Tabletop:

Inner Triangles: Mahogany
Inner Triangle Edges: Purple Heart
Outer Middle Parallelograms: Mahogany
3x Hexagon Edge: Walnut
Outer Octagon: Red Oak

Table Base:

3/4" Birch Ply
1" Steel Bar Custom Brackets

Designed in Rhinoceros 3D

The concept for this tabletop came from a floor design for a geodesic dome. I wanted to geometrically transition from 3 (the triangle in the middle), to 8 (the octagon on the outside). I started by cutting shapes from scrap materials, and the project transformed into the following table design with a complimentary base. I consider the base a prototype, as I'd love to redo it in a nicer wood someday. If I were to build a similar design again, I would definitely consider attaching the table-top pieces with biscuits for added strength.

Enjoy!

Step 1: Table Top Design

No fancy code or algorithms used. The geometry is all designed by hand, using Rhino's snapping tools.

The Rhino (.3dm) file is attached if you want to explore the design, or make one yourself.

tetra_table_inst.3dm
Download

Step 2: Mahogany Interior Triangles

Cut w/Table Saw Jig.

Unfortunately I am lacking documentation in these first steps, as I was "in the zone". I essentially marked the angles on the stock, and used a custom table saw jig make my cuts.

Step 3: Purple Heart Triangle Edge and Mahogany Pieces

Cut w/Table Saw Jig

Step 4: Ratchet Strap for Setting/Gluing.

Step 5: Table Base Design

Truncated Tetrahedron

Created by intersecting two tetrahedrons (3-sided pyramids), and removing the bottom with a boolean plane.

Step 6: Adding Thickness

Using the 'extrude' tool, I thickened the pieces.

Step 7: Tablesaw Jig Design for Mitre Cuts

I measured the angles between the pieces with the Angle tool, and designed some mitre jigs explicitly for the form. I aligned the mitre-edge to the vertical table saw blade, and then engineered the jig to support the workpiece with clamps as it gets cut.

I could have also utilized the mitre-angle of the table saw, but it's more precise and less confusing to leave the blade at a vertical 90 deg.

Step 8: Cut File

W/Jigs included

Step 9: Laser Cut Forms and Jig Pieces From 3/4" Birch

Using the Metabeam at Pier9, cut from high quality 3/4" ply.

Step 10: Sanding Laser-Burnt Edges Off

Step 11: Jig Assembly

Cross members made from 1/2" ply.

Step 12: Cut Mitres With Table Saw Jigs

I attached each piece to the jig after I labeled each edge so I would stay organized. I pushed each jig through the saw by hand after attaching the workpiece to the jig with clamps.