Kontax Tensegrity Magnet User manual

These instructions are for the centre magnets with grub screws version of the Tensegrity table.
Please read all the way through the assembly instructions to familiarise yourself with the process
before you start and pay close attention to the alignment of all the parts in the diagrams.
Assembly time should be approximately 15-20 minutes.
Tensegrity Magnet with grub screws assembly instructions page 1 of 15
Copyright Kontax Engineering Ltd 9/1/23

Base
1x1x
Outer cable
3x3x
Top plate
1x1x
Torx driver
1x1x
Shuttle
3x3x
Rubber feet
3x3x
Assembly screw
2x2x
Long roundhead screw
3x3x
Short roundhead screw
3x3x
Countersunk screw
4x4x
Grub screw
5x5x
Hex key
1x1x
Wire loop
2x2x
Magnet
2x2x
Assembly plate
1x1x
Arm
2x2x
Tensegrity Magnet with grub screws assembly instructions page 2 of 15
Copyright Kontax Engineering Ltd 9/1/23

Peel the backing off the 3x adhesive rubber
feet and stick them over the three dimples
on the bottom of the base.
Tensegrity Magnet with grub screws assembly instructions page 3 of 15
Copyright Kontax Engineering Ltd 9/1/23

Screw 2x countersunk screws through the
base into the arm and tighten.
It might help to have an assistant hold the
base and arm together while you screw the
screws in.
Tensegrity Magnet with grub screws assembly instructions page 4 of 15
Copyright Kontax Engineering Ltd 9/1/23

Fit the slot in the assembly plate over the lower arm and
screw 1x assembly screw through the arm into the assembly
plate.
You should be able to screw it in using your fingers, but if not
you can use a small cross-point screwdriver. Do not tighten
too much or you risk marking the arm.
Fit the second arm into the slot in the assembly
plate and screw 1x assembly screw through the
arm into the assembly plate.
Tensegrity Magnet with grub screws assembly instructions page 5 of 15
Copyright Kontax Engineering Ltd 9/1/23

Shown cut away for clarity
MAGNET SAFETY: When
separating the magnets use
a sideways sliding motion.
When separated do not
allow them to snap together,
they could damage
themselves or injure you.
Rotate and twist
the wire loops until
they fit in the
magnets as shown.
Fit 1x wire loop through
the hole in one of the
magnets.
Repeat for the second
wire loop and magnet.
Tensegrity Magnet with grub screws assembly instructions page 6 of 15
Copyright Kontax Engineering Ltd 9/1/23

Arm shown cutaway for clarity
Fit 1x magnet and wire 1.
loop into the top pocket
in the assembly plate.
Swing the wire loop into 2.
the slot in the arm.
Use the 0.9mm hex key 3.
to screw 1x grub screw
into the arm until it is
flush with the top face.
2. Fit wire loop
1. Fit
magnet
3. Fit screw
The screw should pass
cleanly through the
hook on the end of the
wire loop and screw
down flush with the
arm. If it feels tight as
you screw it in do not
force it. Back the screw
off, reposition the hook
and try again.
Repeat for the second
magnet. You will need
to hold the first magnet
in place with your
finger when you fit the
second magnet into
the assembly plate.
Tensegrity Magnet with grub screws assembly instructions page 7 of 15
Copyright Kontax Engineering Ltd 9/1/23

Identify the top surface of the top plate,
this is the side with the countersinks on the
two holes.
Position the top plate over the arm with
the top surface upwards and screw 2x
countersunk screws through the top plate
into the arm and tighten.
If the plate is the right way up the screws
should fit slightly below the surface. If the
plate is the wrong way up the screws will sit
above the surface, in which case the plate
will need reversing.
Countersinks
Tensegrity Magnet with grub screws assembly instructions page 8 of 15
Copyright Kontax Engineering Ltd 9/1/23

Fit 1x outer cable loop into one of the slots
in the top plate. The loop should enter
from the underside of the plate.
Using the hex driver screw 1x grub screw
into the plate, going through the loop on
the cable.
The screw should pass cleanly through the
loop on the end of the cable and screw
down flush with the edge of the plate. If it
feels tight as you screw it in do not force
it. Back the screw off, reposition the loop
and try again.
Repeat for the other two outer cables.
Plate shown cutaway for clarity
Tensegrity Magnet with grub screws assembly instructions page 9 of 15
Copyright Kontax Engineering Ltd 9/1/23

