The string represents a hyperbolic paraboloid, a type of quadric surface. Generally, hyperbolic paraboloids are defined by the equation z= y^2/a^2-x^2/b^2.
At the center of a hyperbolic paraboloid is a saddle point. At this point the surface is both curving upwards in one direction and downwards in another.
I designed this object by exploiting an interesting feature of hyperbolic paraboloids – they are doubly ruled. This means that each point has two lines passing through it that also lie on the quadric surface. The curved shape can be defined by a series of straight lines. Using string to represent these straight lines demonstrates the doubly ruled nature of hyperbolic paraboloids. I made this seemingly complex object from very simple rules.
| Assembly.iam | 100.0KB | |
| base.dwg | 180.8KB | |
| Base.ipt | 210.5KB | |
| Base.stl | 28.8KB | |
| base.svg | 2.4KB | |
| side1.dwg | 178.9KB | |
| Side1.ipt | 190.0KB | |
| Side1.stl | 80.4KB | |
| side1.svg | 5.6KB | |
| side2.dwg | 178.9KB | |
| Side2.ipt | 187.5KB | |
| Side2.stl | 80.4KB | |
| side2.svg | 5.6KB |
