hubs dome Manual

How
to build
your
dome.
™
™
Version 1
Waterproof and tearproof

Parts checklist
2. To clamp-up the hubs
1. To build the dome
x6
x35
x30
x20
Allen key
Used to hold
the hub screws
in position when
clamping the hubs.
For the base
You will need
another 10 wood
screws or another
20 ball connectors
and 20 wood screws
depending on which
base approach you
go for. These are
included in the kit.
See the Completing
your dome section
for more.
x1
Hanging eyelet
Use this to hang
something nice
from the centre
of your dome.
x26
Hub screw
Goes through the
centre of the
hub for clamping.
x26
Locking plate
Clamps the ball
connectors in place
once the dome is in
its final position.
x25
Wing nut
Screws onto the end
of the hub screw to
clamp the locking
plate in place.
SHORTS
LONGS

Principles
These are useful things to remember
to help the build go smoothly.
3
Insert from below
1
It takes two
One can connect
as the other lifts. Insert and remove ball
connectors in this alignment.
2
Stay on the outside
during the build
4
Lift the hub above to
enable connection
!
5
Lift by the sticks
above the hub
6
Only clamp-up hubs
when the dome is in
its final position
Moving the dome whilst
clamped-up will damage the
hubs and ball connectors!
Use two
if you can
On its base
Won’t
connect
+

!
Falling sticksHubs are hinges Sockets can pinch
Watchouts!
Building your dome should be great fun and the last thing
we want is for people to hurt themselves. Here are a few
things to watch out for:
!
The benefits that hubs bring to the build and adaptation
of domes comes at the cost of ultimate strength.
Domes built with hubs are still satisfyingly sturdy structures
which are more than strong enough for their intended uses;
eg fruit cages, garden rooms, chicken runs etc.
Tip:
Wearing gloves
minimises the risk.
Tip:
If a stick pops-out
just pop it back in!
Not a climbing frame Don’t suspend heavy objects
Hold sticks away
from the hubs
Keep fingertips away
from sockets
Stay on the outside
as you build
!
1 2 3

geodesic domes
made simple
The build
Read out the descriptions and check
progress against the illustrations.
Step
Check out the
Completing your dome
section for next steps.
DOME DONE!
Before you begin – separate piles
It’s easy to mistake SHORTS for LONGS and 5-ways for 6-ways!
x6
x30
x20
x35
+
LONGSSHORTS 5-ways 6-ways
™
™
This paper is made
from polypropylene
and can be recycled
x1
You need Description (read this out to someone helping you) It should look like this!
Then • Start with a 5-way hub in the middle and connect fi v e SHORTS into it.
– hubs should always face up and sticks always connect in from below.
• Snap a 6-way hub onto the end of each SHORT.
• Place fi v e LONGS around the outside and connect them
into the 6-way hubs.
• Lift the centre 5-way hub by its sticks to make the fi nal connection.
• Connect a pair of LONGS into the left and right free sockets
of the 6-way hubs (keep the middle socket free).
• Use 6-way hubs to connect the LONGS together to create triangles.
• Place ten SHORTS in a ring around the structure so far.
• Work your way around the ring, connecting the sticks one at a time
– when you can’t make a connection lift the hub above.
• Connect a SHORT into the remaining free socket of each 6-way hub.
• Snap a 5-way hub onto the end of each SHORT.
x5
x5
Then
x5
x10
x10
x5
x5
Then
Then
x5
x10
x10x10
x10
• Connect two SHORTS into the 5-way hubs and two LONGS
into the 6-way hubs.
• Use ten 6-way hubs to connect SHORTS and LONGS
together into triangles.
– use sockets that are next to each other on the hubs.
• Place ten LONGS in a ring around the outside.
• Work your way around the ring, connecting the sticks one at a time
– use sockets either side of those already populated.
– when you can’t make a connection lift the hub above.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
SHORT
LONG
5-way
hub
6-way
hub

