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Dave Pennington wrote:Years ago I attended the training classes at Monolithic Dome Institute where they teach people how to build "monolithic domes". I helped build a 20 ft dome and a 40 ft dome and learned a great deal about that method which is very good for many applications, but not as good for small builders. At the end of the class I realized that their method requires around $50K worth of equipment, so I left that idea on the back burner.
Later on, I bought a used 20' (314 sq ft) Monolithic "eco shell" airform and built a few domes using that. Those forms are very heavy, it took a hydraulic lift to get it in and out of my van. When it sat for a while some rats decided to make homes in it, and basically ruined it. It could be repaired, but a better system has been developed.
After I got a commercial (Juki 555) sewing machine I made several air forms out of used sign vinyl. They work well and are far more manageable. Airforms are not easy to make, but if properly cared for they can be reused many times. Getting the gores just right is tricky and the pattern spreadsheets online are not very good so I had to make that too. And of course the form gets it own wooden box so the damn rats can't get at it!
Here's the latest and greatest, it's 20' in diameter with a 3' stem wall so the ceiling is 13' high.
That thing looks pretty nice, is there any place you can recommend so I can learn how to cut the pieces for one of these forms. I love the shape of your dome.