article

[Dick Fischbeck]

For what it's worth.

https://createdigital.org.au/future-for-geodesic-domes/

[Robert Clark]

Good article!

 I would like to reiterate what was said by Jonathan Bradley. Geodesic domes do offer undeniable structural advantages, but practical challenges have always held them back from widespread adoption. Adapting conventional materials to the dome’s geometry—especially at the joints and hubs—has proven to be a difficult challenge. Weatherproofing and sealing all the exterior seams is another big obstacle. These difficulties have kept domes largely in the realm of novelty rather than mainstream architecture. That said, they excel in specific use cases.

One development that I think could make a real difference—particularly for backyard DIY enthusiasts—would be an affordable, mass-produced universal connector system. Such a solution could unlock broader access to small-scale dome construction. 

Rob

[Dx G]

Thanks for the article sighting Dick.  Odd how we hear the same arguments about domes over and over.  They are like anything else. If you roof a conventional house wrong, it leaks.  The key is that knowledge of how to build domes right is taking a long time to circulate.  The ones that have been, and are, being built wrong throws mud on the whole idea. Bad news travels fast and winds up plastered on everything.  However, sometimes good things happen for all the wrong reasons, and the insane amount of property/infrastructure damage we are having from record breaking storms is beginning to change attitudes and improve the reception of better building...like domes.

I actually exchanged email with Lisa Ottenhaus after I read her thesis.  She did some great work, and tried a lot of ways of using bamboo for struts, something that has a great deal of merit.  The ability to use materials like bamboo is one of the things that got me going on the USConn, the universal strut connector.  You will see that under list item #4, as the intention is to have it work well with materials like bamboo that have certain structural issues. I felt then as I do now, that the availability of the USConn can be a key element in moving things in a better direction. That includes making domes a Yes to more people, contractors, suppliers and even municipal codes.  

------------------------------------------
https://groups.google.com/g/geodesichelp/c/WVNShxVRr0c/m/_iGv9hZFBAAJ

https://groups.google.com/g/geodesichelp/c/WVNShxVRr0c/m/71HqinIGAwAJ

On Mon, 28 Apr 2025 at 9:25 AM, Dx G <yipp...@gmail.com> wrote:
After some additional thought and several side discussions, I have added two items to the Universal Strut Connector (USConn) list posted in March 2024.  lThey include:

--------------
8) The connector can be installed during dome construction with minimal labor and time, preferably without a need for tools or fasteners. Consider how this is like using a belt on pants, as everything you need to properly install it is already present with the device.

9) The connector installation is reversible. It can be installed, removed and reused repeatedly without degradation.
-----------------

Desirable attributes for the Universal Strut Connector (USConn)
 additions of 4/27/24 (items 8 and 9) to list posted Feb and March 2024

1) Can accept a variable number of struts, often 5 or 6, but others as well.

2) A single design allows different face, axial and dihedral angles without requiring machining operations such as cutting, bending, drilling, etc.  That is, they are interchangeable without compromising strength and not risking structural failure.
  In addition, the part itself does not require precise angle and dimensional machining tolerances and is, to some extent, self adjusting.

2a)  Ideally, in all configurations, the connector successfully operates in compression, tension, torsional and other forces.

3) Can be used with different strut materials (wood, metals, pvc, even bamboo, etc.)
 
4) Can be used with different strut shapes (hollow round pipe or tubing, round solid rod, square or rectangular cross section, etc.)

5) Hub can accept plain cut struts, where the ends do not require machining (drilling, compound angle cuts, etc.) and other customized modifications.  Nor do the struts require specialized ends or caps to be attached in order to join them properly.  This objective can be a real asset for something like bamboo, where the brute force approach of using lag bolts or even machine bolts are not good choices.

  In particular, the intention is to join parts in ways that strengthen the structure, rather than weakening the connections among structural elements.
 
6) The hub design also lends itself to use with panelized domes that require various face, axial and dihedral angles for proper assembly.

