Making a 10 sided dome

The name of the shape (item) you're trying to make is "gore". Do some searches on calculating the dimensions of "gores". They're most made of fabric for making hot air balloons and parachutes of the older spheric or parabolic geometries.

LLoyd

This is actually a mathematical question. Not saying the folks here can't help you, but the math groups for sure can. There are a number of web sites, some even which have small programs to go with different shapes. I remember starting with "dome home" and going from there to find about all the shapes and the math to get there. I think for your project, a shape more like a soccer ball, with a mix of five and three sided figures will work best. I forgot the exact name, something like truncated isodecahedron or something.

"Joatman71" (clip) Is there any way to make this proper curve without trial and error? How is it best done using trial and error? (clip) ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Look in a map book. One of the ways of developing a global map is commonly seen in geography books and atlases. Or, you could carefully peel an orange to produce the shape you want. Or you could cover a ball with masking tape, and then make the required cuts to produce the shape you need--then carefully peel it.

Another idea is to take something like a croquet ball and hold it against a belt sander until the outside is converted to the shape you are aiming for.

Look in a drafting or sheetmetal layout text. This problem is similar to fitting the end of one round duct to the side of another one. jw

Now you see why Bucky Fuller invented the Geodesic dome, all panels are flat and the math is simple.

Go google Geodesic Dome and make your life simple and have some fun.

--.- Dave

Thank you so much. I found a few good pages that helped me tremedously.

Scott