
[ Articles Home | Newest Articles | Submit an Article ]
[ Random Article | Search Articles ]

Byzantine Web Square
Article © MAIL User: Eli

Byzantine Web Square is a weave derived from the basic Byzantine chain and is similar to Byzantine Web (Byzantine Web (CGI; Same Ring Size)). The only difference between the square and (hexagonal) webs is that while each horizontal connector in the hexagonal web links 3 cages of Byzantine, the connectors in the square version links 4 cages. It uses single units of Byzantine connected in a square pattern, which when used with small rings can make a pleasing sheet, although in my opinion the hexagonal version is more pleasing. As with Byzantine chain, a smaller AR is better to hold the web together, but for the sake of clarity I used a relatively large AR.

This method involves stitching multiple Byzantine chains to form the sheet, rather than making each unit of the sheet independently. To make Byzantine Square Web this way you will need to be familiar with the Byzantine weave and be able to make it. Here are two tutorials for it: Byzantine and Byzantine (CGI).

Unless noted below, silver rings are rings being added to the weave at the step. Brass-yellow rings are the rings the new ones pass through. Copper-red rings are idle rings at the step. Gold rings are rings needing further noting.

This tutorial uses rings with an AR of 5.

1. First, you will need to make several Byzantine chains. The golden rings will be the points where the connector pieces attach to each chain to produce the sheet:
Image: byzweb201.jpg

2. Now, attach to each of the anchor points on every Byzantine chain 4 rings on either side in the following manner. Make every chain like this:
Image: byzsqweb02.jpg

3. As you approach to connect the chain together, you'll need to prepare the Byzantine connector piece. First you need to pull back the 2 rings furthest from the chain, which are marked in gold in the position after they've been folded. Do this as you make each connection. Note that even with an AR of 5 the rings won't fit together in the same level, and a bunching of cages is inevitable:
Image: byzsqweb03.jpg

4. Now spread the second pair of rings, the ones directly attached to the Byzantine chain. The rings are marked in gold and are shown in the position after they've been moved:
Image: byzsqweb04.jpg

5. To complete the connector piece you will need to add 2 open rings through the pair you folded in step 3. Note that they pass between the rings from step 4. Do not close the rings.
Image: byzsqweb05.jpg

6. Now, repeat steps 3 and 4 for the other chain you are going to connect. For clarity the old chain's connector piece is marked in gold (note the open rings) and the new chain's are marked in silver:
Image: byzsqweb06.jpg

7. Pass the two opened rings (marked in gold) through the rings of the other chain. The opened rings should pass through 4 rings: 2 from the bottom chain and 2 from the top chain. Once you have everything aligned, close the two rings:
Image: byzsqweb207.jpg Image: byzsqweb208.jpg

8. Continue connecting the chains in the same way. You will need to make sure that a square pattern is forming. The easiest way to do that is to make sure that every horizontal pair of rings connecting the cages of the Byzantine has 4 cages coming out of. Here you can see a complete Byzantine Square Web. The first connector piece is marked in brass-yellow, with all of the new ones in gold. Here you can easily see how each chain interacts within the web: every individual Byzantine chain is made in steel. A square pattern is easily seen:
Image: byzsqweb09.jpg

If you are using a tight AR, you can increase the size of the connector rings (marked in gold in step 1) to avoid bunching up the cages in the connecting points. This problem is much more sever here than in the Hexagonal Web, since every horizontal connectors has 4 cages attached to it, rather than 3. Even in the large AR (for a Byzantine weave) of 5 the cages can’t fit properly on a ring of the same size. A ring slightly larger will solve this problem. Here you can see the connection point with a ring 25% larger than the rest (but still with an AR of 5):
Image: byzsqweb10.jpg
Original URL: