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Old 30-10-2010, 06:20 PM
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ChrisM
Sandy Ridge Observatory

ChrisM is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Gippsland, VIC
Posts: 768
Dome construction pics

Seeing Robin's latest pics prompted me to dig out a few dome construction pics, which I had omitted to include in this thread.

Basic details: I used the Desert Domes Calculator with 3V "fineness" and a 3.6 metre diameter. http://www.desertdomes.com/domecalc.html
The geodesic dome uses 105 triangles from 9 mm exterior ply. Edges were beveled by hand plane and joined with liquid nails and plywood hubs (to suit the pentagonal or hexagonal shapes) fixed by screws.

As others have found, it's easier to start construction upside down. Due to the weight and size, I turned it up the right way before it got too big and heavy. The finished weight was about 90 kg although this increased to around 220 kg once the dome ring and steel turntable ring were added.

All joints were sealed with ample Sikaflex and painted externally with a very thick Solagard. The inside was painted with a mould-resistant black paint.

Chris
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