"Geodesic" Dome Blanket Fort - 1/2in PVC Edition

Note: this is not technically a geodesic dome, but I'm not sure what to call the geometry. Face-centered cubic just doesn't have the same ring to it? 

Materials

• PVC Pipe: I bought 10x 10' lengths.
• PETG: Printed out of 1-3kg (honestly can't remember).
• Zip Ties: This is sized to fit a variety of medium sized zip-ties. YMMV, but you will need a minimum of 24 zip ties for standard bracing.
• Tools:
  • Pipe Cutter strongly recommended - a clean edge will be nicer in the long run if it might be reassembled multiple times and put away afterwards.
  • Zip tie/cable tie gun - a consistent high tension when tightening, and clean cut edge will mean fingers are safe from surprise cuts.
  • Rubber dead-blow mallet - better than a regular rubber mallet by far than a regular rubber mallet.

Printing

• GDBF-TestFit: Print this to test the fit around ½" PVC pipe - you may need to adjust and calibrate scale until this is a friction fit.
• GDBF-Joint: This is the ‘verticie’ of the dome. Print 12 of these for a standard ‘dome’. 
  • Print for strength in PLA, PETG, ABS, or PA at your infill of choice.
  • Recommend 5-6 walls! I used 5 walls, and no supports, though YMMV depending on your printer's cooling air and bridging capabilities. 
• GDBF-CornerBrace: 
  • Orient the circular opening on your build plate with no supports!
  • Each brace requires 2 of these parts. Print 32 of these to brace the 8 legs of a standard ‘dome’.

Assembly

• Size and cut pipe: 28x 34" lengths for the main pieces, and then 16x 5" or 6" lengths for the braces. You may want to tune your brace length to whether your pipe needs some material trimmed from the ends and you have less leftover from a 10' length.
• Build the braces with the caps aligned as a mirror image of one another.
• Lay out the octagon, build the octagon on the floor.
• Build the second layer one corner at a time, have a helper make the diagonal connections as you support the top corner joint. As you build each corner, you can brace the top joints with one another until you have a square.
• Lift the dome, and insert the legs - you will want to ensure the horizontal pipes are fully pressed in, as they act as a surface to rest upon inside the joint and prevent it from traversing further down the pipe.
• Decorate - string up any LED lights, streamers, or other silly things before draping the blanket(s) over - it makes it so much easier.