Octahedral 5v, Mexican method

The so-called Mexican Method is named after the work of Mexican mathematician Hector Alfredo Hernandez Hernandez. With this system of triangle subdivision, strut lengths are equalized along each set of three paths followed by the struts. As a result, the number of unique strut lengths equals the dome’s frequency. The method can be applied to geodesic domes based on either the octahedron or icosahedron, but the equal-length feature begins to break down at frequency 6.
This 5v 1/2 Mexican method dome calculator is multi-purpose	This is also a reverse geodesic dome calculator
It will calculate any size of dome and display the lengths for each strut, total amount of material required, the weight of your geodesic dome and even the amount of material to cover your geodesic dome.	Enter any value in any yellow box and it will calculate all other corresponding values. For example you can specify a 2-foot length for strut “B” and all other struts and related values will be calculated.
For all calculators on this site please click here.

NOTE: If you enter a measure in feet, your results are in feet or, in the case of floor area, square feet. Same goes for meters. When entering in feet, decimals are fractions of a foot or square foot (for example: 2.75 = 2’9″).

Spherical radius
Spherical diameter
Height
Floor area
Perimeter

feet (or meters) of pipe/lumber
NOTE: if you are bolting conduit, regardless of dome size, add an extra 48 feet or 15 meters to total above (based on 3″ or 8cm for each strut).

160 STRUTS			ANGLE
12 X “A”			12.6°
24 X “B”			12.4°
36 X “C”			11.7°
48 X “D”			10.6°
40 X “E”			9.0°
160 STRUTS
For conduit, you can round bend angles to the nearest degree. For timber domes, angles should be to the nearest tenth of a degree.

Struts are vertex to vertex

To connect together with bolts, you need to make them longer to drill holes in them.

Connecting struts Many types of connectors are available for steel and timber geodesic dome. For more information, click here.

If you use hubs	40 X 6-way connectors	17 X 4-way connectors	4 X 3-way connectors
OR

If you bolt struts together	61 bolts	61 nuts	122 washers
For more information on cutting, bending and flattening struts, click here

Your calculated floor surface area is
SQUARE FEET/SQUARE METERS

NOTE: RESULTS INTHIS SECTION ARE BASED ON FEET.

Estimated standing capacity
Estimated dining capacity
Estimated conference capacity

NOTE: RESULTS INTHIS SECTION ARE BASED ON FEET.

Your calculated geodesic dome diameter is

The tables show sample costs. Material prices vary with suppliers and area.

Your calculated geodesic dome requires
feet (or meters) of pipe / lumber

NOTE: RESULTS INTHIS SECTION ARE BASED ON FEET.

Galvanized pipe – Steel Schedule 40
Your estimated pipe dollar cost is:
1/2″ @ $13 /10′ length
3/4 @ $17/10′ length
1″ @ $25 /10′ length
1 1/4″ @ $34 /10′ length
1 1/2″ @ $42 /10′ length
2″ @ $55 /10′ length

Structure pipe – Aluminum Schedule 40
Your estimated pipe dollar cost is:
1/2″ @ $ /10′ length
3/4 @ $ /10′ length
1″ @ $ /10′ length
1 1/4″ @ $ /10′ length
1 1/2″ @ $ /10′ length
2″ @ $ /10′ length

Structure pipe – EMT
Your estimated pipe dollar cost is:
1/2″ @ $5.50 /10′ length
3/4 @ $ 8.80 /10′ length
1″ @ $18 /10′ length
1 1/4″ @ $19 /10′ length
1 1/2″ @ $22 /10′ length
2″ @ $3 2/10′ length

Cover: approx. s.f.

	$ COST
Canvas 20 oz. ($1/s.f.)
Canvas 42 oz ($1.50/s.f.)
Poly 3 mil ($0.05/s.f.)
Poly 6 mil ($0.06/s.f.)
Marine Shrink Wrap 7 mil. ($0.08/s.f.)
Industrial fire-retardant Shrink Wrap 12 mil ($0.23/s.f.)
Aluminet 70% shade cloth ($0.35/s.f.)
Tyvek (housewrap) ($0.41/s.f.)
Plywood 1/2″ ($25/ 4′ X 8′)

Wood struts
Your estimated wood dollar cost is:
2″X4″ @ $0.35 foot (avg.)
2″X6″ @ $0.50 foot (avg.)
2″X8″ @ $0.70 foot (avg.)
Flooring:
Plywood 1/2″ ($25/ 4′ X 8′)
OSB 1/2″ ($9/ 4′ X 8′)

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