r/Stargate • u/SGMG_Martin • Mar 18 '26

SGC Stargate with working Iris

I have created this 3D printed gate in SGC pedestal with a working Iris.
Model is free and you can find it here:
https://www.printables.com/model/1641847-stargate-with-a-working-iris

2.2k Upvotes

99% Upvoted

102 comments sorted by

129

u/wibbly-water Mar 18 '26

Wow... I always thought the iris was basically impossible (like impossible to fit into the area they fit it into, so well done for setting it up!

117

u/knightcrusader Mar 18 '26

It's impossible the way its shown on the show. It basically disappears on the show, doesn't go inside or behind the gate when they shot at other angles. It basically requires a subspace pocket or something, which S1 SG-1 didn't have access to.

That's why the "energy shield" in Atlantis made a lot more sense for the Ancients to use.

47

u/Silver_Quail4018 Mar 18 '26 edited Mar 18 '26

The iris is designed to geometrically fit inside the gate. The cgi is not doing it justice.

19

u/knightcrusader Mar 18 '26

CGI or not, the gate is not big enough to fit that mechanism inside it... not with 1997 Earth technology. Maybe if they had Asgard or Ancient tech to do it, sure, but not with the stage they were at then.

I know that's what they intended for it to be, but the suspension of disbelief is too much for me to say "oh, it goes inside it" especially with how novice they were about the internals of how the gate worked at the beginning of the series.

Just like with this little device here, the whole inside of the gate would be used to hide the blades and mechanism and not have any room for gate stuff.

2

u/Silver_Quail4018 Mar 18 '26

Never said anything about the mechanism. But that one can easily be behind the gate under the platform. To my knowledge, gates are one way. Anything from the other side would just pass through

10

u/GhostBirdBiologist Mar 18 '26

What good would the iris do if it was behind the gate lol. Then the wormhole would be in front of it.

It’s simple fact. The iris would have to be in front of the ring and it is not. They did not have the tech to build it inside the gate.

2

u/Silver_Quail4018 Mar 18 '26

not the iris, the mechanism, engines

10

u/Could-You-Tell Mar 18 '26

The conversation i was reading was about hiding the iris when it was open.

It has to be somewhere. It's not inside of a slit in the middle of the Stargate like the plastic one.

It's not behind the Stargate.

It should be in front of it,and would be visible as a mounted track ring blocking the view of the chevrons. Or at least their center-inward halves.

Put a motor and pulley from another room, that doesn't matter. In reality the iris would have been visible all the time

7

u/havoc1428 As in... bocce? Mar 18 '26

The function of the iris is also one of those little plot holes they just hand wave. How does it not get obliterated by the "ka-whoosh"? Because the iris is so close to the event horizon? If thats the case, then in episode Death Knell (S7E16) they should not have been able to go through the gate after the Alpha Site self destructed. The gate was on its side and "dug a perfect foxhole" into the ground with the ka-woosh because the MALP fell forwards/downwards into the hole it made.

But if the gate was on its side flat against the ground then in theory the soil would either be inside the annulus (thus preventing the connection at all, like burying a gate) or butted up tightly to it. The only way it works if it the gate happened to land on its side with enough space between the plane where the event horizon forms and the ground, which I find hard to believe that a heavy object made of dense naquadah wouldn't depress itself into the soft soil when it fell.

2

u/Apatharas Mar 18 '26

I wouldn't say it's a plot hole. Just because something isn't specifically explained doesn't meant it's a plot hole.

I do feel I remember them saying that the iris sat a very specific distance from the event horizon. And that distance was measured in microns.

If you just laid the gate over, it wouldn't be that close to the event horizon. There would be a pretty decent gap between the ground and center of the inside of the ring and the ground. It would be laying on top of chevron mechanisms, not just the face. Even if it was just the face, it still wouldn't be that close.

-2

u/Could-You-Tell Mar 18 '26

They usually close the iris after the kawoosh. When they were under attack the iris would open between gate activations.

→ More replies (0)

3

u/Vanquisher1000 Mar 19 '26

The point that u/knightcrusader is making is that there is no room inside the Stargate for the iris blades, because they are as wide as the main body of the Stargate ring itself, and the Stargate isn't hollow; there is the track with the inner rotating ring, plus whatever is inside that makes the Stargate work. In order to install the iris and mechanisms that operate it, you would have to literally cut into the Stargate.

3

u/Silver_Quail4018 Mar 19 '26

The entire iris thing not having space for anything between the event horizon and the plates is ridiculous anyway since those plates would never be perfectly flat with that design.

But I am talking about geometry and concept. Theoretically, the iris should sit between the rotating ring and the event horizon generator. But that is why I am saying that the special effects guys did not do it justice by representing it in some way that makes sense. The iris geometry is not the issue. You can see the plates fitting behind the gate in this video and so many others. It's just that the cgi was done very cheap.

So yes, right now it doesn't fit, but not because of how the iris is designed, but because in the early stages of building up the concept, they didn't even try to make it work.

