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Unleash Your Creativity: Build a Levitating Coffee Table
Unleash your inner magician by building your own flying table with this step-by-step guide. Tensegrity principles explained
Petr Šulek
December 29, 2023
Flying table has definitely become one of my most beloved projects. It required a bit of thinking as I did not like any of the ideas or plans available online. Ultimately, I have designed my unique version that combines tensegrity, woodcraft, epoxy casting, and fine inlays.
Oakwood tensegrity coffee table with epoxy and inlays
In the following article, I will reveal basic principles and know-how so that you will be able to design and craft your own piece.
Table of Contents
Tensegrity principle
Tensional integrity or floating compression is a structural principle based on a system of isolated components under compression inside a network of continuous tension, and arranged in such a way that the compressed members (usually bars or struts) do not touch each other while the prestressed tensioned members (usually cables or tendons) delineate the system spatially.
Concepts based on the simultaneous application of tension and compression forces are, in fact, not so uncommon. Our own bodies also consist of a continuous network of muscles and connective tissues, while the bones provide discontinuous compressive support, whilst the nervous system maintains tension in vivo.
Tensegrity in woodworking
For our purposes, we will apply these principles in quite a simple form. Most basic structures you might see online are like:
source: grabcad
In general, it consists of separated top and bottom structures. Tension is applied via the central point, while links at outer corners define the final distance of both structures.
And searching further, you could find some projects already intended as furniture, usually using rough wooden or metal frames.
 source: whiteclouds |  source: YT, The Q channel |
Designing my own flying table
Somehow, nothing that I found online did intrigue me. I was looking for an eye-catching but stable design that could easily become a living room centerpiece. So, I started with a few hand sketches followed by 3D models in Sketch Up, defining the position and shape of the top and bottom desk and central tension points
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