!
Falling sticksHubs are hinges Sockets can pinch
Watchouts!
Building your dome should be great fun and the last thing
we want is for people to hurt themselves. Here are a few
things to watch out for:
!
The benefits that hubs bring to the build and adaptation
of domes comes at the cost of ultimate strength.
Domes built with hubs are still satisfyingly sturdy structures
which are more than strong enough for their intended uses;
eg fruit cages, garden rooms, chicken runs etc.
Tip:
Wearing gloves
minimises the risk.
Tip:
If a stick pops-out
just pop it back in!
Not a climbing frame Don’t suspend heavy objects
Hold sticks away
from the hubs
Keep fingertips away
from sockets
Stay on the outside
as you build
!
1 2 3
Parts checklist
2. To clamp-up the hubs
1. To build the dome
x6
x35
x30
x20
Allen key
Used to hold
the hub screws
in position when
clamping the hubs.
For the base
You will need
another 10 wood
screws or another
20 ball connectors
and 20 wood screws
depending on which
base approach you
go for. These are
included in the kit.
See the Completing
your dome section
for more.
x1
Hanging eyelet
Use this to hang
something nice
from the centre
of your dome.
x26
Hub screw
Goes through the
centre of the
hub for clamping.
x26
Locking plate
Clamps the ball
connectors in place
once the dome is in
its final position.
x25
Wing nut
Screws onto the end
of the hub screw to
clamp the locking
plate in place.
SHORTS
LONGS
How
to build
your
dome.
™
™
Version 1
Waterproof and tearproof
Principles
These are useful things to remember
to help the build go smoothly.
3
Insert from below
1
It takes two
One can connect
as the other lifts. Insert and remove ball
connectors in this alignment.
2
Stay on the outside
during the build
4
Lift the hub above to
enable connection
!
5
Lift by the sticks
above the hub
6
Only clamp-up hubs
when the dome is in
its final position
Moving the dome whilst
clamped-up will damage the
hubs and ball connectors!
Use two
if you can
On its base
Won’t
connect
+
Taking down your dome
Completing your dome
Once you’ve built your dome, move it into its final position before clamping-up
the hubs. Two people should be able to drag your dome to another position.
We’d recommend four people or more if you are lifting the dome.
1. CHOOSE BASE APPROACH
Un-clamp all hubs
before taking the
dome down.
!
One person suppor ts the weight
of the dome by holding the central
pentagon as shown (blue).
A second person removes the shorts
of the central pentagon (red).
The next sticks to be disconnected
can be rested on the ground to suppor t
the dome as you dismantle it.
Continue the process until you’re back
to a collection of hubs and sticks!
+
Posts
Build your dome first and mark the position
of the hubs. Then make holes with a little
wiggle room so you can adjust the position
of posts when you put the dome on top.
A greater sense of space and
easy access for smaller domes
Even a small foot can help to protect the
bottom ring of sticks from damp
Small feet
LOW BASE RAISED BASE
These can simply be blocks of wood.
Drill with holes so you can stake them
to the ground. You can also add eyelets
or hooks for attaching covers.
Standing up
Screw two ball connectors 3mm apart
onto your base. You could also use two
ball connectors in a hub as a template.
Test your first attempt in a hub to
check that the position is ok.
Tip:
If proving tricky, slightly loosening
one ball connector helps.
The hub sits horizontally and a screw through
the centre of the hub can fix it to the base.
It’s also possible to use a hub screw if you
embed an M6 threaded insert in your base.
Wood screws included
in the kit
Lying down
Temporary use
It is possible to simply rest your dome on
the ground using the lying down approach.
Stake through the centre of hubs or stake
down the bottom ring of sticks. If the dome
is on a hard surface use metal weights or
sandbags to secure the base in position.
?
Hubs will want to find the right alignment
but after a build some might be out of position.
2. CHECK ALIGNMENT
Correct by pulling
sticks towards the
outside of the dome.
Pushing inwards
can pop sticks
out of the hubs!
Tap sticks left
and right to
correct rotational
misalignment.
Once finger-tight use the allen key
to clamp firmly.
3. CLAMP-UP THE HUBS
Get the angles in the base
ring as consistent as you
can before fixing in place.
Not too wide
If the hub is lying down make sure the width
of the feet or posts is 70mm (2¾”) or less to
be sure that they don’t clash with the sticks.
!
Anchor your dome
Whichever base approach you use ensure
that the dome and any cover is securely
anchored to the ground. Wind can place
an enormous force on sheet covers and
even netting.
!
Un-clamp all
hubs before
moving a dome.
Moving a dome
whilst the hubs
are clamped-up
will damage the
hubs and ball
connectors!
!
or or
Wood screw included in the kit or
use hub screw with a threaded insert
Open out for
build instructions
or