Modular Origami

[Harpseal]

Discuss your favourite models (david p's giant ball) or how to invent your own(which i can't do, please help!).
I noticed this forum hasn't got much modular stuff, so this is the place to share it.

[Baltorigamist]

Not sure if this already exists, but meh.

Personally, I have mixed opinions about modulars. The classic Sonobe cube was one of the first things I ever folded, and at one time that was almost all I made. I remember spending hours on Youtube looking up every model I could find (Barbabellaatjehas a nice channel. It was there as well that I found two of my all-time favorite modulars--the Enigma Cube and Tomoko Fuse's Cherry Blossom Ball.).
Generally I love the look of finished modular designs. As awesome as single-sheet models are, it seems modulars are even more beautiful sometimes. I got one of Meenakshi Mukerji's books at Centerfold 2011, and all the models are just amazing. Between the floral designs and the Intersecting Planes, the entire book is full of models that are simply beautiful.

My only issue with modulars is their inefficiency as far as the actual folding. As simple as they are to fold, it gets boring once the number of units passes 30 or so. Also, I've seen it argued that they're easy to fold during travel because you don't need large paper. But it gets difficult to keep track of dozens of units, let alone the scraps of paper when a specific ratio is required (1:sqrt3, for example). Of course, the easiest solution is to assemble it as you fold it, but then you risk dropping the half-finished model and losing it. And the assemblies are usually tricky to get right--either unstable or difficult to lock (the Enigma Cube is a prime example of this).

Don't get me wrong--modulars are awesome. I just don't care for folding them as much as I do for the finished model.


As far as designing one goes, I have no idea. I've been trying to for about 2.5 years now (on and off), and I've come nowhere close.

[Harpseal]

If you take a square from an a4 sheet, i created a modular ring out of the bit left over. It is quite sturdy and only takes 9 modules. This is as far as i've ever got at inventing modular.
I have made david petty's borealis and i'm working on his tornado.

[HankSimon]

Check out the new Modular Star from JC Nolan's Creating Origami effort: http://creatingorigami.com/collateral/p ... sembly.pdf

You can see the results, and still make contributions in the last few days:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/192 ... a-in-paper

You might be able to negotiate to make a contribution and have JC design an innovative Modular, perhaps helping you learn a little more about designing and diagramming from a master.

[Harpseal]

I have been working on David Petty's tornado, (from www.davidpetty.me.uk
) and i am up to the last stage of attatching to two halves. I cannot manage this without it falling apart and have failed at least 8 times. Can anyone help? Thanks in advance.

[OrigamiGeek]

I used it just fold modular but then I learned how to do complex things and kind of stopped folding modular but I still do it some times hear is something that gives away free modular diagrams http://www.origamee.net/diagrams/diagrams.html
I think that http://origamila.blogspot.com/2009/09/m ... passo.html si very nice P:

[Harpseal]

I agree. David petty's site has loads of modular. Have you seen his Bucky Series?

[OrigamiGeek]

no what is his bucky series?

[Harpseal]

"Bucky" is the unit, made out of an equilateral triangle, which David used for lots of models. The models he made became part of his "Bucky Series". The series contains his flying saucer, an elipse thing, much more, and the pride of the collection, the giant ball, a massive modular piece of 60 units about the size of an exercise ball.

[OrigamiGeek]

thanks I might fold one things from the site

[OrigamiGeek]

or not most of the things take too long I got board after the first unit

[Harpseal]

It does get boring. Once you've made the units, do you assemble the unit on until you've made it or do you wait until you have all of them before putting them together?

[OrigamiGeek]

I wait till I have all of them because once I just assembled as I went along and near the end the hole thing clappsed and I was still folding then when I looked up there were pecs everywhere

[Harpseal]

Pieces everywhere's what happened to petty's tornado (8 times).
I was wondering how to put the two halves together (it isn't very clear about that) so i put them next to each oter in the positions they were meant to end up in, i started experimenting with one set of flaps into some pockets, and almost instantly, the bits i was holding were the only bits left!