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Float Table made from levitating wooden cubes

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The Float Table is made of wooden cubes with magnets inside
The Float Table is made of wooden cubes with magnets inside
The polarity of the magnets keeps the individual cubes apart from each other
Buyers can choose between a number of wood types
The cables keep the cubes in place
The Float table is available as a coffee table or end table
The cubes compress together when pressure is applied
The end table is a 3 x 3 x 3 configuration
View gallery - 7 images

Coffee and end tables are often very utilitarian pieces of furniture. However, RockPaperRobot has combined some interesting design with a good bit of physics to turn the humble table into something far more unique, in the form of the Float Table.

At first glance, the table resembles a Rubik's Cube, with all of its separate smaller wooden cubes making up the larger structure. Each one appears to be levitating independently, which creates a design that is unlike any you're likely to see at your local furniture store.

The table works through a system of magnets and tensile steel cables. The polarity of the magnets keeps the individual cubes apart from each other, and the cables keep everything in place. This means that a user can push on the table and it will flex, then once the pressure is released it will return back to its original shape.

The coffee table version features a 6 x 3 x 3 cube design, with dimensions of 38 inches long by 18.5 inches tall and deep (96.5 x 47 x 47 cm). The end table is a 3 x 3 x 3 configuration and features 18.5-inch dimensions all around (47 x 47 x 47 cm). The company is taking special orders for both versions now, with pricing available on inquiry.

The video below shows how the Float Table works.

Source: RockPaperRobot via WebUrbanist

View gallery - 7 images
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15 comments
Derek Howe
whoa, very cool.
But the price..."with pricing available on inquiry."
If ya have to ask...
bobby12
Nice concept, but putting electronics on that thing would NOT be a good idea.
Joel Detrow
bobby12, the only electronic component susceptible to this level of magnetism is a CRT monitor.
Mr T
Have to say, that's a big waste of rare earth materials just for some supposed cool factor. Can think of much better things to do with a bucketfull of large rare earth magnets...
Marcus Carr
What are the odds of small objects falling straight down the middle?
Jason Spiller
Isn't the concept of a table to be a stable platform on which to put things - with two kids and a large dog I cant imagine a glass of wine or table lamp sitting in place for too long.
jochair
there will be a problem cleaning spilled drinks and dust.
Donald Gortemiller
This looks like a great concept for a turntable stand. Nice shock absorption!
ActiveGuitar
What about putting a notebook with hard disk inside on it? Or any other gadget that has some active electromagnetic parts?
It looks cool, but only if you are in eye level with it to see the gaps are really has nothing in them. Also, it feels to unstable to put any coffee cup onto it.
Fretting Freddy the Ferret pressing the Fret
Like Joel said, the magnets aren't powerful enough to wipe the memory off your hard disk, memory stick or smartphone.