Modular origami uses many identical modules joined without tape or glue to make a larger shape. It's a great type of origami to practice, because in general the modules are pretty simple and the result is impressive. This Instructable will show you how to make a Sonobe module assemble the modules into some different polyhedra.
A lot of people think that origami is either about folding animals, or only for little kids. One of my aims in creating this Instructable is to introduce other people to the world of origami, and add a popular and well-known origami pattern to the Instructables library.
I'm sorry that the format is a little awkward -- I made the diagrams in Inkscape and then found out that it's fussy to save them as jpegs and that they look better as pdfs anyway. On the other hand, you can print them out easily.
Let me know what you think!
A lot of people think that origami is either about folding animals, or only for little kids. One of my aims in creating this Instructable is to introduce other people to the world of origami, and add a popular and well-known origami pattern to the Instructables library.
I'm sorry that the format is a little awkward -- I made the diagrams in Inkscape and then found out that it's fussy to save them as jpegs and that they look better as pdfs anyway. On the other hand, you can print them out easily.
Let me know what you think!
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These modules were created by Mitsunobu Sonobe, and so we call them Sonobes.These units first appeared in the book Origami for the Connoisseur, by Kunihiko Kasahara and Toshie Takahama.
There are many ways to put them together, which you can find on the web at http://members.shaw.ca/gtarigan/sonobe/index.html One of them, using only three units, was created by Toshie Takahama, and so we call this assembly Toshie's Jewels in her honor. Another way to assemble the Sonobes was created by Stephan T. Lavavej, instructions for which you may find on his website, http://nuwen.net/poly.html, since they are much clearer with his photographs.
There are also a bunch of ways you can make the modules which add interest to the final product. Some of these may be found on Meenakshi Mukerji's website at http://www.geocities.com/mmukhopadhyay/creation/sonobe.html The last time I looked, only two of the links worked, but there are some good pictures. Another interesting site is http://www.fortunecity.com/meltingpot/alabama/179/sonobe_unit.html, which focuses on cubes.
Finally, if you want some more pictures of how to assemble the modules and a handy table of some of the things you can make with them, try http://home.comcast.net/~meenaks/diagrams/sonoassm.pdf for another diagram by Meenakshi Mukerji.
There are many ways to put them together, which you can find on the web at http://members.shaw.ca/gtarigan/sonobe/index.html One of them, using only three units, was created by Toshie Takahama, and so we call this assembly Toshie's Jewels in her honor. Another way to assemble the Sonobes was created by Stephan T. Lavavej, instructions for which you may find on his website, http://nuwen.net/poly.html, since they are much clearer with his photographs.
There are also a bunch of ways you can make the modules which add interest to the final product. Some of these may be found on Meenakshi Mukerji's website at http://www.geocities.com/mmukhopadhyay/creation/sonobe.html The last time I looked, only two of the links worked, but there are some good pictures. Another interesting site is http://www.fortunecity.com/meltingpot/alabama/179/sonobe_unit.html, which focuses on cubes.
Finally, if you want some more pictures of how to assemble the modules and a handy table of some of the things you can make with them, try http://home.comcast.net/~meenaks/diagrams/sonoassm.pdf for another diagram by Meenakshi Mukerji.
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I took some time to figure out the dodecahedron shape, after that it got easier.
Thanks for the instructable!
I was introduced to the sonobe in my 7th grade industreal technology class. We made cubes, and were told we could get more advanced with more than 6 units
Ever since then, I periodically clean out my folders of papers I don't need anymore, fold and use the crease-and-tear method to cut them into squares, and then cut the larger squares into four smaller squares, and fold the smaller squares into sonobe's. I usually take it one step at a time for the whole lot of 30-40 pieces of paper I get from one clean-out, and can usually finish it all in one class period (if I'm not interrupted).
It's a great way to cure boredom in school and do something productive, while re-using an item you'd normally get rid of.
This is a picture of a Menger sponge I made from a recent folder clean-out.