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Have read the many posts on hexagons to a sphere, with the icosphere -> subsurf -> node removal and limited dissolve which gives me a (mostly) hexagon tesalated sphere.

BUT

it determines the number of hexagons based on the initial icosphere settings and they are basically twice as many or half as much as I need.

Changing subsurf doesn't help obviously as only one input provides hexagons.

So I need 352 hexagon faces on my sphere (yes, inclusive the 12? pentagons too)

Anyone have any ideas?

Many thanks in advance!

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    $\begingroup$ Approximating spheres to triangles/hexagons is based on existing platonic solids like the icosahedron or its subdivisions, so you will always obtain number of faces which are multiples of the base solid. You can't just arbitrarily subdivide into a specific number of polygons, it is mathematically impossible, as far as I know $\endgroup$
    – Duarte Farrajota Ramos ♦
    Commented Feb 20, 2020 at 11:27
  • $\begingroup$ Yes, I consider it's a function of the edges and as such limited. However, I'm trying to create a golf ball and they have (crudely) 352 faces (which are then turned into dimples) so it is possible in the physical world obviously. Maybe a different starting sphere type? $\endgroup$
    – dwbell
    Commented Feb 20, 2020 at 11:32
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    $\begingroup$ There are a couple of tutorials teaching to model a golf ball using some 3d programs including Blender. Did you try some of them? $\endgroup$
    – LeoNas
    Commented Feb 20, 2020 at 11:39
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    $\begingroup$ youtube.com/watch?v=TW7WwUfAYxM $\endgroup$
    – Duarte Farrajota Ramos ♦
    Commented Feb 20, 2020 at 11:40
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    $\begingroup$ For information, icosahedron based geodesics can have 162, 252, 362, 492, 642 etc but not 352. $\endgroup$
    – lemon
    Commented Feb 21, 2020 at 17:11

1 Answer 1

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The shipped add-on 'Add Mesh: Geodesic Domes' gets pretty close with the settings as shown:

enter image description here

Use X > Limited Dissolve to get rid of the triangulation of planar regions, leaving you with hexagons and pentagons.

Faces:362. 350 hexagons, 12 pentagons.

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  • $\begingroup$ That's close enough Robin, amazing stuff! Thank you so much! Now I need a cheat to select the centre vertex of each planar hex? $\endgroup$
    – dwbell
    Commented Feb 20, 2020 at 14:27
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    $\begingroup$ @dwbell .. See edit. Is that what you mean? if you wanted to put some center-vertices back, you could Shift-G select similar to get the hexes, and then Face menu > Poke those faces, stashing a vertex group if you need to. $\endgroup$
    – Robin Betts ♦
    Commented Feb 20, 2020 at 14:47
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    $\begingroup$ This is exactly what I mean, I didn't realise Limited Dissolve would do that. Many many thanks for the help Robin, this is awesome stuff. $\endgroup$
    – dwbell
    Commented Feb 20, 2020 at 14:49
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    $\begingroup$ I'd say that's a good result, as I said my comment below the question it is nonsense to insist on the number 352, as the dimples on balls vary. Of course if you want to model a specific ball where you know the amount you might want it to be perfect, but that's not said in the question ;) $\endgroup$
    – Gordon Brinkmann
    Commented Aug 27, 2023 at 17:56

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