{
 "version": "2026-10-20",
 "license": "Dimension sheets: CC BY 4.0. Standard and published-size files: CC BY 4.0. Xem Studio's own designs (files_license = Xem Studio Design License): free to use and sell things from, not to redistribute as files — https://xemstudio.com/license/. Other publishers' files: their own license, linked beside them.",
 "slug": "living-hinge",
 "name": "Living hinge (flexure hinge)",
 "kind": "hardware",
 "category": "Joinery",
 "group": "3D-print connectors",
 "year": null,
 "question": "How thick should a 3D printed living hinge be?",
 "tags": [
  "joinery",
  "woodworking joint",
  "3d printable",
  "connect 3d prints",
  "no glue",
  "stl",
  "step",
  "3d-print connectors"
 ],
 "aliases": [
  "living hinge",
  "living hinge 3d print",
  "living hinge thickness",
  "flexure hinge",
  "print in place hinge thin",
  "bisagra viva",
  "bisagra flexible",
  "Filmscharnier",
  "Festkörpergelenk"
 ],
 "overall_mm": {
  "length": 60,
  "width": 40,
  "height": 3
 },
 "official_cad": false,
 "xem_status": "free-files",
 "les": false,
 "free_files": 2,
 "url": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/living-hinge/",
 "sheet_txt": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/living-hinge/sheet.txt",
 "sheet": {
  "basis": "Xem Studio design — geometry computed in the generator from traditional proportions",
  "overall_mm": {
   "length": 60,
   "width": 40,
   "height": 3
  },
  "notes": [
   "Woodworking joint drawn for 3D printing: the parts lock together by shape, so a print can be joined without glue or screws. Drawn at true size with the parts line to line (zero gap) in their assembled position — add your printer's fit allowance to the mating faces (your AI or slicer can do this).",
   "A thin flexible web between two thick parts: lids, cases, clips and boxes in one print. Polypropylene (PP) survives thousands of bends; PETG a few dozen; PLA cracks quickly.",
   "Print it flat with the web on the bed and the layers running across the hinge line, so each layer bends rather than splits."
  ],
  "table": {
   "columns": [
    "dimension",
    "value"
   ],
   "rows": [
    [
     "stock",
     "3 mm plates, 40 mm wide"
    ],
    [
     "parts",
     "hinged plate"
    ],
    [
     "web",
     "0.5 mm thick, 6 mm long, at the bottom face"
    ],
    [
     "bends",
     "about 180° in PP or TPU, a few times in PETG"
    ],
    [
     "assembles",
     "prints flat, one piece"
    ],
    [
     "holds",
     "two halves of a box, lid, clip or case together, hinged"
    ]
   ]
  }
 },
 "sheet_text": "Living hinge (flexure hinge) — dimension sheet\nSource: Xem Studio, https://xemstudio.com/objects/living-hinge/  (sheet CC BY 4.0; files Xem Studio Design License, https://xemstudio.com/license/)\nBasis: Xem Studio design — geometry computed in the generator from traditional proportions\nCatalog version: 2026-10-20\n\nOverall (mm): length 60.0, width 40.0, height 3.0\n- Woodworking joint drawn for 3D printing: the parts lock together by shape, so a print can be joined without glue or screws. Drawn at true size with the parts line to line (zero gap) in their assembled position — add your printer's fit allowance to the mating faces (your AI or slicer can do this).\n- A thin flexible web between two thick parts: lids, cases, clips and boxes in one print. Polypropylene (PP) survives thousands of bends; PETG a few dozen; PLA cracks quickly.\n- Print it flat with the web on the bed and the layers running across the hinge line, so each layer bends rather than splits.\n\ndimension  value\nstock  3 mm plates, 40 mm wide\nparts  hinged plate\nweb  0.5 mm thick, 6 mm long, at the bottom face\nbends  about 180° in PP or TPU, a few times in PETG\nassembles  prints flat, one piece\nholds  two halves of a box, lid, clip or case together, hinged\n\nFiles elsewhere (not hosted by Xem Studio; license as stated by the publisher):\n- Xem Studio: Joinery design (geometry computed in the generator from traditional proportions) — web — Xem Studio design — https://xemstudio.com/\n\nFree files (Xem Studio Design License, Xem Studio; STEP + STL, 2 parts): https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/living-hinge/index.json\nAPI: https://xemstudio.com/api/geometry?object=living-hinge\n",
 "sources": [
  {
   "publisher": "Xem Studio",
   "title": "Joinery design (geometry computed in the generator from traditional proportions)",
   "url": "https://xemstudio.com/",
   "formats": [
    "web"
   ],
   "license": "Xem Studio design",
   "license_verified": true,
   "hosted": false
  }
 ],
 "xem": {
  "status": "free-files",
  "sheet_free": true,
  "mesh_price_usd": null,
  "step_price_usd": null,
  "tolerance_mm": null
 },
 "related": [
  "print-in-place-barrel-hinge-180",
  "snap-fit-cantilever-joint"
 ],
 "fits": [],
 "dimensions": "exact (nominal, no printing tolerance)",
 "dimension_rule": "All geometry on Xem Studio is exact (nominal, true size) with no printing tolerance. Where a part meets another part, the object lists its mating features (feature, exact size, what it mates with, fit class: press, slide, run, socket, clamp or designed). Apply your process's allowance to those features only; 'designed' gaps are part of the design and stay as drawn.",
 "mating": [],
 "faq": [
  {
   "q": "How thick should a living hinge be?",
   "a": "0.3–0.6 mm for PP or PETG; 0.5 mm here, 6 mm long."
  },
  {
   "q": "What filament is best for living hinges?",
   "a": "Polypropylene (PP), then TPU; PETG lasts a few dozen bends; PLA cracks."
  }
 ],
 "files_license": {
  "name": "Xem Studio Design License",
  "holder": "Xem Studio",
  "url": "https://xemstudio.com/license/",
  "note": "Xem Studio's own design: free to use, print, modify and sell things made from it; not to be republished or redistributed as files."
 },
 "offers": [
  {
   "file": "living-hinge-hinged-plate",
   "formats": [
    "step",
    "stl"
   ],
   "price_usd": 0,
   "license": "Xem Studio Design License",
   "step": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/living-hinge/living-hinge-hinged-plate.step",
   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/living-hinge/living-hinge-hinged-plate.stl",
   "note": "Two 3 mm plates joined by a 0.5 mm web, 6 mm long"
  },
  {
   "file": "living-hinge-assembled",
   "formats": [
    "step",
    "stl"
   ],
   "price_usd": 0,
   "license": "Xem Studio Design License",
   "step": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/living-hinge/living-hinge-assembled.step",
   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/living-hinge/living-hinge-assembled.stl",
   "note": "All parts in their assembled position (each part its own solid)"
  }
 ],
 "markdown": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/living-hinge/index.md"
}