I spoke with a Professional Engineer out @ The Burn, who was a light-year ahead of everyone else..... as he was using a professional aluminum, actual, hub & strut method, not subject to the shear force on the bolts holding the structure together. I spoke with him yesterday, and got some good links to other professionals:
Mero.com a 40 year old space-frame co. based in Germany
Triodetic.com another 40y/o space-frame co. based in the States & Canada (the company that he was working for, in which produces that specific hub & strut method)
Unistrut.com is another one, but they're small, and they mill down spheres, and then thread them, so just like Pacific, the strength is subject to the shear force on the bolt threads.
Superstructure.com is another site worth checking out.....


The method the engineer used, built a 180' diameter dome over a coal plant in BC. Some books he referenced me to: The Power of Limits and, The Curves of Life. I haven't checked these books myself, but given his light-year ahead of, well, everyone, I'll take it into consideration. His personal site is: www.members.shaw.ca/envisioneering.com, which is well worth checking out; method, form, function, and professionality can all be learned from this man, His name is Mr. Richard Lalonde Happy searching.

P.S. - I wrote this when I saw a lack of entries over the past 1.5 months..... anyone else up to any tinkering? I would love a surprise entry to show up..... Innovate. Create. Hybernate. Ammalgamate!