{
 "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": "print-in-place-articulated-chain",
 "name": "Print-in-place: articulated chain, 6 links, 20 mm pitch",
 "kind": "hardware",
 "category": "3D printing",
 "group": "Print-in-place mechanisms",
 "year": null,
 "question": "How do you 3D print a chain that comes off the printer already linked?",
 "tags": [
  "3d printable",
  "print in place",
  "no assembly",
  "no supports",
  "mechanism",
  "stl",
  "step",
  "chain",
  "links"
 ],
 "aliases": [
  "print in place chain",
  "3d printed chain links",
  "articulated chain stl",
  "print in place cable chain",
  "flexible chain 3d print"
 ],
 "overall_mm": {
  "length": 128,
  "width": 18,
  "height": 8
 },
 "official_cad": false,
 "xem_status": "free-files",
 "les": false,
 "free_files": 7,
 "url": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/print-in-place-articulated-chain/",
 "sheet_txt": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/print-in-place-articulated-chain/sheet.txt",
 "sheet": {
  "basis": "Xem Studio design: identical links on 45° cone pivots; one designed running gap of 0.40 mm",
  "overall_mm": {
   "length": 128,
   "width": 18,
   "height": 8
  },
  "notes": [
   "3D print in place — prints already assembled, moving, in one job. Drawn at true size with no printer tolerance added; the 0.40 mm running gaps are part of the design.",
   "Running gap 0.40 mm per side, 0.80 mm on diameter — part of the design, drawn as is. On the 45° faces the same 0.40 mm is measured square to the face (0.57 mm along the axis).",
   "Bed: laid out straight, every link flat on the bed, joint axes horizontal 4 mm up; knuckles stand on their 45° feet.",
   "Support while printing: each joint is a fork of two knuckles whose 45° cones point inward into sockets in the next link's centre knuckle; cones on a horizontal axis stay within 45°. The plates are cut back round every knuckle so nothing of one link sits over another.",
   "Captured: the two opposed cones of each fork hold the next link's knuckle between them; no link can come off.",
   "Freeing it: bend each joint up and down by hand, link by link, then roll the chain over a finger.",
   "Motion: each joint bends 162.2° one way and 99.5° the other from straight (computed by turning one link against the next), so the chain wraps round a small radius and lies flat."
  ],
  "table": {
   "columns": [
    "key",
    "value",
    "what"
   ],
   "rows": [
    [
     "gap_mm",
     0.4,
     "running gap per side on every moving interface (radial, axial, under captured parts) — part of the design, not a tolerance"
    ],
    [
     "pitch_mm",
     20,
     "joint to joint"
    ],
    [
     "links",
     6,
     ""
    ],
    [
     "chain_l_mm",
     128,
     "laid straight, as printed"
    ],
    [
     "chain_w_mm",
     18,
     ""
    ],
    [
     "knuckle_d_mm",
     8,
     ""
    ],
    [
     "pin_d_mm",
     5.2,
     "45° cone pivot base (two per joint, from the fork into the next link)"
    ],
    [
     "plate_t_mm",
     3,
     ""
    ],
    [
     "bend_up_deg",
     162.2,
     "each joint, from straight"
    ],
    [
     "bend_down_deg",
     99.5,
     "each joint, the other way"
    ]
   ]
  }
 },
 "sheet_text": "Print-in-place: articulated chain, 6 links, 20 mm pitch — dimension sheet\nSource: Xem Studio, https://xemstudio.com/objects/print-in-place-articulated-chain/  (sheet CC BY 4.0; files Xem Studio Design License, https://xemstudio.com/license/)\nBasis: Xem Studio design: identical links on 45° cone pivots; one designed running gap of 0.40 mm\nCatalog version: 2026-10-20\n\nOverall (mm): length 128.0, width 18.0, height 8.0\n- 3D print in place — prints already assembled, moving, in one job. Drawn at true size with no printer tolerance added; the 0.40 mm running gaps are part of the design.\n- Running gap 0.40 mm per side, 0.80 mm on diameter — part of the design, drawn as is. On the 45° faces the same 0.40 mm is measured square to the face (0.57 mm along the axis).\n- Bed: laid out straight, every link flat on the bed, joint axes horizontal 4 mm up; knuckles stand on their 45° feet.\n- Support while printing: each joint is a fork of two knuckles whose 45° cones point inward into sockets in the next link's centre knuckle; cones on a horizontal axis stay within 45°. The plates are cut back round every knuckle so nothing of one link sits over another.\n- Captured: the two opposed cones of each fork hold the next link's knuckle between them; no link can come off.\n- Freeing it: bend each joint up and down by hand, link by link, then roll the chain over a finger.\n- Motion: each joint bends 162.2° one way and 99.5° the other from straight (computed by turning one link against the next), so the chain wraps round a small radius and lies flat.\n\nkey  value  what\ngap_mm  0.4  running gap per side on every moving interface (radial, axial, under captured parts) — part of the design, not a tolerance\npitch_mm  20.0  joint to joint\nlinks  6  \nchain_l_mm  128.0  laid straight, as printed\nchain_w_mm  18.0  \nknuckle_d_mm  8.0  \npin_d_mm  5.2  45° cone pivot base (two per joint, from the fork into the next link)\nplate_t_mm  3.0  \nbend_up_deg  162.2  each joint, from straight\nbend_down_deg  99.5  each joint, the other way\n\nFiles elsewhere (not hosted by Xem Studio; license as stated by the publisher):\n- Xem Studio: Print-in-place mechanism design (geometry computed in the generator) — web — Xem Studio design — https://xemstudio.com/\n\nFree files (Xem Studio Design License, Xem Studio; STEP + STL, 7 parts): https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/print-in-place-articulated-chain/index.json\nAPI: https://xemstudio.com/api/geometry?object=print-in-place-articulated-chain\n",
 "sources": [
  {
   "publisher": "Xem Studio",
   "title": "Print-in-place mechanism design (geometry computed in the generator)",
   "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-captive-wheel-axle",
  "print-in-place-barrel-hinge-180",
  "print-in-place-multi-knuckle-hinge",
  "print-in-place-captive-turntable",
  "print-in-place-dovetail-slider",
  "print-in-place-ball-joint",
  "print-in-place-push-button-flexure"
 ],
 "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 are the links joined?",
   "a": "Each link ends in a fork whose two knuckles carry 45° cones pointing into cone sockets in the next link's centre knuckle — no pins to insert."
