Beyond Countertops: Fabricating a 2-Foot Dodecahedron with Your Five-Axis Saw

Capabilities for Modern Stone Fabricators

Your five-axis CNC saw isn't just for kitchen countertops. Today's architectural designers and luxury clients demand complex geometric pieces that push the boundaries of stone fabrication. This guide demonstrates how to create a stunning 2-foot tall dodecahedron, a perfect showroom centerpiece that proves

your shop's precision capabilities.

What is a Dodecahedron?

A dodecahedron is one of the five Platonic solids, featuring 12 identical pentagonal faces, 30 edges, and 20 vertices. When fabricated from natural stone or engineered quartz, it becomes a striking architectural element that commands attention and demonstrates mastery of advanced geometry.

Project Specifications: 2-Foot Tall Dodecahedron

Key Measurements

• Target Height: 24 inches

• Pentagon Edge Length: 11.01 inches

• Pentagon Width (flat-to-flat): 16.9 inches

• Pentagon Diagonal: 17.8 inches

• Material Thickness: 20mm (3/4") recommended

• Total Pentagons Needed: 12

Critical Angles

• Miter Angle: 31.72° (all edges)

• Internal Pentagon Angle: 108°

• Dihedral Angle (between faces): 116.565°

Essential Formulas

Height Calculation

• Height = Edge Length × 2.18

• Edge Length = Height ÷ 2.18

Pentagon Dimensions

• Pentagon Width = Edge × 1.538

• Pentagon Diagonal = Edge × 1.618 (Golden Ratio)

Quick Reference

Common Sizes:

• 12" tall: 5.5" edges, 8.5" pentagon width, needs 9" × 9" per face

• 18" tall: 8.3" edges, 12.8" pentagon width, needs 14" × 14" per face

• 24" tall: 11.0" edges, 16.9" pentagon width, needs 18" × 18" per face

• 30" tall: 13.8" edges, 21.2" pentagon width, needs 23" × 23" per face

• 36" tall: 16.5" edges, 25.4" pentagon width, needs 27" × 27" per face

You should consider fabricating a "basket" to help steady parts for glue up.

The 2-foot dodecahedron is the perfect scale to demonstrate advanced fabrication capabilities while maintaining practical material usage. With 11-inch pentagon edges and 16.9-inch widths, it's substantial enough to impress yet manageable for single-operator assembly.

The 31.72° miter angle and precise pentagon geometry showcase capabilities that set you apart from standard fabricators. This size is ideal for permanent showroom display or as a high-value product offering for discerning clients.

Shout out to my Son Nathan for building this and sharing details. The dodecahedron in the image is 30 inches tall.

Technical Support

For AlphaCAM programming assistance or five-axis optimization tips, contact Sasso USA technical support. Share your completed dodecahedron photos with us—we love showcasing customer innovation!

Happy Fabricating,

Mark Lauzon

Sasso USA

503-333-2485