How to Cut Struts for a Geodesic Dome

Geodesic domes are spherical structures made up of a network of triangles that form the dome surface. This geometry of combined triangles gives the dome its strength and integrity. There are several types of domes, denoted as 1V, 2V, 3V, etc. This classification refers to the complexity and size of the dome. 1V domes use fewer triangles than higher order domes. This makes cutting the struts difficult because the struts differ in length depending on the class of dome. Luckily, many online resources can help us determine the length of the struts.

Things You'll Need

• Electrical conduit
• Measuring tape
• Marker
• Hacksaw

Show More

Instructions

1. • 1

     Determine the radius of the geodesic dome.

   • 2

     Visit the geodesic dome calculator online and enter the desired dome radius. The dome calculator will determine how many struts you need and what length they should be for the chosen dome type.

   • 3

     Measure the struts and mark the conduit.

   • 4

     Secure one end of the metal conduit tubing and begin sawing at the designated marks with a hacksaw. Electrical conduit is typically made of softer alloys so the sawing should not be difficult.

   • 5

     Repeat this process for the remaining struts. Be sure to keep the struts separated by length, as some of the differences can be minute.