{
 "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": "sao-tsugi-rod-splice",
 "name": "Sao tsugi (keyed rod splice)",
 "kind": "hardware",
 "category": "Joinery",
 "group": "Japanese joinery",
 "year": null,
 "question": "What is a sao tsugi joint?",
 "tags": [
  "joinery",
  "woodworking joint",
  "3d printable",
  "connect 3d prints",
  "no glue",
  "stl",
  "step",
  "japanese joinery"
 ],
 "aliases": [
  "sao tsugi",
  "竿継ぎ",
  "keyed tenon splice",
  "rod splice",
  "japanese tie beam splice",
  "empalme japonés con llaves",
  "japanischer Stabstoß"
 ],
 "overall_mm": {
  "length": 140,
  "width": 28,
  "height": 20
 },
 "official_cad": false,
 "xem_status": "free-files",
 "les": false,
 "free_files": 5,
 "url": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/sao-tsugi-rod-splice/",
 "sheet_txt": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/sao-tsugi-rod-splice/sheet.txt",
 "sheet": {
  "basis": "Xem Studio design — geometry computed in the generator from traditional proportions",
  "overall_mm": {
   "length": 140,
   "width": 28,
   "height": 20
  },
  "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 long tenon in a long mortise, locked by keys driven across — the Japanese splice for long rods and tie beams."
  ],
  "table": {
   "columns": [
    "dimension",
    "value"
   ],
   "rows": [
    [
     "stock",
     "20 × 20 mm square"
    ],
    [
     "parts",
     "male, female, key 1, key 2"
    ],
    [
     "tenon",
     "8 × 8 mm, 40 mm long"
    ],
    [
     "keys",
     "two, 4 × 4 mm, through the female member and the tenon"
    ],
    [
     "assembles",
     "tenon in, keys driven across"
    ],
    [
     "holds",
     "pulling apart lengthwise, firmly"
    ]
   ]
  }
 },
 "sheet_text": "Sao tsugi (keyed rod splice) — dimension sheet\nSource: Xem Studio, https://xemstudio.com/objects/sao-tsugi-rod-splice/  (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 140.0, width 28.0, height 20.0\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 long tenon in a long mortise, locked by keys driven across — the Japanese splice for long rods and tie beams.\n\ndimension  value\nstock  20 × 20 mm square\nparts  male, female, key 1, key 2\ntenon  8 × 8 mm, 40 mm long\nkeys  two, 4 × 4 mm, through the female member and the tenon\nassembles  tenon in, keys driven across\nholds  pulling apart lengthwise, firmly\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, 5 parts): https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/sao-tsugi-rod-splice/index.json\nAPI: https://xemstudio.com/api/geometry?object=sao-tsugi-rod-splice\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": [
  "kanawa-tsugi-splice",
  "pegged-mortise-and-tenon-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": "What holds a sao tsugi?",
   "a": "The keys across the tenon: pulling apart bears on them in shear."
  }
 ],
 "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": "sao-tsugi-rod-splice-male",
   "formats": [
    "step",
    "stl"
   ],
   "price_usd": 0,
   "license": "Xem Studio Design License",
   "step": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/sao-tsugi-rod-splice/sao-tsugi-rod-splice-male.step",
   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/sao-tsugi-rod-splice/sao-tsugi-rod-splice-male.stl",
   "note": "Male member with a long tenon"
  },
  {
   "file": "sao-tsugi-rod-splice-female",
   "formats": [
    "step",
    "stl"
   ],
   "price_usd": 0,
   "license": "Xem Studio Design License",
   "step": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/sao-tsugi-rod-splice/sao-tsugi-rod-splice-female.step",
   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/sao-tsugi-rod-splice/sao-tsugi-rod-splice-female.stl",
   "note": "Female member with the long mortise"
  },
  {
   "file": "sao-tsugi-rod-splice-key-1",
   "formats": [
    "step",
    "stl"
   ],
   "price_usd": 0,
   "license": "Xem Studio Design License",
   "step": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/sao-tsugi-rod-splice/sao-tsugi-rod-splice-key-1.step",
   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/sao-tsugi-rod-splice/sao-tsugi-rod-splice-key-1.stl",
   "note": "Square key 4 × 4 × 28 mm"
  },
  {
   "file": "sao-tsugi-rod-splice-key-2",
   "formats": [
    "step",
    "stl"
   ],
   "price_usd": 0,
   "license": "Xem Studio Design License",
   "step": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/sao-tsugi-rod-splice/sao-tsugi-rod-splice-key-2.step",
   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/sao-tsugi-rod-splice/sao-tsugi-rod-splice-key-2.stl",
   "note": "Square key 4 × 4 × 28 mm"
  },
  {
   "file": "sao-tsugi-rod-splice-assembled",
   "formats": [
    "step",
    "stl"
   ],
   "price_usd": 0,
   "license": "Xem Studio Design License",
   "step": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/sao-tsugi-rod-splice/sao-tsugi-rod-splice-assembled.step",
   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/sao-tsugi-rod-splice/sao-tsugi-rod-splice-assembled.stl",
   "note": "All parts in their assembled position (each part its own solid)"
  }
 ],
 "markdown": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/sao-tsugi-rod-splice/index.md"
}