Living Hinge Design 1

[Mike3DPrint]

I came across this post about living hinges. This guide provides good information about the different types of living hinges and some design considerations: [URL unfurl="true"]https://revpart.com/living-hinge-design-guide/[/url]

 

[emorrison]

Coming from 20+ years of PIM part design... I haven't had much luck with living hinges in SLS applications, at least not any subjected to cyclic deformation. That's not to say that there aren't some materials out there that could prove successful or print consistently to optimum thickness. If so, I'd be interested in hearing about those.

All that aside, I have had great luck and recommend the use of an integrated hinge instead. Spherical male with conical female receiver is quite easy to integrate into most designs with a little forethought.

Best regards

 

[Sparweb]

...or pin and eye style hinges that can be assembled and disassembled by simply sliding the parts, too. Many ways to skin the cat!

STF

 

[emorrison]

Good point, disassembly is certainly important in some designs!

I'll add this SLS design guide from 3D Systems, which one might find useful. Covers a couple of hinge designs as well.

http://www.3dsystems.com/company/datafiles/SLS_Guide.pdf