Tensegrity Tables from Code to Web: Your Blender Python & Model-Viewer Project

Ever wanted to create cool 3D models with code and show them on your website? This beginner-friendly blog post will guide you through generating a fascinating Tensegrity Table (a structure held together by continuous tension and discontinuous compression) using a Python script inside Blender, and then displaying that 3D model right in your web browser using Google’s awesome <model-viewer> element! Get ready to combine the power of Python, 3D design, and web development.

Step 1: Generating the Low-Poly Tensegrity Table in Blender with Python

Blender, the free and open-source 3D suite, has a powerful Python API (Application Programming Interface). To keep things simple and easy to understand for beginners, we will use a **low-poly** approach, building the struts from simple **cubes** and the cables from **edges**.

Here is the Python script you need. Save it as low_poly_tensegrity_table.py:

Copy

import bpy
import math
from mathutils import Vector

# --- Configuration ---
FILE_NAME = "square_floating_table.glb"
TABLE_HEIGHT = 1.0          # Vertical distance between the plates
SIDE_LENGTH = 1.5           # Side length of the square tabletop and base
TOP_THICKNESS = 0.05        # Thickness of the tabletop
BASE_THICKNESS = 0.05       # Thickness of the base
STRUT_HEIGHT = 0.2          # Height of the floating central strut
STRUT_THICKNESS = 0.05      # Thickness of the floating central strut
CABLE_THICKNESS = 0.008
LOW_POLY_VERTICES = 8       # Vertex count for low-poly appearance
JOINT_SIZE = 0.04

# --- Constants for Z-Positioning ---
TABLE_TOP_Z = TABLE_HEIGHT + TOP_THICKNESS / 2 
BASE_BOTTOM_Z = -BASE_THICKNESS / 2 
STRUT_TOP_Z = TABLE_HEIGHT / 2 + STRUT_HEIGHT / 2
STRUT_BOTTOM_Z = TABLE_HEIGHT / 2 - STRUT_HEIGHT / 2
STRUT_CENTER_Z = TABLE_HEIGHT / 2

# --- Utility Functions ---

def clear_scene():
    """Removes all objects from the current scene."""
    bpy.ops.object.select_all(action='DESELECT')
    bpy.ops.object.select_all(action='SELECT')
    bpy.ops.object.delete(use_global=False)

def create_material(name, color, metallic=0.0, roughness=0.5):
    """Creates a simple PBR material."""
    if name in bpy.data.materials: return bpy.data.materials[name]
    mat = bpy.data.materials.new(name=name); mat.use_nodes = True
    bsdf = mat.node_tree.nodes["Principled BSDF"]
    bsdf.inputs['Base Color'].default_value = color
    bsdf.inputs['Metallic'].default_value = metallic
    bsdf.inputs['Roughness'].default_value = roughness
    return mat

def apply_material(obj, mat):
    """Applies a material to a given object."""
    if obj.data.materials: obj.data.materials[0] = mat
    else: obj.data.materials.append(mat)

def create_cylinder_between_points(start_loc, end_loc, radius, name, material, vertices=LOW_POLY_VERTICES):
    """Creates a cylinder and aligns it between two vector locations."""
    center = (start_loc + end_loc) / 2; direction = end_loc - start_loc
    length = direction.length
    bpy.ops.mesh.primitive_cylinder_add(vertices=vertices, radius=radius, depth=length, location=center)
    obj = bpy.context.object; obj.name = name; apply_material(obj, material)
    if length > 0.0001:
        rotation_quat = direction.normalized().to_track_quat('Z', 'Y')
        obj.rotation_euler = rotation_quat.to_euler()
    return obj

def create_joint(location, size, name, material):
    """Creates a low-poly sphere at a connection point."""
    bpy.ops.mesh.primitive_uv_sphere_add(
        segments=LOW_POLY_VERTICES, ring_count=LOW_POLY_VERTICES // 2,
        radius=size / 2, location=location
    )
    obj = bpy.context.object; obj.name = name; apply_material(obj, material)
    return obj

