Assembling Sonobè Units

Basic Assembly

To assemble units into pointed triangles:

1. Each unit has two tabs on its ends and two pockets near the center. Insert a tab from one unit into a pocket from another.
   %IMAGE{"assy-1-p.jpg" align="center" type="frame" size="300"}%
2. Slide the tab all the way into the pocket so the two units form a 90° edge.
   %IMAGE{"assy-2-p.jpg" align="center" type="frame" size="300"}%
3. Add a third unit by inserting one of its tabs into a pocket from an existing unit and inserting a tab from an existing unit into one of its pockets. Collapse the three joints back into a closed point.
   %IMAGE{"assy-3-p.jpg" align="center" type="frame" size="300"}%

Each group of three units assembled this way forms a stellated (with 45°-45°-90°, not equilateral, triangular sides) triangle with one unit at each edge. Edges are shared between adjacent triangles to form tetrahedron, octahedron, or icosahedron shapes.

6-Unit Stellated Tetrahedron "Cube"

When 6 units are assembled into a stellated tetrahedron, the overall shape of the result forms a cube.

1. Start with one unit, with both tabs creased down as shown and no center crease.
   %IMAGE{"m2-assy-1-p.jpg" align="center" type="frame" size="300"}%
2. Add a second unit.
   %IMAGE{"m2-assy-2-p.jpg" align="center" type="frame" size="300"}%
3. Insert the first unit's tab into the pocket of a third unit.
   %IMAGE{"m2-assy-3-p.jpg" align="center" type="frame" size="300"}%
4. Insert the tab from the third unit into the second unit.
   %IMAGE{"m2-assy-4-p.jpg" align="center" type="frame" size="300"}%
5. The first three units form a complete corner.
   %IMAGE{"m2-assy-5-p.jpg" align="center" type="frame" size="300"}%
6. Add a fourth unit, opposite the third.
   %IMAGE{"m2-assy-6-p.jpg" align="center" type="frame" size="300"}%
7. Connect the fourth unit to the second.
   %IMAGE{"m2-assy-7-p.jpg" align="center" type="frame" size="300"}%
8. Add a fifth unit, inserting both tabs into pockets from the third and fourth.
   %IMAGE{"m2-assy-8-p.jpg" align="center" type="frame" size="300"}%
9. Insert the tab from the second unit into the fifth.
   %IMAGE{"m2-assy-9-p.jpg" align="center" type="frame" size="300"}%
10. Fold the two remaining tabs up.
    %IMAGE{"m2-assy-10-p.jpg" align="center" type="frame" size="300"}%
11. Add the final unit, inserting tabs into the two remaining pockets.
    %IMAGE{"m2-assy-11-p.jpg" align="center" type="frame" size="300"}%
12. Fold the last tabs into the final unit's pockets to complete the cube.
    %IMAGE{"m2-assy-12-p.jpg" align="center" type="frame" size="300"}%

-- StephenCavilia - 2009-07-17