modular pie-cosahedron

constructing a pie with the topology of a sphere from 20 triangular sub-pie modules attached with amazing magnets.

Step 1: Layout and cut the pieces

we needed 20 equilateral triangles. choosing an altitude of 12 inches let us easily lay out two strips of them on a 24x48 inch sheet of 24 gauge steel. in order to get the dihedral angle at which the sides of the pans have to meet to form the whole icosahedron requires the sides to be sloped at darn near 120 degrees so if one just cuts out the diamond shaped tab in each corner, the results fit together quite nicely.

we decided to pick up a power-shear from harbor freight. cuts the sheet like butter and leaves a cleaner edge than the hand sheers. it wouldn't work for really detailed work but for reasonably smooth curves it's definitely worth it's weight and even for straight cuts it's significantly more affordable than a floor shear.

Comments

[canida]

This project was featured on NPR's Here & Now on Monday, November 24 2008!

[ilpug]

you need to supersize this. now that you have a modular building system you can make anything!

[WYN soldier]

haha the idea is great now make the oven that comes with it XD

[tubegeek]

Fractal pie?

[Aswa]

http://www.instructables.com/id/giant-fractal-pecan-pie/
I had the same thought, so I searched. ;)

[Icalasari]

Idea: Make it so that the magnet portions are a separate section. The pies get baked in pans that can hook onto the frame. Then you can do this each year if you desired without having to wrestle with magnets every time

[mememememememe]

But pie are squared!

[pyearick]

No, pie are round. Cornbread are squared.

[tanmanknex]

hahaha!!! ROFLPMP!!!:D

[pirateykris]

This made me rofl. Brilliant :)

[ilpug]

pie can be squared easily, with a sharp knife.

[BigCountry]

Dude!! You have WAAAAAAYYY too much time on your hands!! Cool pie, though

[mshekleton]

...and then you put the sharp sheet metal on your head. lol :)

[Fish_Kungfu]

Awesome job!!! What about some Phi-pie? That would be golden-ly delicious! ;-p

[Brewerjp]

I can't believe this hasn't been said yet... This pie rolls a natural 20 every time!

[stupidstickanimations]

i might make pizza in one of these instead :D

[icecoldcelt]

I have to get/make a shirt like that. Period.

[bluebeard]

I'm guessing that you used NIBs.  Samarium-Cobalt's have a higher curie point that  will survive kitchen oven temperatures.  They are the second strongest type of magnets, right behind NIB's.

[rockerape]

sheet metal happens.   8P

[brainmist]

I'd just like to say - and I'm not one to exaggerate - but you, sir/madam, are a GOD. That's right, I've said it...you are clearly a minor deity at least of the juncture of geometry and pie. Geopastry, maybe. Nevermind the figuring-out-how-to-do-it, the sheer audacity of the idea merits you applause!

*erects a small shrine to Geopastronus, God of Pie and Angles (tm)*

[adamvan2000]

Surely you mean....*waits for the drum-roll* Pie-angles? :OD ~adamvan2000

[evanwehrer]

:OD <-------has a big nose!!!

[1spartan95]

Or if you tilt your head to the right it's Homer Simpson!

[professorred]

O:D3

[BeanGolem]

 Om-nom-ahedron

[krazipanda]

what happens when u wwant to eat it?

[red-king]

omg!!! it's a pie d20!

[1spartan95]

Calling all geeks and pie lovers!!!!!

[techshop1]

You have way too much time on your hands. Wish I had time to play like that. Enjoy it while you can. Looks like a fun project - Great job!

[MillenniumMan]

PIE is exactly 3! Sorry, had to get the fat nerds attention away from the buffet table and back to the conference table. Now, let's try to divide the pie by PI.

[Azayles]

PIE divided by Pi is 0.95492965855137201461330258023509blahblahblah Seems the nerd baiting worked :P

[ItsTheHobbs]

pie and math, i dont like either but anyways this is great, and a great idea too

[tanmanknex]

you don't like pie??? How could you?!?!?! I'm taking that as a personal insult!!! (JK)

[evanwehrer]

GASP!!!

[PKTraceur]

Did you just make a D20 pie??!?!?!?!

[REA]

this would be great for a huge D&D party!

[Weather_blue]

The ultimate in gamer food. I just failed my save vs. hunger. :)

[hishealer]

AND A PECAN PIE FTW!!!

[Thekal]

Your ONE triangle away from a FULL trio of triforces.. power courage wisdom ...fail.

[spiffytessa]

The awesomeness of this has left me speechless.