D- and G-types TPMSs

28 groups of students from TFGH joined the competition designed by Ms. Chou and other teachers in the chemistry group of TFGH. They were asked to make any of these two complicated 3D models based on the slides I prepared for the G- and D-surfaces. It is still nontrivial for a beginner, who has no knowledge on the periodic minimal surfaces and graphitic structures. But most of them succeeded in creaking one of these two models. Unfortunately, when they asked local sellers about the suitable thickness of Nylon strings for 12mm beads. They were told that 0.6mm NyLong strings are best. That is why most of models they made are so soft and unable to stand on themselves. To solve the problem, students came up with the idea to hang these models on four legs of an upside-down desk they use for lectures.

However, one group discovered the cause to be the thickness of the Nylon string. Then students of that group changed the Nylon strings to 0.8mm. The two TPMS models they made are shown in the following photo. They look really nice and beautiful.

The one on the left is the G-surface. The one on the right side is the D-surface consisting of 16 helical strips. Using the decomposition technique Chern Chuang designed, we can use the same helical strips to create these two types of TPMSs.