3d printed gridshell

Gridshells offer a way to make smooth 3d surfaces from a flat 3d print by constraining distances along the perimeter. For example, the classic hemispherical kitchen sieve is made by constraining a flat, bias-cut, rounded square of wire mesh to conform to a circular perimeter. Flat gridshell meshes can be 3d-printed by tracing the grid twice, always lifting the pen over the crossings to minimize welding there. Flexing of the completed gridshell breaks any small welds at the crossing while maintaining the integrity of the extruded filaments. This example was hand printed with the 3Doodler Start 3d-pen.