Joints

is any structure that joins two pieces together.

come in handy in all sorts of situations. If you’re designing a 3D printed object

with moving parts, such as a treasure chest or a truck with wheels, chances are

you’ll need some kind of joint to bring everything together.

the method by which two or more

pieces of wood are connected. It can involve

simple gluing, nailing, or screwing of the two pieces of

wood but it can be as complicated as using very

intricate joints.

are the simplest, relying on friction between parts to stay together, like a really

tight puzzle piece.

are joints that require the part to bend and “snap” into place. This way, the two

parts are locked together but are often free to rotate in some directions. Snap-fit

joints come in many shapes and sizes.

Are one of the most popular joint types for 3D printing.

A protruding piece of plastic will deflect as the joint is put together, and

then snap into place so the pieces are connected together.

are what keeps a pen cap stuck on a pen. It’s very similar

to a cantilever but shaped into a ring, allowing the joint to rotate in one

direction.

are useful for objects that need to flex and rotate.

A ball shape will snap into a socket, allowing the joint some freedom of

rotation in multiple directions.