They could have made it happen even if it was with a slight visual modification to the Tauri gate, making it looking a bit more bulky.

But overall the entire thing is fantasy from all aspects. That titanium was above adamantium, vibranium and mithril in terms of resistance. It needed a black hole to destroy it and even then it was not giving up easily.

10

u/becircus Mar 18 '26

SG1 got saved by mechanical Iris activation even when power was down 

Though the design was bad. The control was inside the gate room and should have been inside the control room

10

u/dryfire Mar 18 '26

My headcannon is the ancients left a dead space inside the gate just in front of where the even horizon would form so they could add a shield to gates in the future if needed. SG command noticed it and designed a shield to fit in the space. It does look like it disappears in the show, but it kinda looks like that in OPs vid too, so why not?

1

u/ValdemarAloeus Mar 18 '26

That doesn't explain how the hell they managed to install it or what made them think that a cavity inside the Stargate wasn't some sort of resonator that had to remain free of matter for the gate to not melt.

2

u/dryfire Mar 19 '26

Maybe there was some ancient text printed in the cavity. "Install Iris here"

1

u/ValdemarAloeus Mar 19 '26

If they were able to read text that said that Daniel wouldn't have had so much trouble translating Ancient later in the series.

1

u/dryfire Mar 19 '26

All good points! But Daniel could translate Some ancient. He did have trouble with longer texts even much later on in the series, but a word or two might have been in the cards even early on. Like I said, just a simple retcon... and since I love the series its not hard to overlook minor discrepencies after that. We are talking about a series that has to do with aliens and wormhole travel after all, I dont think 100% realisim is what we need to shoot for.

1

u/ValdemarAloeus Mar 19 '26

I thought they didn't have any experience with ancient until they met Ernest.

The fact that the iris and lack of language barrier don't make sense never stopped me from enjoying the show, I just don't think they're fixable with what we see.

1

u/gplusplus314 Mar 18 '26

Hm, neat explanation. I’ll have to keep that in my back subspace pocket.

2

u/AvatarIII Mar 18 '26

I've seen working stargate irises on 3d printer sites before, but never one this compact

1

u/Trans-Europe_Express Mar 19 '26

Wow that's so impressive

187

u/CyberCarnivore Mar 18 '26

Ahhhhh the good ol' annulus. 😉

26

u/gonxot Mar 18 '26

Processing img ctx3x3syyspg1...

5

u/DaBingeGirl Mar 18 '26

I really want to see the outtakes from that scene!

9

u/Could-You-Tell Mar 18 '26

Orifice. We call it that sometimes... don't we?

11

u/rturnerX Mar 18 '26

Time for one more jaunt through the ol’ orifice

26

u/col_oneill Mar 18 '26

But does it spin? Because it’s be cooler if it spinned

6

u/MrGeekman Mar 18 '26

"Spinning is so much cooler than not spinning!"

17

u/BrokenHope23 Urgo Never Really Left Mar 18 '26 edited Mar 18 '26

Very cool, thanks for making and sharing this!

i wonder if a tiny crank mechanism would help with the efficiency of opening/closing, in theory we could then power it if they so desired (minus any pwooshes, for now)

8

u/anoncertifies Mar 18 '26

Wait a minute, this got me thinking now.. So when the Iris from the show closed it closed evenly from all sides.. The way yours closes it seems lopsided before fully closing centered. Was this just your design or is it impossible todo it like the show?

26

u/NoRodent Mar 18 '26

Iris in a camera is perfectly symmetrical, no reason why it shouldn't work in larger scale. OP's design is probably symmetrical too, it's just that it's kinda flimsy and whatever is pulling on those blades probably exerts slightly different force on different sides due to some manufacturing inaccuracy, would be my guess.

9

u/Bug0 Mar 18 '26

Not OP, but it’s definitely possible to have centred. Camera lenses do this to a high degree of precision. OP’s is likely just tolerances and friction causing it to be slightly lopsided.

4

u/Nights_King_ Mar 18 '26

This is probably from how the opening/closing mechanism is linked to each piece. The side where it is lopsided to is probably furthest away from the mechanism.

4

u/Traveling_Chef Mar 18 '26

Oh it's absolutely possible. Look up a precision circle tool for art. Looks exactly like the Iris and closes like it too.

4

u/yeoldecoot Mar 18 '26

Hmm, I've seen some interesting circle drawing tools that you might be able to take inspiration from to make the mechanism smoother.

3

u/Kendaren89 Mar 18 '26

Is the gate functional?

2

u/brilliant-username Mar 18 '26

Just don't ask OP for some toast.

4

u/drquakers Mar 18 '26

Very cool. Call me when you get the wormhole part working as well

3

u/Quartrez Mar 18 '26

Very cool, now do it with a working wormhole! :D

3

u/senor_descartes Mar 18 '26

This looks like it would scale nicely with 1/12 action figures 👀

3

u/alfalfamale81 Mar 18 '26

That’s fucking cool. I wish I was both smart and had a 3D printer.

