10′ length
2″ @ $55 /10′ length
Structure pipe – Aluminum Schedule 40
Your estimated pipe dollar cost is:
1/2″ @ $ /10′ length
3/4 @ $ /10′ length
1″ @ $ /10′ length
1 1/4″ @ $ /10′ length
1 1/2″ @ $ /10′ length
2″ @ $ /10′ length
Structure pipe – EMT
Your estimated pipe dollar cost is:
1/2″ @ $5.50 /10′ length
3/4 @ $ 8.80 /10′ length
1″ @ $18 /10′ length
1 1/4″ @ $19 /10′ length
1 1/2″ @ $22 /10′ length
2″ @ $3 2/10′ length
Cover: approx. s.f.
$ COST
Canvas 20 oz. ($1/s.f.)
Canvas 42 oz ($1.50/s.f.)
Poly 3 mil ($0.05/s.f.)
Poly 6 mil ($0.06/s.f.)
Marine Shrink Wrap 7 mil. ($0.08/s.f.)
Industrial fire-retardant Shrink Wrap 12 mil ($0.23/s.f.)
Aluminet 70% shade cloth ($0.35/s.f.)
Tyvek (housewrap) ($0.41/s.f.)
Plywood 1/2″ ($25/ 4′ X 8′)
Wood struts
Your estimated wood dollar cost is:
2″X4″ @ $0.35 foot (avg.)
2″X6″ @ $0.50 foot (avg.)
2″X8″ @ $0.70 foot (avg.)
Flooring:
Plywood 1/2″ ($25/ 4′ X 8′)
OSB 1/2″ ($9/ 4′ X 8′)

 

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