7) Does not require specialized materials or parts.
Ok, this one is part of my continuing rant.
 When I look at dome parts in the patent literature, and even in the market place, too many require complicated schemes that have to be made especially for that intended use, and aren't good for anything else. We see this even more now with the use of 3D printers. Often, this approach requires different parts for different domes, or even different hubs, so hubs or strut ends are not interchangeable and have to be custom made. Although the inventors may believe that this complexity protects them from being copied, the down side of that approach is that many such inventions go nowhere and quite a few are abandoned.
  For purposes of expanding the adoption of domes, IMHO it makes more sense to use materials that are commonly available, manufactured in large volumes for something else (PVC pipe, as an example) that will likely be around for a while, whether or not they are used for domes. This also helps keep the price down and availability up, unlike some of the wacky designs I see in some of the patents that would cost a fortune to fabricate and have little chance of ever being made in volumes that would make them more affordable.
  Thus, the motivation for this item 7, here in my list.

8) The connector can be installed during dome construction with minimal labor and time, preferably without a need for tools or fasteners. Consider how this is like using a belt with pants, as everything you need to properly install it is already present with the device.

9) The connector installation is reversible. It can be installed, removed and reused repeatedly without degradation.

-Dx G

[Paul Kranz]

Rob:

I think what we are missing is unconventional materials for unconventional domes. I think that is where Geoship has a heads-up.

Paul sends...

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Very high regards,

 

Paul C. Kranz, LMFT

Kranz & Associates, LLC

ReviveTheFlame.com

[Robert Clark]

I  am newly retired.  My profession is mechanical designer.  I have been putting my full time and attention into a concept idea I've had for a "universal" connector. It satisfies 7 out of 9 of the requirements listed above.

Desirable attributes for the Universal Strut Connector (USConn)

additions of 4/27/24 (items 8 and 9) to list posted Feb and March 2024

---

1. ✅ Can accept a variable number of struts, often 5 or 6, but others as well.

2. ✅ A single design allows different face, axial and dihedral angles without requiring machining operations such as cutting, bending, drilling, etc. That is, they are interchangeable without compromising strength and not risking structural failure.

1. 
   In addition, the part itself does not require precise angle and dimensional machining tolerances and is, to some extent, self adjusting.

2a) ✅ Ideally, in all configurations, the connector successfully operates in compression, tension, torsional and other forces.

3. ✅ Can be used with different strut materials (wood, metals, pvc, even bamboo, etc.)

4. ✅ Can be used with different strut shapes (hollow round pipe or tubing, round solid rod, square or rectangular cross section, etc.)

5. ❌ (My design has a tube end insert insert, which may be considered a “specialized end.” Wood struts would require a bored hole for the insert, which is machining.)

6. ✅ The hub design also lends itself to use with panelized domes that require various face, axial and dihedral angles for proper assembly.

7. ❌ (My design's components are not made from off-the-shelf parts — they’re injection molded and purpose-designed, not mass-produced for other uses.  Estimated cost per hub connector is less than $5 USD retail)

8. ✅ The connector can be installed during dome construction with minimal labor and time, preferably without a need for tools or fasteners. Consider how this is like using a belt with pants, as everything you need to properly install it is already present with the device.

9. ✅ (My design can be extremely quickly assembled, locked, and then unlocked for disassembly - not tools.)  The connector installation is reversible. It can be installed, removed and reused repeatedly without degradation.

[Dx G]

Robert,

 Seem to me this would be a good candidate. Have you done any testing with it, or plan any?  Either with a tabletop scale model or larger version, such as a small dome? Perhaps with PVC pipe struts or something easy to obtain or use?  

Dx G

[Robert Clark]

Making last minute tweaks to draft angles and tolerances. Will be sending out for prototypes soon.

[Dx G]

Paul,

 I wouldn't say anyone is *missing* unconventional materials, more like it hasn't come up.  So good that you did. What did you have in mind other than the ceramics?  I see a lot of bamboo materials made into lumber, as well as other plant materials like soybean derivatives. Wish we could do more with recycling and utilization of "waste" material that goes to landfills.

 Another point of philosophy. The key point is not necessarily that a material is unconventional, and not even that it is different. The key point is whether it is better, and what new/useful/valuable benefits it offers. I am hopeful for Geoship to succeed, but that remains to be seen, and may take several years before we have a track record. Rather recently, we had some crane size 3D printed homes go up near here, and there was a material/structural failure (fortunately before they were occupied) which was not expected. So, they are workin' on it. 