# --- Main Generation Logic ---

def generate_square_floating_table():
    clear_scene()
    
    # Define Materials
    WOOD_MATERIAL = create_material("Wood_Material", (0.5, 0.25, 0.0, 1.0), roughness=0.8)
    CABLE_MATERIAL = create_material("Cable_Material", (0.1, 0.1, 0.1, 1.0), metallic=0.0, roughness=0.9)
    JOINT_MATERIAL = create_material("Joint_Material", (0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 1.0), metallic=0.2, roughness=0.4) 
    
    # --- 1. Define Points ---
    
    half_side = SIDE_LENGTH / 2
    
    # Base Corners (Z-level of base surface)
    base_surface_z = BASE_BOTTOM_Z + BASE_THICKNESS/2
    base_pts = [
        Vector(( half_side,  half_side, base_surface_z)),
        Vector((-half_side,  half_side, base_surface_z)),
        Vector((-half_side, -half_side, base_surface_z)),
        Vector(( half_side, -half_side, base_surface_z))
    ]
    # Tabletop Corners (Z-level of top surface)
    top_surface_z = TABLE_TOP_Z - TOP_THICKNESS/2
    top_pts = [p + Vector((0, 0, TABLE_HEIGHT)) for p in base_pts]
    
    # Cable Anchor Points (Midpoints of table/base edges)
    # These points are closer to the center to suspend the central strut
    anchor_radius = SIDE_LENGTH * 0.25 
    
    base_anchor_pts = [
        Vector(( anchor_radius,  0, base_surface_z)),
        Vector((0, anchor_radius, base_surface_z)),
        Vector((-anchor_radius, 0, base_surface_z)),
        Vector((0, -anchor_radius, base_surface_z))
    ]
    top_anchor_pts = [p + Vector((0, 0, TABLE_HEIGHT)) for p in base_anchor_pts]
    
    # All points for joint creation
    all_points = base_pts + top_pts + base_anchor_pts + top_anchor_pts + [Vector((0,0,STRUT_TOP_Z)), Vector((0,0,STRUT_BOTTOM_Z))]

    # --- 2. Create Tabletop and Base (Compression Plates) ---
    
    # Table Top (Square Cube)
    bpy.ops.mesh.primitive_cube_add(
        size=SIDE_LENGTH,
        location=(0, 0, TABLE_TOP_Z),
        scale=(1, 1, TOP_THICKNESS / SIDE_LENGTH)
    )
    obj = bpy.context.object; obj.name = "Table_Top"; apply_material(obj, WOOD_MATERIAL)
    
    # Base (Square Cube)
    bpy.ops.mesh.primitive_cube_add(
        size=SIDE_LENGTH,
        location=(0, 0, BASE_BOTTOM_Z),
        scale=(1, 1, BASE_THICKNESS / SIDE_LENGTH)
    )
    obj = bpy.context.object; obj.name = "Base_Bottom"; apply_material(obj, WOOD_MATERIAL)

    # --- 3. Create Central Strut (Compression) ---
    bpy.ops.mesh.primitive_cube_add(
        size=STRUT_THICKNESS,
        location=(0, 0, STRUT_CENTER_Z),
        scale=(1, 1, STRUT_HEIGHT / STRUT_THICKNESS)
    )
    obj = bpy.context.object; obj.name = "Central_Strut"; apply_material(obj, WOOD_MATERIAL)

    # --- 4. Create Cables and Joints (Tension) ---
    
    # a) Main Tensegrity Cables (4 diagonal, providing overall stability)
    # These run from the base corners to the OPPOSITE side tabletop corners (i+2 is more stable than i+1)
    for i in range(4):
        create_cylinder_between_points(
            base_pts[i], top_pts[(i + 2) % 4], CABLE_THICKNESS / 2, f"Cable_Main_{i+1}", CABLE_MATERIAL
        )
        
