Spherical Flexure Joint - Free 3D Print Model

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Remixed by

SiDawg

Education>Mathematics

IP Report

Print Profile(1)

All

P1S

X1E

P2S

H2S

H2C

P1P

H2D Pro

X1 Carbon

H2D

X2D

A2L

[UPDATE: V2] 0.2mm layer, 2 walls, 15% infill

Designer

2.3 h

3 plates

4.8(15)

Open in Bambu Studio

Boost

161

403

603

398

Released

Description

[NEW SHAPE AVAILABLE! Crescent Flexure: complete redesign!]

“What on earth is that?!” I recommend starting with one of the videos below :) Basically: no matter how you move the manipulator (the white ball) the orange ball stays in place. “huh!? that makes no sense!?” well watch the video…

I learnt about compliant mechamisms and this device thanks to an Action Lab video. One of the authors of the paper published a number of models on to Thingiverse which I imported in to onshape (Thanks Jelle!! Very awesome: I really want to read the paper now and see how far I can push this!). The one printed in Action Lab has a ‘curved edge’, but there's also a ‘straight edge’ version, which I thought was ‘cleaner’ in terms of designing an overall model with a common design theme: the theme is er, “lots of lines and planes that all point towards that little orange ball in the middle” :) Recommend printing in seperate parts (see the 3MF). The manipulator is a little tight: you may need some light sanding. The orange ball is a little loose: super glue :) But the main white part and base do fit snug: at least they did for me! Onshape link below to move some faces if you need to adjust tolerance.

Thingiverse (with thanks, Jelle Rommers)

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4841850

Original You Tube Video (Jelle Rommers, as agreed in Thingiverse terms)

New spherical flexure joint designs (compliant mechanisms)

Research Paper (Jelle Rommers, Volkert van der Wijk, Just L. Herder, as agreed in Thingiverse terms)

A new type of spherical flexure joint based on tetrahedron elements - ScienceDirect

Action Lab You Tube (inspiration and source of all other links/rabbit hole. PUT THE CHICKEN DOWN!!)

Comment & Rating (35)

@GChannel

Print Profile

[UPDATE: V2] 0.2mm layer, 2 walls, 15% infill

Very cool! I ended up adding a brim to the foldy part and tweaked the support settings on the ball (snug with different interface pattern. But overall minimal support and cleanup. I did have to do a little sanding to make the ball fit and the handle as well but not a big deal. Whole family is enjoying this.

@MadMax3D

Boosted

The print profile is no longer public

Printed well. The hole in the back of the spring could be a little bigger. I broke it trying to put it in.

The profile uploader has replied

@SiDawg

Awesome! So satisfying seeing someone else print this :) agree with comment. i actually broke mine while trying to prove that the orange ball can't move... I'll update the project. If you go to onshape i actually increased that clearance you're talking about, decreased the ball clearance, and changed the filleting where own meets tetra then reprinted. Will give it some time then update incase more iterations. What debating including a removable sphere segment for the back... The fact the white ball describes a sphere is super cool

@SiDawg

Add a new profile with new models with better tolerances and clearances (I probably should've updated the main STL and STEP models rather than just the models in the new V2 Profile.... hmm... sorry im new ;)

@Brycejamiesonz

Print Profile

[UPDATE: V2] 0.2mm layer, 2 walls, 15% infill

Fascinating print and done very well. works perfectly !! Fun to play with and really does trick the eye. Printed in Bambu PLA and standard settings. Thanks heaps 11/10 !!

@user_2132000685

question- does it have to be a sphere on the end (would like to add a rugby ball) also if I cut voronis out of the spring mechanism will it mess it up?

The designer has replied

@SiDawg

hi! that sounds cool! put whatever you like on the end: would love to see it! what do you mean by "voronis"? but yeah theoretically you should be able to cut away at the flexure: if it affects the rigidity too much it might not work as well but worth a shot? Check out my other model "crescent flexure" it might suit your design better

(Edited)

@user_2132000685

great thanks! ! will try! by votonis I mean the kind of cutouts as on my cell spool winder- I have a great plugin in fusion that generates them…

@user_1531108590

I'm confused about the orange ball, how is it to be attached? when I tried to glue it in it wasn't really in the correct position?!

The designer has replied

@SiDawg

Hmm, from memory the end of the wand goes half way in to the ball, so in theory without the ball attached it should still "work"? Does the end of the wand kinda hover in the same place when you move the other end around? If that's staying in place but the balls not, maybe the ball isn't on far enough? Let me know how you go

@user_1531108590

My problem was it seemed like it had printed a complete sphere with no hole at all! but it turned out there was support (?) that sealed the hole, now it fits great!!

@LegendStriker

Print Profile

[UPDATE: V2] 0.2mm layer, 2 walls, 15% infill

Strength Issue:it wouldnt assemble easily

The profile uploader has replied

@SiDawg

Sorry to hear that! Can you describe in more detail? Happy to adjust or maybe ill include a "test fit" small part, and a couple different versions to help people find what works for them

(Edited)

@LegendStriker

Replying to @SiDawg :

i tried fitting the base triangle to the arm and the piece where its supposed to slide into snapped before i could get it in fully. didnt make any sense because i tripple checked i was doing it right and it worked when it wasnt pushed in fully but then to make it like in the picture i pushed it in more and the triangular pillar snapped off. hope that made sense

@SiDawg

Replying to @LegendStriker :

yeah ok sorry to hear that. it can be tricky to intuitively know the right orientation, but the best way to do it is to think about how the top two sides of the flexure will end up flush with the base. But sounds like youre sure you were doing it right. it's definately a tight fit... I'll keep an eye out for others with same issue, otherwise this weekend might be the weekend i finally get round to finishing my new design :)

(Edited)