In the previous article, we introduced the "disposable" assembly structure that cannot be repeatedly disassembled. This time, we will introduce a more advanced "repeatable" structural design and its principles, providing you with more methods for product design structures. (Further reading: A comprehensive collection of structural designs to make your products more flexible! (Part 1) )
Detachable "repeatable" structure: suitable for use in components such as housings, plugs, or upper and lower covers, etc., and is usually used in structural designs that require covering the body.
This design allows objects to fit together tightly after assembly and can block forces that separate them from the vertical direction. However, it can still be easily disassembled after the latches are loosened from a specific direction. It is commonly found in the top and bottom covers of electronic products, battery casings, etc.
This design eliminates the worry of customers losing important, specialized parts within the product! By adding a raised ring around the screw, 360-degree rotation is maintained; even after the casing is disassembled, the screw remains connected to one side of the casing. Besides making parts easier to store, it also ensures correct assembly of products with many small, complex components.
Notably, because the screws in this structure are designed into a hole in the center of the casing, a dual-head system and water-soluble PVA support are required when using the Ultimaker 3D printer . However, since SLS does not require a support structure, using the Sinterit Lisa with SLS technology for 3D printing remains the best approach for this design. These 3D printed products are compatible with any assembly tools, such as flathead screwdrivers, hex wrenches, etc. (What are support structures and SLS technology ? A beginner's guide: Comparison and principles of common 3D printing technologies )
This screw has a 0.05-0.1mm gap around it to assemble components by increasing friction. If you want to reduce friction, you can reduce the contact area by increasing the gap.
This structure is also very simple and effective, and can be imagined as similar to the principle of a key and a lock. When the pin is rotated to the correct position, it can be pulled out and the components can be separated. If made using a Sinterit Lisa 3D printer , the structure can be directly molded as a single piece, without any need for separate printing or assembly.
The large-area interlocking shell tenons need to take into account both the finished wall thickness and the direction of use, and are assembled using a simple concept like a jigsaw puzzle.
Movable structure: If your product prototype needs to operate flexibly, such as with hinges or joysticks, then you absolutely cannot miss the following structures!
This structural design allows for a large rotation angle of the assembled parts and is a common structure in figurines or character models. In addition to the detachable open shell, it can also be completed using a single 3D printing method.
This is a common hinge structure at the joint of door panels, but in this design it is detachable and can be printed in a single pass in an SLS 3D printer .
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