3D-printed math and science sculptures

Bathsheba Grossman is a sculptor who uses cutting-edge technology to render math- and science-inspired shapes in three dimensions. You can buy 3D-printed laser-cut metal ones, or order them in plastic at lower costs from ShapeWays. That sound you hear is my jaw scraping my keyboard.

Bathsheba Sculpture - Math Models (Thanks, Nalo!)

• [Rich Keller]

  I got to see some of these up close and personal at Capricon last year. They reminded me of the woodcuts by Wentzel Jamnitzer, a 16th century polyhedral artist. It’s great that we can fabricate these things now.

  http://www.georgehart.com/virtual-polyhedra/jamnitzer.html

• [Anonymous]

  You say: 3D-printed laser-cut metal

  I think these would be 3D printed using a alloy dust – then fired in a kiln to vitrify.

  Could be wrong but I don’t think laser cutting figures into this process.

  -Tonky

• [Comedian]

  Looks like a 3-D projection of a fourth dimensional condom.

  • [mccrum]

    Comedian, trust me, since I’ve had to apologize to my grandmother nearly every day for most of my life: used after traveling the fourth dimension, it does certainly not act like one.

• [wizardgynoid]

  Bathsheba is not limited to the metal/plastic sculptures described above. She also makes available mathematical/geometric objects that are laser etched into the contents of crystal cubes and other shapes. One of the most wonderful is the rendering there of the 3D shadow of an 8 dimensional object — the E8 Polytope. You can see it here: http://www.bathsheba.com/crystal/e8/

• [Anonymous]

  Tonky has it right, they’re sintered metal powder. Hi everyone!
  -Bathsheba

• [Bahumat]

  I have two of these (in plastic, alas, couldn’t justify the cost of the metal ones) on my desk here at work. I love them very much; and they’re always an eye-catcher when folks come by the desk.

  Bathsheba Grossman’s work is a delight to both have and hold; and one of the real delights is in inspecting these pieces from different angles in your hand, seeing the different facets and beautiful surprises waiting to be found.

  Disclaimer: I have no connection with the artist, his work, or shapeways. I just really like math art, and these have long been favorites.

  • [Anonymous]

    That would be “Her” work, not his.

• [hijukal]

  My wife surprised me with one of the mini metal sculptures a few years back – http://www.bathsheba.com/gallery/vorocube/ – though I don’t think it’s sold any longer. I love it.

• [jere7my]

  We saw her work at a show in Jamaica Plain a couple of years ago. The full-size sculptures are fabulous. A friend got us one of the little infolded spheres for a wedding gift, and we quite adore it.

• [Anonymous]

  I have used this same metal printing process to fabricate a nuclear fusion research device:

  http://prometheusfusionperfection.com/2009/09/30/superconducting-magrid-irl/

• [MadMolecule]

  Oh my god, a Klein bottle opener! Brilliant!