1. Fit shuttle
4. Fit short roundhead screw
2. Fit long roundhead screw
Fit 1x shuttle into a short slot in the base. 1.
Fit 1x long roundhead screw through the hole in the edge 2.
of the base.
Screw the screw into the shuttle until a couple of threads 3.
are showing in the hole.
Screw 1x short roundhead screw into the shuttle a couple 4.
of turns.
Repeat for the other two shuttles.
3. Couple of threads
showing
Tensegrity Magnet with grub screws assembly instructions page 10 of 15
Copyright Kontax Engineering Ltd 9/1/23

Feed 1x outer cable 1.
through its matching hole
in the base.
Loop the cable fully 2.
around its opposite
shuttle screw. The cable
should go a full 180°
around the screw.
Pull firmly enough to take 3.
up all the slack in the
cable but not tight like a
guitar string. The cable
should be straight all the
way from the base to the
top plate with no bends
or kinks.
Make sure the long 4.
roundhead screw has
been pulled fully into its
hole.
Make sure the slack is still 5.
taken up and screw the
shuttle screw down tightly
onto the outer cable.
4. Make sure screw is fully
inside pocket
2. Loop around
screw
1.Feed through hole
3. Take up slack
5. Tighten screw
Repeat for the other
two outer cables. When
they are all fitted you
can tuck the excess
lengths underneath.
Tensegrity Magnet with grub screws assembly instructions page 11 of 15
Copyright Kontax Engineering Ltd 9/1/23

Remove the 2x assembly
screws and then remove
the assembly plate, the
magnets will pull
together slightly. If the
slack in the cables was
taken up correctly in the
previous stage then the
magnets should have
just enough pull to hold
the table upright. If the
magnets do snap
together you will have to
detach the outer cables
from the shuttles, detach
the wire loops from the
arms, slide the magnets
apart, refit the assembly
plate and start again.
Tensegrity Magnet with grub screws assembly instructions page 12 of 15
Copyright Kontax Engineering Ltd 9/1/23

Note: In the next step, undoing the screws lengthens the outer
cables, which allows the magnets to move closer together,
which increases the stability of the table.
Now you need to set the correct amount of gap between the
magnets. Use the T6 Driver to undo each screw around the base
until the magnets are about 2-3mm apart. It is best to work
around the three screws in turn undoing each one a little bit
each time. A 2-3mm gap gives the optimal pull on the magnets,
which will hold the top plate steady. When you have the
magnet gap set correctly you can fine tune the screws until the
top plate is held horizontal.
If you undo the screws too much the magnets may become
stuck together, if they do then you will have to detach the outer
cables from the shuttles, detach the wire loops from the arms,
slide the magnets apart, refit the assembly plate and start again.
The table is not designed to carry heavy loads on top. If you
overload it the magnets will pull apart. Provided you have the
correct 2-3mm gap you can put light objects (250g) on top for
brief demonstration purposes. It is best to avoid leaving heavy
objects on it permanently.
If the table collapses and the wire loops detach from the arms
you should be able to slip them back over the grub screws in the
arms and gently bring the magnets back near each other to
hold the top plate in place.
Tensegrity Magnet with grub screws assembly instructions page 13 of 15
Copyright Kontax Engineering Ltd 9/1/23

Your Tensegrity Table Magnet Version is now fully assembled.
If you need help with your table you can email us at:
[email protected]
Tensegrity Magnet with grub screws assembly instructions page 14 of 15
Copyright Kontax Engineering Ltd 9/1/23

Our workshop is located in the Thames Valley, United Kingdom and is staffed by a skilled team of 9
designers, machinists and assemblers. We have 4 CNC mills, 3 CNC lathes and 3 CNC mill-turn centres.
Tensegrity Magnet with grub screws assembly instructions page 15 of 15
Copyright Kontax Engineering Ltd 9/1/23