Customizable Ring Thing

thingiverse

This is a simple customizable thing that consists, essentially, of a number of rings equally spaced radially around an axis. That dry-sounding mathematical description yields a number of intresting and useful forms, including napkin rings, bracelets, bowls, domed cage-like things, etc. Some interesting and possibly even useful examples are included as pre-made STL files, or just fiddle around with the controls until you get something you like. The customizable parameters are as follows: **Number Of Rings** -- this is, unsurprisingly, the total number of rings generated. More rings makes for more dense things, fewer rings produce a more open lattice effect. **Ring Radius** -- this is the overall radius (i.e. major radius) of the rings; it controls the overall scale of your thing. **Ring Thickness** -- this controls the "chunkiness" of your thing (more precisely, it's the minor radius of the rings). **X Rotation** -- this controls the uprightness of the thing and the angle of the rings across its sides. **X Translation** -- this has the effect of offsetting the rings where they cris-cross, giving a more woven or rope-like effect, rather than a plain mesh. Too great an X translation, particularly with slender rings (with small Ring Thickness), may reduce the strength of the thing. **Z Translation** -- This makes the thing asymetrical along its axis, turing a generally ring-shaped thing into a more funnel-shaped or bowl-shaped thing.