Stool-T

(updated 2020-10-20)

Stool-T is constructed of many blocks, which are bound by small parts, and can be re-constructed into other patterns, similar to playing "Tetris". Each block shape is the same as the seven seen in "Tetris": I shape, J shape, L shape, O shape, S shape, Z shape, and T shape.

This was designed as an entry for the "Tenkaizu Budokai stool contest”.

(link lost) http://f-labo.tumblr.com/post/127462448125/tenkaiz...

(link lost) http://f-labo.tumblr.com/post/127064396215/tenkaiz...

- base materials: maximum of 2 sheets of MDF t2.5mm - 1820 × 910mm can be used (according to the contest rule)

- tools: laser cutting machine (trotec speedy 300)

- software:

blocks desing / Rhinoceros + Grasshopper > Illustrator

binding parts desing / Rhinoceros > Illustrator

Because of the limitation for the base materials, the unit size for blocks is set as 4cm. It is scalable via Grasshopper parameters. Bigger and/or more blocks shall be much more interesting.

One base material is cut into four max-work-size sheets (730 x 437mm) and one sheet of 730 x 179mm, referred to as a "hazaiA sheet".

For this stool, the following number of sheets are cut according to the attached drawings.

stool-T_A.pdf ; 4 max-work-size sheets

stool-T_B.pdf ; 2 max-work-size sheets

stool-T_C.pdf ; 1 max-work-size sheet

stool-T_hazaiA1.pdf ; 1 hazaiA sheet

stool-T_hazaiA2.pdf ; 1 hazaiA sheet

The following are optional parts. They are used for the backside cover if you want to store any remaining blocks inside the stool.

stool-T_A_waku.pdf ; 1 remaining material of stool-T_A.pdf

stool-T_C_waku.pdf ; 1 remaining material of stool-T_C.pdf

The parts list is attached just as a reminder for myself (Japanese only): "stool-T_PartsList_0926.pdf"

Attached laser-cutter data is layouted for assembling 63 blocks with 7 tetlis block shapes.

Stool-T explaining on this instructables is composed of W 7 x D 7 x H 7 basic cubes ( basic cube is 4cm size). Each tetlis block is composed of 4 basic cubes. So it means that minimum 48 tetlis blocks is required to assemble Stool-T ( 48 = 48.25 = (6x6x4+7x7)/4 ).

many many binding parts are also cut.

#1: long parts, supporting member under top surface blocks of Stool.

#2: long parts, binding member of side wall blocks

#3: overlocking parts of #2 on side walls blocks

#4: overlocking parts of #1 under top surface blocks

construct four side walls with binding parts #2 and #3.

construct two walls with binding parts #2 and #3.

Before constructing third wall, binding parts #1 are inserted into the holes of top blocks, then construct third wall.

construct fourth wall to complete side wall. Top blocks are bound with the binding parts #4.

Optional Assembling
Bottom cover is optional. They are used for the backside cover if you want to store any remaining blocks inside the stool. Two bottom covers are inserted between binding parts #2 and #3.

Now, Stool is completed !

All blocks of Stool-T are assembled with binding parts, not permanently fixed, to re-assemble as another pattern. To be honest, disassembling and re-assembling is not easy, but it is possible. It's the basic idea of Stool-T.

I planed several patterns using Excel work sheet. Just for your reference, attached is one of the plan, sorry in Japanese, but you can understand what is this table.