Dx G

[Robert Clark]

Affordable housing always hinges on availability of affordable land, not the dwelling that is built on the property. A dome is not going to do anyone any good if they have nowhere to put it. 

[Dx G]

Robert,

 It's worse than that.  Even if there is affordable land, there is NIMBY=Not in my back yard.  What you hear is, I don't want *those* people living right here.  Further, that's not even for domes, that's for conventional housing, which would otherwise blend right in with the neighborhood. Sometimes the social/political barriers are worse than the economic ones, and sadly, people who profit from a given agenda are skilled in putting hate in service to that agenda.

Dx G 

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[Dick Fischbeck]

Both true unfortunately. 

[Eric Marceau]

A while back I raised the issue. when we saw a broadcast message posted to this group, about the possible end of access to the Google Group for Geodesic Help Group.

• URGENT -- 19 days to Google Groups FREEZE - Group Continuity planning ???

• NON-URGENT - Group Continuity Planning

I would like to raise that issue once again, even though we have not received another more recent message on the topic, because I just tried to access another Google Group, being allowed to join the Group, but being denied any facility to initiate, or continue, any of the discussions, because the features for

• Reply All, and
  
  
• New Conversation

were both disabled and the corresponding buttons "suppressed".

That, for me, triggers the same concerns I previously had about the Membership being "locked out" before having been able to broadcast any specifics about a fallback/failsafe alternate Group Channel, if such were to happen.

So I raise the issue again, offering up the example of lockout suffered by the following Group:

linux.deb...@googlegroups.com

and the email rejected from myself (registered member):

I encourage those who have more vested in the continuance of the Group to take another look at the issue of a documented Continuity Plan.

Thank you for your attention.  I look forward to what transpires this time around.

Eric

[Adrian Rossiter]

Hi Eric

On Mon, 18 Aug 2025, Eric Marceau wrote:
> URGENT -- 19 days to Google Groups FREEZE - Group Continuity
> planning ???

> <https://groups.google.com/g/geodesichelp/c/pIwkGy1HqvI/m/ihJ-8Z9gAQAJ>

See Curt's messages at the end of the thread you linked to


> received another* more recent message on the topic, because I just tried to

> access another Google Group, being allowed to join the Group, but being
> denied any facility to initiate, or continue, any of the discussions, because
> the features for

...
> So I raise the issue again, offering up the *example of lockout suffered by
> the following Group*:
>
> linux.deb...@googlegroups.com
>
>
> and the email *rejected* from myself (registered member):*

It appears that this is just the same case of Google having dropped its
support for access to USENET groups

https://support.google.com/groups/answer/11036538?visit_id=638911807766001947-3546874916&p=usenet&rd=1

You could instead access the linux.debian.devel group through email, and
the archives are here

https://lists.debian.org/debian-devel/

Adrian.
--
Adrian Rossiter - adr...@antiprism.com
http://www.instagram.com/adrian_rossiter
http://antiprism.com/adrian

[Eric Marceau]

Thank you for your reply, Adian, but I don't need to actually reach that group.

I was simply pointing out that the GoogleGroup was shut down.

NOTE:  That group also had the same banner message that our Geodesic Help Group had!  So, I figure if that closed that group down, they could close this one down as well.

Or are you saying that there is a Member of the Group who is also the Group Admin at the Google end who is making the decision on keeping/closing the Google Group or not?

[Adrian Rossiter]

Hi Eric

On Tue, 19 Aug 2025, Eric Marceau wrote:
> I was simply pointing out that the GoogleGroup was shut down.

linux.deian.devel is a usenet group. Google has simply stopped offering
an interface to usenet groups.

The notices you are seeing that relate to usenet groups don't apply to the
geodesichelp group.

> Or are you saying that there is a Member of the Group who is also the Group
> Admin at the Google end who is making the decision on keeping/closing the
> Google Group or not?

My understanding is that the googlegroup interface to all usenet groups
has been closed. See also

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Groups

[Eric Marceau]

I am confused.  

Is the Geodesic Help Group not a Usenet Group?

[Curt McNamara]

Correct. Usenet was created long before Google. It was similar / related to listservs as I recall, ways to connect many people via email around a topic. Somewhere I still have many printed pages from a home brewing listserv / usenet group ( which I never did!)

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usenet

       Curt

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