The invariant cubic rod (cylinder) packings: symmetries and coordinates

Abstract

Six packings of symmetry-related cylinders, with cylinder axes in invariant positions (coordinates completely determined by symmetry), are described. Two have axes along <100> and four have axes along <111>. It is shown that there can be no cubic cylinder packing with axes along <110>. Earlier errors concerning the numbers of such packings and their symmetries are corrected.