But you are probably much smarter than I or have more determination or simply can learn from my mistakes. See the second picture on this step for an example of my failures. I would make a very sad electrical engineer. Processing and Arduino are available for free. * Multimeter - Helpful for testing, though not absolutely necessary * A computer with Processing and Arduino software - You probably have access to a computer if you're reading this. * 10K Potentiometers or resistors of various values - For creating voltage dividers to get the variable resistance of your sensor into a form the Arduino can use. * Various wires, alligator clips, breadboard - For connecting your sensors to the Arduino.

* Arduino - For converting the analog signal from your sensors into something your computer can read. * Sticky tape, Velostat, conductive thread, scissors - These are all materials required for the pressure sensors, details in Plusea's Instructable. This Instructable requires: * Magnetic space frame model - You can buy toy kits like Geomags consisting of plastic struts with magnets on their ends and steel spheres, or you can put together your own from drinking straws, magnets, and steel spheres you can buy for much cheaper. To make a space frame model, check out my Instructable on the topic. This Instructable will show you how to use the sticky tape pressure sensors from Plusea's Instructable to determine the forces acting on the struts in a space frame model you can build and test. The direction of the force (tension or compression) can change depending on how a structure is loaded and can sometimes be surprising in a complicated structure. Tension forces are pulling or stretching forces compression forces are pushing or squeezing forces. All of the 'struts' (the straight parts) of a space frame are subject to either tension or compression forces along their length (they're 'axial forces,' in engineer talk). It's not straightforward to determine how forces will distribute throughout a structure that has a lot of redundant pieces.

One major disadvantage is that they can be difficult to engineer. Their advantages include low material usage, ease of construction, free-form design possibilities, and awesome space-age appearance. They can be gigantic, but are also cool on a small scale, like this space frame bench I built.

Space frames are super efficient structures made entirely from straight pieces of material, joined together at their ends to form complex 3D shapes.

Karamba how to make spaceframe