Kontax Tensegrity User manual

These instructions are for the centre cable 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 table
with centre cable
assembly instructions
Tensegrity cable assembly instructions page 1 of 15
Copyright Kontax Engineering Ltd 16/5/23

Base
1x1x
Outer cable
3x3x
Top plate
1x1x
Shuttle
3x3x
Centre cable
1x1x
Assembly plate
1x1x
Arm
2x2x
Rubber feet
3x
(Note, some kits may have 4x rubber feet)
Parts 1
Tensegrity cable assembly instructions page 2 of 15
Copyright Kontax Engineering Ltd 16/5/23

Short
roundhead
screw
8x8x
Countersunk
screw
4x4x
Long
roundhead
screw
3x3x
Assembly
screw
2x2x
Torx driver
1x1x
Short
roundhead
screw
3x3x
Countersunk
screw
4x4x
Long
roundhead
screw
3x3x
Assembly
screw
2x2x
Grub
screw
5x5x
Hex key
1x1x
Torx driver
1x1x
Note, There are 2 different versions of the Tensegrity table with centre cable kit.
V1 has roundhead screws holding the cables in the arms and top plate.
V2 has grub screws holding the cables in the arms and top plate.
V1 screws and drivers V2 screws and drivers
Parts 2
Tensegrity cable assembly instructions page 3 of 15
Copyright Kontax Engineering Ltd 16/5/23

Note, some kits have three rubber feet and dimples, some have four rubber feet and dimples.
Peel the backing off the adhesive rubber feet and stick them over the dimples on the bottom of the base.
3x feet and dimples 4x feet and dimples
Tensegrity cable assembly instructions page 4 of 15
Copyright Kontax Engineering Ltd 16/5/23

Screw two 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 cable assembly instructions page 5 of 15
Copyright Kontax Engineering Ltd 16/5/23

Fit the slot in the assembly plate over the lower arm and
screw one 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 one assembly screw through
the arm into the assembly plate.
Tensegrity cable assembly instructions page 6 of 15
Copyright Kontax Engineering Ltd 16/5/23

1. Fit the centre cable into the slots in the
ends of the arms.
2. V1 kit (not shown): Using the Torx driver
screw two short roundhead into the arms,
going through the loops on the cable.
2. V2 kit (shown): Using the hex key screw two
grub screws into the arms, going through the
loops on the cable.
The screws should pass cleanly through the
loops on the ends of the cable and screw
down flush with the arms. If they feel tight as
you screw them in do not force them. Back
the screws off, reposition the loops and try
again.
Arm shown cutaway for clarity
1. fit cable
2. Fit screws
(either grub
or short
roundhead)
Tensegrity cable assembly instructions page 7 of 15
Copyright Kontax Engineering Ltd 16/5/23

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 two
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 cable assembly instructions page 8 of 15
Copyright Kontax Engineering Ltd 16/5/23

Fit one outer cable loop into one of the slots
in the top plate. The loop should enter from
the underside of the plate.
V1 kits (not shown): Using the Torx driver
screw one short roundhead screw into the
plate, going through the loop on the cable.
V2 kits (shown): Using the hex key screw one
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
Fit screw
(either grub
or short
roundhead)
Tensegrity cable assembly instructions page 9 of 15
Copyright Kontax Engineering Ltd 16/5/23

1. Fit shuttle
3. Fit short roundhead screw
2. Fit long roundhead screw
Fit one shuttle into a short slot in the base. 1.
Fit one long roundhead screw through the hole in the edge 2.
of the base and screw it into the shuttle a couple of turns.
Screw one short roundhead screw into the shuttle a couple 3.
of turns.
Repeat for the other two shuttles.
Detail view after fitting screws
Couple of
turns
Shuttle shown
cutaway
for clarity
Tensegrity cable assembly instructions page 10 of 15
Copyright Kontax Engineering Ltd 16/5/23

4. Make sure screw is fully
inside pocket
2. Loop around
screw
1.Feed through hole
3. Take up slack
5. Tighten screw
6. Tuck loose end
Repeat for the other
two outer cables.
Feed one 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.
The loose cable end can 6.
be tucked underneath
the straight section for
tidiness.
Tensegrity cable assembly instructions page 11 of 15
Copyright Kontax Engineering Ltd 16/5/23

Remove the two assembly screws and then remove the assembly plate, the table will be quite wobbly at this stage.
Tensegrity cable assembly instructions page 12 of 15
Copyright Kontax Engineering Ltd 16/5/23

Note: In the next step, tightening the screws shortens
the outer cables, and undoing the screws lengthens
the cables. Each screw will adjust the length of the
cable that is directly opposite the screw.
Use the Torx driver to tighten each screw around the
base until the top plate is held steady and horizontal.
It is best to work around the three screws in turn
tightening each one a little bit each time. You can
use a ruler against against the top plate edge to
help get the cables the same length and the top
plate horizontal.
DO NOT TIGHTEN THE CABLES LIKE A GUITAR STRING!
The centre cable has an 8kg breaking strain, if you
tighten the three outer cables too tighly you will
break the centre cable.
The recommended tension is is just enough so that
when you nudge the top plate it wobbles slighty.
The table is not designed to carry heavy loads on
top. You can put light objects (250g) on top for brief
demonstration purposes but it is best to avoid leaving
anything on it permanently.
Tensegrity cable assembly instructions page 13 of 15
Copyright Kontax Engineering Ltd 16/5/23

Your Tensegrity table is now fully assembled.
If you need help with your table you can email us at:
[email protected]
Tensegrity cable assembly instructions page 14 of 15
Copyright Kontax Engineering Ltd 16/5/23

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 cable assembly instructions page 15 of 15
Copyright Kontax Engineering Ltd 16/5/23