    # b) Central Strut Suspension Cables (8 total, connecting strut to plates)
    strut_top = Vector((0, 0, STRUT_TOP_Z))
    strut_bottom = Vector((0, 0, STRUT_BOTTOM_Z))
    
    for i in range(4):
        # Top Strut to Tabletop Anchors
        create_cylinder_between_points(
            strut_top, top_anchor_pts[i], CABLE_THICKNESS / 2, f"Cable_Strut_Top_{i+1}", CABLE_MATERIAL
        )
        # Bottom Strut to Base Anchors
        create_cylinder_between_points(
            strut_bottom, base_anchor_pts[i], CABLE_THICKNESS / 2, f"Cable_Strut_Bottom_{i+1}", CABLE_MATERIAL
        )

    # c) Place Spheres (Joints) at all cable attachment points
    for i, loc in enumerate(all_points):
        create_joint(loc, JOINT_SIZE, f"Joint_{i}", JOINT_MATERIAL)


# --- Execution ---

if __name__ == "__main__":
    generate_square_floating_table()
    print(f"\n--- Square Tensegrity Table (Floating Strut Design) generation complete! ---")

This script clears the scene, uses simple math to calculate the positions of the three struts, creates those struts as **low-poly cubes**, connects the top and bottom points with **simple edges** (our cables), and then exports the final model as a **GLB file**.

How to Run the Python Script from the Command Line

To run your low_poly_tensegrity_table.py script using the Blender Python interpreter, open your Terminal (macOS/Linux) or Command Prompt/PowerShell (Windows) and use the following format:

Copy/path/to/blender -b -P low_poly_tensegrity_table.py

• Replace /path/to/blender with the actual path to your Blender executable (e.g., on Windows: "C:\Program Files\Blender Foundation\Blender\blender.exe").
• The -b flag tells Blender to run in background mode (headless), meaning the graphical user interface won’t load-it’s faster!
• The -P flag specifies the Python script Blender should execute.

This command will run your script, which should be set up to export the generated Tensegrity Table as a 3D file format suitable for the web, like GLB or GLTF.

Step 2: Displaying the Model on the Web with <model-viewer>

Once you have your low_poly_tensegrity.glb file exported from Blender, it’s time to put it on a webpage! The <model-viewer> custom web element makes embedding interactive 3D models incredibly easy, often without needing complex frameworks.

1. Include the Library: In the <head> of your HTML file, include the <model-viewer> script:

   Copy<script type="module" src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/model-viewer/3.4.0/model-viewer.min.js"></script>

2. Add the Element: Place the <model-viewer> tag in the <body> of your HTML, pointing to your exported model file:

   Copy<model-viewer
   src="low_poly_tensegrity.glb"
   alt="A Low-Poly Tensegrity Table generated with Blender Python"
   shadow-intensity="1"
   camera-controls
   touch-action="pan"
   auto-rotate>
   </model-viewer>

The attributes like camera-controls and auto-rotate allow users to interact with your 3D model (rotate, zoom, pan) right in their browser!

📸 Screenshots & Screencast

Resources to Keep Learning

Ready to dive deeper into Python and Blender scripting? Check out these resources!

My Books:

• “Learning Python”: A comprehensive guide to Python programming for beginners.
  
  Find it on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Learning-Python-Programming-eBook-Beginners-ebook/dp/B0D8BQ5X99
• “Mastering Blender Python API”: Take your 3D automation to the next level with in-depth Blender scripting knowledge.
  
  Find it on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Blender-Python-API-Programming-ebook/dp/B0FCCQKFFZ

My Course:

• “Learning Python”: An in-depth course to master the fundamentals of Python.
  
  Enroll here: https://ojamboshop.com/product/learning-python

One-on-One Tutoring:

• Need personalized help with Python, including the Blender Python API? I’m available for one-on-one online Python tutorials.
  
  Contact me for availability: https://ojambo.com/contact

Happy coding and happy modeling!