Parametric print-in-place hinges for mechanical assemblies. Three hinge types cover the most common rotary joint needs: living hinges for simple flex, pin hinges for structural rotation, and ball joints for multi-axis articulation.
| Mode | Description | Key Parameters |
|---|---|---|
| Living Hinge | Thin-web flex hinge between two flat leaves | hinge_thickness, bend_angle |
| Pin Hinge | Multi-knuckle revolute joint with central pin | pin_diameter, num_knuckles, clearance |
| Ball Joint | Print-in-place ball-and-socket | socket_diameter, clearance |
All modes share hinge_width and leaf_length for consistent mounting dimensions.
- Domain: Industrial
- CDG Interfaces:
revolute_axis(rail) -- pin diameter and hinge width define the rotation axismounting_surface(surface) -- leaf dimensions define attachment geometry
- Material Awareness: Shrinkage compensation enabled, tolerance varies by material
- Commons License: CERN-OHL-W-2.0
- PLA: Good for living hinges at low cycle counts (~200 flex cycles before fatigue). Use 0.5-0.8mm web thickness.
- TPU/TPE: Best for high-cycle living hinges (thousands of cycles). Web thickness can go down to 0.3mm.
- PETG: Good structural choice for pin hinges and ball joints. More heat-resistant than PLA.
- Clearance: Start with 0.4mm clearance for pin hinge and ball joint. Increase to 0.5-0.6mm if parts fuse during printing.
- Layer height: Use 0.15-0.2mm layers for ball joint socket to get smooth articulation.
- Orientation: Print all modes flat on the build plate. Living hinge web must be parallel to bed for proper layer adhesion.
Uses BOSL2 for geometry primitives (cuboid, cyl, sphere).