{
 "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-crank-slider",
 "name": "Print-in-place: crank-and-slider linkage with captive pins",
 "kind": "hardware",
 "category": "3D printing",
 "group": "Print-in-place mechanisms",
 "year": null,
 "question": "How do you 3D print a working crank and slider in one piece?",
 "tags": [
  "3d printable",
  "print in place",
  "no assembly",
  "no supports",
  "mechanism",
  "stl",
  "step",
  "linkage",
  "crank",
  "slider crank"
 ],
 "aliases": [
  "print in place crank slider",
  "print in place linkage",
  "3d printed slider crank",
  "piston crank mechanism stl",
  "print in place pin joint"
 ],
 "overall_mm": {
  "length": 109,
  "width": 32.8,
  "height": 31
 },
 "official_cad": false,
 "xem_status": "free-files",
 "les": false,
 "free_files": 5,
 "url": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/print-in-place-crank-slider/",
 "sheet_txt": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/print-in-place-crank-slider/sheet.txt",
 "sheet": {
  "basis": "Xem Studio design: offset slider-crank, captive square pins with 45° heads; one designed running gap of 0.40 mm",
  "overall_mm": {
   "length": 109,
   "width": 32.8,
   "height": 31
  },
  "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: the linkage stands on edge, its plane vertical: the frame plate with its foot, then the crank, the rod and the slider in three 6 mm layers side by side, 0.40 mm apart. The crank is drawn pointing straight down and the rod lies flat, so all four bodies reach the bed (crank and rod ends on 45° feet).",
   "Support while printing: every pin is a square bar standing on its corner (45° faces), cantilevered from its plate, ending in a 45° conical head trimmed underneath to the bar's own 45° V so that it grows from the bar; every bore is round with a 45° peaked roof and a 45° countersink for the head. The slider rides a 45° V-ridge on the frame plate.",
   "Captured: each pin's head reaches past its bore (Ø5.2) into the countersink of the next plate at every angle, so no plate can slide off its pin; the slider is held up and down by the V-ridge in its V-groove and sideways between the frame plate and the rod.",
   "Freeing it: hold the frame and turn the crank slowly a full turn, then a few more; the slider runs back and forth on its own.",
   "Motion: the crank turns 360° continuously; the slider strokes 31.1 mm (offset slider-crank, quick-return 188° : 172°). The whole turn was checked in the model every 15° with no contact."
  ],
  "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"
    ],
    [
     "crank_r_mm",
     15,
     "throw"
    ],
    [
     "rod_l_mm",
     60,
     "connecting rod, centre to centre"
    ],
    [
     "offset_mm",
     15,
     "slide line below the crank pivot"
    ],
    [
     "stroke_mm",
     31.06,
     "slider travel per crank turn (computed)"
    ],
    [
     "quick_return",
     1.093,
     "crank angle forward : back = 188° : 172°"
    ],
    [
     "pin_d_mm",
     4.4,
     "captive pins: square section on its corner (sweeps Ø4.4), 45° conical head up to Ø8.4 (upper part, above the bar's 45° V)"
    ],
    [
     "bore_d_mm",
     5.2,
     "pin bores, 45° peaked roof"
    ],
    [
     "plate_t_mm",
     6,
     "crank, rod and slider, each"
    ],
    [
     "pivot_h_mm",
     22,
     "crank pivot above the bed"
    ],
    [
     "rotation_deg",
     "360 continuous",
     "crank"
    ],
    [
     "frame_l_mm",
     109,
     ""
    ],
    [
     "mount_holes",
     "3 × Ø4.5",
     "frame foot"
    ]
   ]
  }
 },
 "sheet_text": "Print-in-place: crank-and-slider linkage with captive pins — dimension sheet\nSource: Xem Studio, https://xemstudio.com/objects/print-in-place-crank-slider/  (sheet CC BY 4.0; files Xem Studio Design License, https://xemstudio.com/license/)\nBasis: Xem Studio design: offset slider-crank, captive square pins with 45° heads; one designed running gap of 0.40 mm\nCatalog version: 2026-10-20\n\nOverall (mm): length 109.0, width 32.8, height 31.0\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: the linkage stands on edge, its plane vertical: the frame plate with its foot, then the crank, the rod and the slider in three 6 mm layers side by side, 0.40 mm apart. The crank is drawn pointing straight down and the rod lies flat, so all four bodies reach the bed (crank and rod ends on 45° feet).\n- Support while printing: every pin is a square bar standing on its corner (45° faces), cantilevered from its plate, ending in a 45° conical head trimmed underneath to the bar's own 45° V so that it grows from the bar; every bore is round with a 45° peaked roof and a 45° countersink for the head. The slider rides a 45° V-ridge on the frame plate.