Elbow joint (snap in, STL and 123d file)

thingiverse

Hey! I created this elbow joint to integrate seamlessly into other pieces such as figurines or various parts. It consists of two 10mm cylinders joined by a 90-degree (with one side flat on the male part) or 180-degree joint, making it perfect for elbows and knees with the 90-degree version, while the 180-degree joint is ideal for who-knows-what, given its completely rounded male part. Check out this short video of the 180-degree joint in action: https://youtu.be/VCa5kigsRd0. Although it appears to be missing a few degrees due to my fingers getting in the way, rest assured that it does indeed achieve the full 180. What's more important is that I printed around 10 iterations of this design until I landed on one that worked exceptionally well. Throughout the process, I experimented with various ball sizes, only to find that they all compromised the integrity of the female part until I found the right combination. This design is likely scalable, but I haven't attempted it yet. To help you integrate it into other projects, I'm uploading the 123D file for your convenience. Simply open two separate files in the same 123D project by dragging one into the window and selecting "Open in Current." I crafted this elbow joint using PLA, which requires precise tolerances due to its limited flexibility. The printing settings were set to .2mm with 10% infill, as any more would make the part unnecessarily tough. If you're looking for ultra-durable action figures, I suppose that's a viable option. If you like what you see, be sure to LIKE it or collect it! If you decide to use this design for your own project, don't forget to post a "Made It" – that would be fantastic.