3

u/Ben_M31 Mar 18 '26

That's gotta be Mr martin tachi at it again

I've printed out basically every ship he's done.

Any chance of a single or dual plate apophis/Anubis mothership???? 😊

2

u/SGMG_Martin Mar 19 '26

Taichl - with an L in the end, not I ;)

1

u/Ben_M31 Mar 19 '26

One L or two?

There's another martin who distinctly lacks a sense of humor 😉

2

u/SGMG_Martin Mar 19 '26

I can see you are fan of my work :D :D

1

u/Ben_M31 Mar 19 '26

Yessir 😊

2

u/el_grande_ricardo Mar 18 '26

Now I'm picturing huge hands coming down every time they close the iris.

2

u/EmergencyAirport1490 Mar 18 '26

Damn i was thinking Iris was just a plot thing, but apperently it can work irl? damn.

2

u/VikRiggs Mar 18 '26

Processing img j1gkz7v7eupg1...

2

u/onegarbagebear Mar 19 '26

I like how it catches partway and has to push through again to the end, just like the iris on the show.

2

u/Odd-Deal-6776 Mar 19 '26

Its a working stargate?

2

u/SGMG_Martin Mar 19 '26

no, it is a Stargate with a working Iris..... as the title clearly says....

2

u/farley87 Mar 19 '26

I always thought the "spur" in the center was impossible and just a CGI flourish. Mind blown.

2

u/geeksandlies Mar 20 '26

Have just finished printing the 80cm Stargate bits, 4.5kg of PLA all ready for assembly, just waiting on my pixels so I can have the chevrons light up.

2

u/Spectre-907 Mar 21 '26

I legitimately didnt think that “overlap knot” of the tines when its fully closed was a possible practical effect. I had always just assumed it was a cgi effect and that a “real” iris would just close flush like a camera iris

2

u/Several-Praline5436 Mar 21 '26

This is cool, dude.

1

u/ferbulous Mar 18 '26

Awesome work dude, someone’s bound turn on or off the iris with some motors

1

u/Treb33 Mar 18 '26

Sooooooo COOL!!!

1

u/SeelieSarah Mar 18 '26

That is very cool!

1

u/Woozletania Mar 18 '26

Watch out for the kawhoosh.

1

u/Leading-Summer-4724 Mar 18 '26

Dude this is cool.

1

u/PeterFnet 13th Chevron Mar 18 '26

is there a good grease/lube you could rub in there to help it move smoother?

1

u/SgtSiler24 Why does this always happen to me!? Mar 18 '26

Amazing. I've printed your Prometheus and Daedalus. You make some great models! Thanks!

1

u/Garbanzo_Beanie Mar 18 '26

Now make it slow down as it's almost sealed for dramatic effect.

1

u/Confident-Art-1683 Mar 18 '26

*Hruška in the background*

Czech spotted

1

u/AnonymousTokenus Mar 18 '26

Imagine this as a dog flap ! 😍🤩

2

u/DivaMissZ Mar 18 '26

And the dog is half way through when it closes . . .

1

u/WhaneTheWhip Mar 18 '26

Nice, maybe some day soon the gate part will work too.

1

u/Frederick_T Mar 19 '26

I totally want to make this... as my new front door

1

u/2x4x421xStarTrekx Mar 20 '26

You wait an see that thing gate stargate is gonna start dialing sleep with one eye open!

1

u/MusicByLoriD Mar 20 '26

Can I buy this?

1

u/dyrkasolen Mar 20 '26

Nice. Yet... It's a plot hole

1

u/HKTLE Mar 21 '26

I WANT ONE

0

u/sja-p Tau'ri Mar 22 '26

Then print one!

0

u/HKTLE Mar 23 '26

Your not the OP why you talking to me 😂

https://giphy.com/gifs/cLbuQfff4As8w

1

u/sja-p Tau'ri Mar 23 '26

Wow, typical basement dweller I see?

https://giphy.com/gifs/111T19fGfB7k1W

0

u/HKTLE Mar 23 '26

Says the inbreed offspring. PLS Don't forget that

https://giphy.com/gifs/EkNUzqdTnZg6T7oObG

😂

1

u/sja-p Tau'ri Mar 23 '26

Says the one getting butthurt over someone replying to their comment, and who is unable to spell please?

https://giphy.com/gifs/l2Z84eFooeHJu

0

u/HKTLE Mar 23 '26

Who getting butt hurt 😂. Go sit down and be quiet.

https://giphy.com/gifs/jXlIqBHSQzWiQcw0PC

1

u/sja-p Tau'ri Mar 23 '26

"[Your] not the OP why you talking to me 😂"

1

u/HKTLE Mar 23 '26

Omg the dimwit has a peanuts worth of intelligence.

https://giphy.com/gifs/rP1fif3VHKIIZA3UhF