\n- Captured: each pin's head reaches past its bore (Ø5.2) into the countersink of the next plate at every angle, so no plate can slide off its pin; the slider is held up and down by the V-ridge in its V-groove and sideways between the frame plate and the rod.\n- Freeing it: hold the frame and turn the crank slowly a full turn, then a few more; the slider runs back and forth on its own.\n- Motion: the crank turns 360° continuously; the slider strokes 31.1 mm (offset slider-crank, quick-return 188° : 172°). The whole turn was checked in the model every 15° with no contact.\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\ncrank_r_mm  15.0  throw\nrod_l_mm  60.0  connecting rod, centre to centre\noffset_mm  15.0  slide line below the crank pivot\nstroke_mm  31.06  slider travel per crank turn (computed)\nquick_return  1.093  crank angle forward : back = 188° : 172°\npin_d_mm  4.4  captive pins: square section on its corner (sweeps Ø4.4), 45° conical head up to Ø8.4 (upper part, above the bar's 45° V)\nbore_d_mm  5.2  pin bores, 45° peaked roof\nplate_t_mm  6  crank, rod and slider, each\npivot_h_mm  22.0  crank pivot above the bed\nrotation_deg  360 continuous  crank\nframe_l_mm  109.0  \nmount_holes  3 × Ø4.5  frame foot\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, 5 parts): https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/print-in-place-crank-slider/index.json\nAPI: https://xemstudio.com/api/geometry?object=print-in-place-crank-slider\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-articulated-chain",
  "print-in-place-ball-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": "Why are the pins square?",
   "a": "A square bar standing on its corner has only 45° faces, so it prints cantilevered without support; its corners sweep a Ø4.4 circle that turns in a Ø5.2 bore."
  },
  {
   "q": "What is the stroke?",
   "a": "31.1 mm: the slider line is 15 mm below the crank pivot (an offset slider-crank), so the stroke is a little more than twice the 15 mm throw and the return is quicker than the forward run."
  }
 ],
 "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-crank-slider-assembly",
   "formats": [
    "step",
    "stl"
   ],
   "price_usd": 0,
   "license": "Xem Studio Design License",
   "step": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/print-in-place-crank-slider/print-in-place-crank-slider-assembly.step",
   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/print-in-place-crank-slider/print-in-place-crank-slider-assembly.stl",
   "note": "The whole print as laid on the bed (4 bodies, already assembled); STEP keeps each moving body a separate solid"
  },
  {
   "file": "print-in-place-crank-slider-frame",
   "formats": [
    "step",
    "stl"
   ],
   "price_usd": 0,
   "license": "Xem Studio Design License",
   "step": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/print-in-place-crank-slider/print-in-place-crank-slider-frame.step",
   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/print-in-place-crank-slider/print-in-place-crank-slider-frame.stl",
   "note": "Frame plate with foot, crank pivot pin and the 45° V-ridge rail"
  },
  {
   "file": "print-in-place-crank-slider-crank",
   "formats": [
    "step",
    "stl"
   ],
   "price_usd": 0,
   "license": "Xem Studio Design License",
   "step": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/print-in-place-crank-slider/print-in-place-crank-slider-crank.step",
   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/print-in-place-crank-slider/print-in-place-crank-slider-crank.stl",
   "note": "Crank, 15 mm throw, with its crank pin"
  },
  {
   "file": "print-in-place-crank-slider-rod",
   "formats": [
    "step",
    "stl"
   ],
   "price_usd": 0,
   "license": "Xem Studio Design License",
   "step": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/print-in-place-crank-slider/print-in-place-crank-slider-rod.step",
   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/print-in-place-crank-slider/print-in-place-crank-slider-rod.stl",
   "note": "Connecting rod, 60 mm centres"
  },
  {
   "file": "print-in-place-crank-slider-slider",
   "formats": [
    "step",
    "stl"
   ],
   "price_usd": 0,
   "license": "Xem Studio Design License",
   "step": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/print-in-place-crank-slider/print-in-place-crank-slider-slider.step",
   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/print-in-place-crank-slider/print-in-place-crank-slider-slider.stl",
   "note": "Slider on the V-ridge, with its pin"
  }
 ],
 "markdown": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/print-in-place-crank-slider/index.md"
}