  },
  {
   "q": "Can I make it longer?",
   "a": "Repeat the link at 20 mm pitch: every link is identical (the first link's sockets and the last link's cones are simply unused)."
  }
 ],
 "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": "print-in-place-articulated-chain-assembly",
   "formats": [
    "step",
    "stl"
   ],
   "price_usd": 0,
   "license": "Xem Studio Design License",
   "step": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/print-in-place-articulated-chain/print-in-place-articulated-chain-assembly.step",
   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/print-in-place-articulated-chain/print-in-place-articulated-chain-assembly.stl",
   "note": "The whole print as laid on the bed (6 bodies, already assembled); STEP keeps each moving body a separate solid"
  },
  {
   "file": "print-in-place-articulated-chain-link-1",
   "formats": [
    "step",
    "stl"
   ],
   "price_usd": 0,
   "license": "Xem Studio Design License",
   "step": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/print-in-place-articulated-chain/print-in-place-articulated-chain-link-1.step",
   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/print-in-place-articulated-chain/print-in-place-articulated-chain-link-1.stl",
   "note": "Link 1: centre knuckle with two cone sockets, fork with two 45° cones; pitch 20"
  },
  {
   "file": "print-in-place-articulated-chain-link-2",
   "formats": [
    "step",
    "stl"
   ],
   "price_usd": 0,
   "license": "Xem Studio Design License",
   "step": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/print-in-place-articulated-chain/print-in-place-articulated-chain-link-2.step",
   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/print-in-place-articulated-chain/print-in-place-articulated-chain-link-2.stl",
   "note": "Link 2: centre knuckle with two cone sockets, fork with two 45° cones; pitch 20"
  },
  {
   "file": "print-in-place-articulated-chain-link-3",
   "formats": [
    "step",
    "stl"
   ],
   "price_usd": 0,
   "license": "Xem Studio Design License",
   "step": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/print-in-place-articulated-chain/print-in-place-articulated-chain-link-3.step",
   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/print-in-place-articulated-chain/print-in-place-articulated-chain-link-3.stl",
   "note": "Link 3: centre knuckle with two cone sockets, fork with two 45° cones; pitch 20"
  },
  {
   "file": "print-in-place-articulated-chain-link-4",
   "formats": [
    "step",
    "stl"
   ],
   "price_usd": 0,
   "license": "Xem Studio Design License",
   "step": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/print-in-place-articulated-chain/print-in-place-articulated-chain-link-4.step",
   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/print-in-place-articulated-chain/print-in-place-articulated-chain-link-4.stl",
   "note": "Link 4: centre knuckle with two cone sockets, fork with two 45° cones; pitch 20"
  },
  {
   "file": "print-in-place-articulated-chain-link-5",
   "formats": [
    "step",
    "stl"
   ],
   "price_usd": 0,
   "license": "Xem Studio Design License",
   "step": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/print-in-place-articulated-chain/print-in-place-articulated-chain-link-5.step",
   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/print-in-place-articulated-chain/print-in-place-articulated-chain-link-5.stl",
   "note": "Link 5: centre knuckle with two cone sockets, fork with two 45° cones; pitch 20"
  },
  {
   "file": "print-in-place-articulated-chain-link-6",
   "formats": [
    "step",
    "stl"
   ],
   "price_usd": 0,
   "license": "Xem Studio Design License",
   "step": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/print-in-place-articulated-chain/print-in-place-articulated-chain-link-6.step",
   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/print-in-place-articulated-chain/print-in-place-articulated-chain-link-6.stl",
   "note": "Link 6: centre knuckle with two cone sockets, fork with two 45° cones; pitch 20"
  }
 ],
 "markdown": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/print-in-place-articulated-chain/index.md"
}