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  1. #1
    MacEntyre's Avatar
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    Tensegrity stand for multiple hammocks

    Today, WV posted the following in another thread:

    Quote Originally Posted by WV
    MacEntyre and I are working on an aluminum tensegrity stand that will support N hammocks, where N is the number of struts selected. Here is my 3-strut hammock stand.



    The struts do not touch each other, and handle only compression forces (no bending). They are held up by the amsteel tendons. The top tendons function as structural ridgelines for the hammock(s). - David
    I thought I would make a new thread, because this hammock stand is, IMHO, a truly amazing thing! I'm working on a prototype like Dave's, using aluminum poles with end fittings. Another feature I like a lot is that the Tensegrity Hammock Stand requires no stakes! Put rubber feet on it, and you can use it indoors.

    I'd like to make a tarp for a 3-strut Tensegrity Hammock Stand, as well as one that is extendable, so it would work for 3, 4 or 5 strut stands. The idea is that each hiker would carry one pole and one portion of the tarp.

    Dave pointed out that with 4 struts or more, there is room for a wood stove in the middle. That extendable tarp needs to be able to close up tight!

    I've contacted some people at NCSU, where Bucky Fuller pioneered Tensegrity structures, so that we can optimize the design for our purpose.

    Skippy, don't you wish we had one of these in Big Bend?

    - MacEntyre

    P.S. Gotta get a tarp on that thing, Dave... when I look at it, I always think about the umbrella style clotheslines from the 50s!
    Last edited by MacEntyre; 07-28-2010 at 16:48.
    - MacEntyre
    "We must, indeed, all hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately." - Ben Franklin
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  2. #2
    Senior Member angrysparrow's Avatar
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    That would be an amazing rig at a large hangout like Mt Rogers.
    “I think that when the lies are all told and forgot the truth will be there yet. It dont move about from place to place and it dont change from time to time. You cant corrupt it any more than you can salt salt.” - Cormac McCarthy

  3. #3
    Senior Member
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    That is very cool!

  4. #4
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    Bucky Fuller is alive and well, great job wonder people! gnome

  5. #5
    Senior Member Poppabear's Avatar
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    Very interesting! This would be a really great rig to use fro car camping and such. I will be checking back often to watch how all this progresses.
    Terry

  6. #6
    Senior Member dejoha's Avatar
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    Wow, this is cool. It looks like it can be easily built -- are the components available at local hardware stores?

  7. #7
    MacEntyre's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by dejoha View Post
    ...are the components available at local hardware stores?
    Dave made his with chain link fence pipe, made of steel. Aluminum poles are harder to come by in 10' lengths.

    I'm working on finding or making proper end fittings as well.

    - MacEntyre
    - MacEntyre
    "We must, indeed, all hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately." - Ben Franklin
    www.MollyMacGear.com

  8. #8
    Senior Member beep's Avatar
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    This is a SERIOUSLY interesting and cool looking idea. I can hardly wait to see this evolve!!!
    "The more I carry the happier I am in camp; the less I carry the happier I am getting there" - Sgt. Rock

  9. #9
    Senior Member WV's Avatar
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    Thanks, all. This is certainly promising, I agree, but there are some things you will discover that complicate things a bit.
    Quote Originally Posted by otter46544 View Post
    That is a cool design for a hammock stand. I dont think there is a need to use amsteel on the ridge line for the stand. Its only function would be to hold the uprights in place until you put tension on them.
    Actually, Otter, all the tendons are amsteel, and they need to be that strong. The tensegrity distributes the forces acting on it throughout the structure, and those forces are considerable. When you tighten that last tendon to assemble it, you're tightening all of them. How tight you make it depends on how springy you want it to be. It works fine in a slightly loose (springy) mode for hanging a hammock, but you still need to pull pretty hard. I loop the final tendon three or four times through the carabiners at the pole ends to get some mechanical advantage. The tool of choice would be a 2-ton come-along.


    Quote Originally Posted by MacEntyre View Post
    Today, WV posted the following in another thread:

    I thought I would make a new thread, because this hammock stand is, IMHO, a truly amazing thing! I'm working on a prototype like Dave's, using aluminum poles with end fittings. Another feature I like a lot is that the Tensegrity Hammock Stand requires no stakes! Put rubber feet on it, and you can use it indoors.
    Mac, the stand in the photo has a small base, so I did need to stake one of the bottom corners. You wouldn't need to do that with this stand if there were three hammocks on it and everybody got into and out of the hammocks simultaneously.
    Quote Originally Posted by MacEntyre View Post
    I'd like to make a tarp for a 3-strut Tensegrity Hammock Stand, as well as one that is extendable, so it would work for 3, 4 or 5 strut stands. The idea is that each hiker would carry one pole and one portion of the tarp. Good idea!

    Dave pointed out that with 4 struts or more, there is room for a wood stove in the middle. That extendable tarp needs to be able to close up tight! Even the three-strut tensegrity has room in the middle.

    I've contacted some people at NCSU, where Bucky Fuller pioneered Tensegrity structures, so that we can optimize the design for our purpose.

    Skippy, don't you wish we had one of these in Big Bend?

    - MacEntyre

    P.S. Gotta get a tarp on that thing, Dave... when I look at it, I always think about the umbrella style clotheslines from the 50s!
    I'm looking forward to working on a tent to cover a tensegrity. Did I mention that if it's not incredibly tight, it's not rigid, and it changes shape as it flexes?

  10. #10
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    This is a truly sweet stand, I have been looking for a stand to make for car camping (or multiple stands) for the family (4 of us) and this looks like it would fit the bill nicely! See this is why I love this place you all are way smarter than I, and I am constantly learning new things from everyone!
    Big thanks to all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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