Zometool and vZome
Most of the geometry on this site will be conveyed with images produced in vZome software. The software mimics the wonderful toy called Zometool.
Prior to Zometool, modeling was typically done with cardboard and tape. I had plenty of freshly installed X-acto blades jump over the straight edge and across a finger or two.
With Zometool a couple of important aspects are accomplished. One cannot “fake” a shape be slightly distorting it by bending such as with cardboard. So the angles are dictated by the hubs themselves and the lengths are already preset and color coded as well.
I strongly recommend obtaining some Zometool, they are well worth their money in durability and quality. The hours spent using them and learning new things makes the price a bargain.
Holding a physical model is the best experience one can have with polyhedra and it is a great way of getting insights and observations.
Modeling with software has its unique advantages in that time and money can be saved, especially on large or difficult to build models. vZome has the ability to show some things that Zometool can’t, but are still mathematically valid.
So, have some Zometool available and download vZome. Scott Vorthmann, the creator of vZome, will supply a license upon request (free). One isn’t required to have any of the tools, but they help convey the information.
