Bubble Bowl

This “Bubble Bowl” was formed using the “Weaire–Phelan structure,” the most mathematically efficient way for equal-sized bubbles to fit together to make foam.

The structure is made up of two pentagonal dodecahedra (12-sided) and six tetrakaidecahedra (14-sided) that form a translation unit with a lattice periodicity which is simple cubic. In crystallography, this structure is also known as the A15 Frank-Kasper phase.

This bowl can be purchased at: https://www.shapeways.com/shops/davemakesstuff

There is a good introduction to the “Weaire–Phelan structure” here: http://www.steelpillow.com/polyhedra/wp/wp.html

You will need to use supports under the rim. “Tree Supports” work well. I suggest blocking supports for the bottom of the bowl, otherwise you will have supports growing up into the bubbles on the bottom and these can be very hard to remove afterwards.

See here for some similarly designed coasters: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4766393

See here for some Weaire–Phelan “Bubble Blocks”: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4765089

See here from another mathematically inspired platter: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4734763