Tell me what knot to do

I need help knowing which of the many knots out there will work in this project (now you see what I did with the title don't you?).

I just printed this cool little table 

So, I will do my best to tie the three outer strings to the same length, but I know that'll be hard. Then when I have them there, the middle will be critical. I'd like to tie a knot that I can easily add tension to that middle string to get everything (all four) in tension. I expect I will be using fishing line in this design? What knot do you folks recommend I use to make this happen? 

More than the wonder of which knot, I'm baffled by trying to figure out how this functions as a table. 

Are making the two printed parts rigidly mounted to tie the knots?

You could use small steel cables with those aluminum collars you just squash with a pliers. 

Or you could use a hot pliers to melt the fishing line over onto itself.

Really cool table!

Me?  I'd want to fashion the three outer "strings" to a fixed length, using a snap-swivel or something like it at each end.  Then for the middle "string," a way to crank some tension into it, like a miniature turnbuckle.

In that way, it would be possible to eliminate all slack in the system, which by other means I would argue is impossible, or at least extremely difficult.

Edit:  To specifically address your question, I'd suggest the Palomar knot, but it would not be particularly easy to tie to a fixed length.

John Welsh (Forum Supporter) said:

More than the wonder of which knot, I'm baffled by trying to figure out how this functions as a table. 

Here's how it works. You set something on top of the 'table'. The load is transferred through that middle string to the lower piece. The three outer pieces of string are just there to stabilize the top part. The 4 strings are all in tension, but the middle string is pulling the top platform up, against the three outer strings. 

1988RedT2 said:

Really cool table!

Me?  I'd want to fashion the three outer "strings" to a fixed length, using a snap-swivel or something like it at each end.  Then for the middle "string," a way to crank some tension into it, like a miniature turnbuckle.

In that way, it would be possible to eliminate all slack in the system, which by other means I would argue is impossible, or at least extremely difficult.

What is a snap swivel? I think they need to be strings to have the cool factor. Metal cables would look like support rods or something. 

In reply to DrBoost :

Just a termination:

Something like this in the center line would allow you to crank some tension into the system.

I think a taut line hitch is your answer.

DrBoost said:

John Welsh (Forum Supporter) said:

More than the wonder of which knot, I'm baffled by trying to figure out how this functions as a table. 

Here's how it works. You set something on top of the 'table'. The load is transferred through that middle string to the lower piece. The three outer pieces of string are just there to stabilize the top part. The 4 strings are all in tension, but the middle string is pulling the top platform up, against the three outer strings. 

Now I am intrigued.  I did not see that.  

Edit:  I seeked out some video of similar that others might like too.  Mom would be proud.  I learned something today!  

In reply to Don49 (Forum Supporter) :

Is that a type of knot?  I'll have to youtube it. 

DrBoost said:

John Welsh (Forum Supporter) said:

More than the wonder of which knot, I'm baffled by trying to figure out how this functions as a table. 

Here's how it works. You set something on top of the 'table'. The load is transferred through that middle string to the lower piece. The three outer pieces of string are just there to stabilize the top part. The 4 strings are all in tension, but the middle string is pulling the top platform up, against the three outer strings. 

That's super rad. I don't recall ever seeing a table like that. Or maybe I have and forgot it!

In reply to Don49 (Forum Supporter) :

Just searched it. Looks like what I'm looking for!  Thank you. 

This is really cool. I want to make one now, or at least see one to figure it out.

John Welsh (Forum Supporter) said:

More than the wonder of which knot, I'm baffled by trying to figure out how this functions as a table. 

All of the vertical load is in tension in that middle stay.  The outer 3 stays are just keeping the top flat - they are in tension from the lift of the center stay, and are just serving as limiters to pull up against.

A more complicated solution would be to tap the holes, drill holes axially in set screws, secure  the line through the set screws using a knot (maybe an oysterman's), and then fine tune the tension by adjusting the set screws in the frame. 

I just tied a couple of square knots on mine. 

RealMiniNoMore (Forum Supporter) said:

I just tied a couple of square knots on mine. 

Sweet!!  Was it hard to get the tension even? Did you print that after seeing this post?

In reply to DrBoost :

Two sides are even, the third needs to be tightened up a bit. I did the center last. It's a bitch to do. 

I printed it a couple weeks ago. 

Ask knot what you can do for your country. Ask what knot you can do for your table.

EDIT: that's a pretty sweet table. My engineer statics calculator is trying to figure that one out...

For those who are having trouble with this, red supports the weight, blue balances it. 

It's definitely a mind-berk. 

RealMiniNoMore (Forum Supporter) said:

I just tied a couple of square knots on mine. 

Now I see it!

I really want to build one of those out of steel and glass with SS cables.

APEowner said:

I really want to build one of those out of steel and glass with SS cables.

Just sent a buddy this thread for the same reason. I already have the cable and swaging tool from making splitter supports. 

Seems to be a popular thing to do right now! 

https://www.reddit.com/r/woodworking/comments/g1lnbz/one_of_those_tensegrity_structures_made_into_an/