Integrated Snap Joint

thingiverse

FIRST, PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS STILL A "WORK IN PROGRESS" AND MAY NOT WORK. ONCE I'VE CONFIRMED THAT IT WORKS (or someone else does), I'LL SAY SO AND POST A PHOTO. When assembling separate pieces of a build, it's sometimes hard to align them just right for gluing, especially for a perfectionist with impaired motor control like myself. So, I thought, why not do it by the numbers? Why not have a way to just snap the parts together so they line up automatically and won't come apart? Putting two of these -- or more, if it's a big piece -- on a pair of parts can hold the parts in the correct position while you seal the seam (or not, if that's your preference). While I was working on this, I also realized that this could be a good way to make a pivoting hinge, but just putting one pin and hole at the desired spot. Note that this is recommended only for PLA or similarly hard but mildly flexible materials.