{
 "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-detent-dial",
 "name": "Print-in-place: rotary dial with 24 detents (compliant arms)",
 "kind": "hardware",
 "category": "3D printing",
 "group": "Print-in-place mechanisms",
 "year": null,
 "question": "How do you 3D print a clicking rotary dial (detent knob) in one piece?",
 "tags": [
  "3d printable",
  "print in place",
  "no assembly",
  "no supports",
  "mechanism",
  "stl",
  "step",
  "dial",
  "knob",
  "detent",
  "compliant mechanism"
 ],
 "aliases": [
  "print in place dial",
  "detent knob 3d print",
  "clicky rotary dial stl",
  "print in place knob with clicks",
  "compliant detent"
 ],
 "overall_mm": {
  "length": 80,
  "width": 80,
  "height": 25.7
 },
 "official_cad": false,
 "xem_status": "free-files",
 "les": false,
 "free_files": 3,
 "url": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/print-in-place-detent-dial/",
 "sheet_txt": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/print-in-place-detent-dial/sheet.txt",
 "sheet": {
  "basis": "Xem Studio design: V-notch detents, compliant arms, 45° V-groove bearing; one designed running gap of 0.40 mm",
  "overall_mm": {
   "length": 80,
   "width": 80,
   "height": 25.7
  },
  "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: flat. Frame ring and dial both on the bed; in the bottom 6 mm layer the frame bore has 24 V-notches and the dial two thin arms with 45° bumps sitting in opposite notches, 0.40 mm clear.",
   "Support while printing: over the arms the frame closes as a 45° cone (0.40 mm square to the bumps' top corners), then holds the dial's boss with a 45° V-ridge in a V-groove. Nothing overhangs more than 45°.",
   "Captured: the V-ridge in the boss's V-groove holds the dial up and down and centres it.",
   "Freeing it: hold the frame and turn the knob through a full turn each way.",
   "Motion: continuous rotation both ways with 24 detent positions (15° apart) marked on the frame top; between positions each arm bends 1.5 mm inward as its bump climbs out of a notch. At a detent the dial is free for ±1.05° (computed)."
  ],
  "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"
    ],
    [
     "frame_od_mm",
     80,
     ""
    ],
    [
     "detents",
     24,
     "positions per turn, every 15°"
    ],
    [
     "notch_depth_mm",
     1.5,
     "45° V notches in the frame bore Ø60"
    ],
    [
     "arms",
     2,
     "flexible detent arms on the dial, 180° apart"
    ],
    [
     "arm_mm",
     "1.6 wide × 80° of arc",
     ""
    ],
    [
     "arm_flex_mm",
     1.5,
     "bump travel inward between positions"
    ],
    [
     "free_play_deg",
     1.05,
     "rotation before a bump meets a notch flank, each way"
    ],
    [
     "knob_d_mm",
     51.2,
     "dial boss / knob, pointer slot on top"
    ],
    [
     "axial_play_mm",
     0.57,
     ""
    ],
    [
     "height_mm",
     25.67,
     "as printed"
    ],
    [
     "index_marks",
     24,
     "on the frame top"
    ],
    [
     "mount_holes",
     "3 × Ø3.4",
     "frame"
    ]
   ]
  }
 },
 "sheet_text": "Print-in-place: rotary dial with 24 detents (compliant arms) — dimension sheet\nSource: Xem Studio, https://xemstudio.com/objects/print-in-place-detent-dial/  (sheet CC BY 4.0; files Xem Studio Design License, https://xemstudio.com/license/)\nBasis: Xem Studio design: V-notch detents, compliant arms, 45° V-groove bearing; one designed running gap of 0.40 mm\nCatalog version: 2026-10-20\n\nOverall (mm): length 80.0, width 80.0, height 25.7\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: flat. Frame ring and dial both on the bed; in the bottom 6 mm layer the frame bore has 24 V-notches and the dial two thin arms with 45° bumps sitting in opposite notches, 0.40 mm clear.\n- Support while printing: over the arms the frame closes as a 45° cone (0.40 mm square to the bumps' top corners), then holds the dial's boss with a 45° V-ridge in a V-groove. Nothing overhangs more than 45°.\n- Captured: the V-ridge in the boss's V-groove holds the dial up and down and centres it.\n- Freeing it: hold the frame and turn the knob through a full turn each way.\n- Motion: continuous rotation both ways with 24 detent positions (15° apart) marked on the frame top; between positions each arm bends 1.5 mm inward as its bump climbs out of a notch. At a detent the dial is free for ±1.05° (computed).\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\nframe_od_mm  80.0  \ndetents  24  positions per turn, every 15°\nnotch_depth_mm  1.5  45° V notches in the frame bore Ø60\narms  2  flexible detent arms on the dial, 180° apart\narm_mm  1.6 wide × 80° of arc  \narm_flex_mm  1.5  bump travel inward between positions\nfree_play_deg  1.05  rotation before a bump meets a notch flank, each way\nknob_d_mm  51.2  dial boss / knob, pointer slot on top\naxial_play_mm  0.57  \nheight_mm  25.67  as printed\nindex_marks  24  on the frame top\nmount_holes  3 × Ø3.4  frame\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, 3 parts): https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/print-in-place-detent-dial/index.json\nAPI: https://xemstudio.com/api/geometry?object=print-in-place-detent-dial\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": "How does a print-in-place dial click?",
   "a": "Two thin arms on the dial carry 45° bumps that sit in 45° notches of the frame; turning it bends the arms inward until the bumps drop into the next notches."
  },
  {
   "q": "How many positions?",
   "a": "24, every 15°; both arms engage at once (notches 180° apart)."
  }
 ],
 "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-detent-dial-assembly",
   "formats": [
    "step",
    "stl"
   ],
   "price_usd": 0,
   "license": "Xem Studio Design License",
   "step": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/print-in-place-detent-dial/print-in-place-detent-dial-assembly.step",
   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/print-in-place-detent-dial/print-in-place-detent-dial-assembly.stl",
   "note": "The whole print as laid on the bed (2 bodies, already assembled); STEP keeps each moving body a separate solid"
  },
  {
   "file": "print-in-place-detent-dial-frame",
   "formats": [
    "step",
    "stl"
   ],
   "price_usd": 0,
   "license": "Xem Studio Design License",
   "step": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/print-in-place-detent-dial/print-in-place-detent-dial-frame.step",
   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/print-in-place-detent-dial/print-in-place-detent-dial-frame.stl",
   "note": "Frame ring Ø80 with 24 detent notches, index marks, 45° cone and V-ridge bearing, 3 × Ø3.4"
  },
  {
   "file": "print-in-place-detent-dial-dial",
   "formats": [
    "step",
    "stl"
   ],
   "price_usd": 0,
   "license": "Xem Studio Design License",
   "step": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/print-in-place-detent-dial/print-in-place-detent-dial-dial.step",
   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/print-in-place-detent-dial/print-in-place-detent-dial-dial.stl",
   "note": "Dial with two flexible detent arms, boss with 45° V-groove, knob with pointer slot"
  }
 ],
 "markdown": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/print-in-place-detent-dial/index.md"
}