Ball and socket snap fit 3

[HeavyRain]

I would like to know if anybody has an idea how to calculate all the parameters needed to properly design a ball and socket snap fit.
I have searched on the internet but I did not find any clear equation that explains the relation among the ball diameter, the socket diameter, the opening width and the material properties (I will use the ERTALYTE).

Thank you in advance for any proposition.

 

[ornerynorsk]

Deformation of the material upon assembly needs to stay below the yield point.

It is better to have enough ideas for some of them to be wrong, than to be always right by having no ideas at all.

 

[MikeHalloran]

Limiting the socket stress at assembly to a reasonable value normally requires that the socket be castellated or made in two pieces.

The castellated socket can be roughly modeled as a rotational array of cantilevered fingers. The slots will probably have to extend past the ball equator in order to limit the bending stress.




Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[mcgyvr]

http://files.engineering.com/downlo...add6a102d&file=Design_for_Snapfit_revi-10.pdf

 

[HeavyRain]

Thank you so much for this guide, it is really interesting.

 

[racookpe1978]

Look at what works first.

For example: A "ball and socket" joint may need to be "hand-snapped" like a socket wrench. If so, measure how Craftsmen wrenches do it. Or it make need to be fully torqued and only machine operated.

 

[ornerynorsk]

Ball detents, such as found in ratchet handles and quick pins, are generally crimped upon installation to retain the ball and spring, rather than simply being "snap fit".

It is better to have enough ideas for some of them to be wrong, than to be always right by having no ideas at all.