Shapeways: Bring your creativity to life in 3D http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php Shapeways: Bring your creativity to life in 3D Question regarding little tiny ball joints... http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=60231&th=12413#msg_60231
For kicks, I'm trying to work on a mini-figure model that would be compatible with Hasbro's Kre-o line. The parts I've designed are mostly complete, but I'm having a little anxiety about the ball joints on the shoulders and hips.

Has anyone here worked with similar joints?

I've intersected the spheres from the limbs and created little ports on the way to the hollowed out socket, but I'm not sure how wide a path I need to clear so that the joint can be pushed into place. I'm also trying to figure out if I should slope the pathway in one direction or another (like a ramp leading to the hollowed socket).

I hope that makes sense...I'm still just learning how to speak in 3D.

Any recommendations are much appreciated!

Thanks!

T.]]> Tresob 2013-01-15T00:07:16-00:00 Re: Question regarding little tiny ball joints... http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=60248&th=12413#msg_60248 Creating balljoints in SketchUp
by Drawn-Steel Hero might help you out.

Paul

]]> stop4stuff 2013-01-15T09:21:45-00:00 Re: Question regarding little tiny ball joints... http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=60255&th=12413#msg_60255
Right now, I have it set up so that I'm going to be trying to push a 3.3mm sphere through a 2.8mm wide/.5mm thick aperture leading to hollowed out socket. I made the socket at 3.5mm (.2mm wider than the sphere joint), just in case it ends up tighter than intended in the printing process.

I guess my question is whether the plastics have enough give, or if I should widen/narrow that aperture.

But before I drop my seven bucks on seeing if this works, I thought I'd seek the wisdom of the masters.]]> Tresob 2013-01-15T13:40:16-00:00 Re: Question regarding little tiny ball joints... http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=60257&th=12413#msg_60257 But if you don't want to do that make the parts as snugly fitting as possible, you can file down tight parts.
There's no remedy for loose parts though.]]> tmr5555 2013-01-15T13:54:14-00:00