{
 "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": "tube-ball-and-socket-joint-mechanism",
 "name": "Ball-and-socket joint for tubing",
 "kind": "hardware",
 "category": "Mechanisms",
 "group": "Couplings & joints",
 "year": null,
 "question": "How does a ball-and-socket joint connect two tubes at an angle?",
 "tags": [
  "mechanism",
  "couplings & joints",
  "kinematics",
  "507 mechanical movements"
 ],
 "aliases": [
  "ball joint",
  "spherical joint",
  "ball and socket pipe joint",
  "swivel tube joint",
  "rótula para tubos",
  "Kugelgelenk für Rohre"
 ],
 "overall_mm": {
  "length": null,
  "width": null,
  "height": null
 },
 "official_cad": false,
 "xem_status": "free-files",
 "les": false,
 "free_files": 1,
 "url": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/tube-ball-and-socket-joint-mechanism/",
 "sheet_txt": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/tube-ball-and-socket-joint-mechanism/sheet.txt",
 "sheet": {
  "basis": "Xem Studio design following Brown No. 249 (1868)",
  "overall_mm": {
   "length": null,
   "width": null,
   "height": null
  },
  "notes": [
   "One tube ends in a ball with the bore running through it; the other ends in a spherical cup. A ring with a spherical seat is screwed over the ball and holds it in the cup, so the first tube can be swung in any direction about the ball's centre while the bores stay connected.",
   "Ø30 ball, R15 cup and cap seat (line on line), Ø8 bore; drawn with the ball's tube tilted 15°. M3 cap screws not drawn.",
   "Brown's No. 249 (ball-and-socket joint for tubing).",
   "Parts (each has its own page): ball-end-tube-d30-12x8, ball-joint-socket-d40-cup-r15, ball-joint-cap-d40-r15.",
   "Brown's movement No. 249 (1868) shows it; this model is a Xem Studio design following his figure, every part at true size."
  ],
  "table": {
   "columns": [
    "parameter",
    "value"
   ],
   "rows": [
    [
     "ball",
     "Ø30"
    ],
    [
     "bore",
     "Ø8"
    ],
    [
     "tilt drawn",
     "15°"
    ],
    [
     "cap screws",
     "3 × M3"
    ]
   ]
  }
 },
 "sheet_text": "Ball-and-socket joint for tubing — dimension sheet\nSource: Xem Studio, https://xemstudio.com/objects/tube-ball-and-socket-joint-mechanism/  (sheet CC BY 4.0; files Xem Studio Design License, https://xemstudio.com/license/)\nBasis: Xem Studio design following Brown No. 249 (1868)\nCatalog version: 2026-10-20\n\nSizes: see table below\n- One tube ends in a ball with the bore running through it; the other ends in a spherical cup. A ring with a spherical seat is screwed over the ball and holds it in the cup, so the first tube can be swung in any direction about the ball's centre while the bores stay connected.\n- Ø30 ball, R15 cup and cap seat (line on line), Ø8 bore; drawn with the ball's tube tilted 15°. M3 cap screws not drawn.\n- Brown's No. 249 (ball-and-socket joint for tubing).\n- Parts (each has its own page): ball-end-tube-d30-12x8, ball-joint-socket-d40-cup-r15, ball-joint-cap-d40-r15.\n- Brown's movement No. 249 (1868) shows it; this model is a Xem Studio design following his figure, every part at true size.\n\nparameter  value\nball  Ø30\nbore  Ø8\ntilt drawn  15°\ncap screws  3 × M3\n\nFiles elsewhere (not hosted by Xem Studio; license as stated by the publisher):\n- Henry T. Brown (1868, public domain): Five Hundred and Seven Mechanical Movements — scan on archive.org — web — Publisher's page; dimensions are facts — https://archive.org/details/fivehundredseven00browiala\n- 507movements.com: Brown's movement No. 249: figure, his text and an animation — web — Publisher's page; dimensions are facts — https://507movements.com/mm_249.html\n\nFree files (Xem Studio Design License, Xem Studio; STEP + STL, 1 parts): https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/tube-ball-and-socket-joint-mechanism/index.json\nAPI: https://xemstudio.com/api/geometry?object=tube-ball-and-socket-joint-mechanism\n",
 "sources": [
  {
   "publisher": "Henry T. Brown (1868, public domain)",
   "title": "Five Hundred and Seven Mechanical Movements — scan on archive.org",
   "url": "https://archive.org/details/fivehundredseven00browiala",
   "formats": [
    "web"
   ],
   "license": "Publisher's page; dimensions are facts",
   "license_verified": true,
   "hosted": false
  },
  {
   "publisher": "507movements.com",
   "title": "Brown's movement No. 249: figure, his text and an animation",
   "url": "https://507movements.com/mm_249.html",
   "formats": [
    "web"
   ],
   "license": "Publisher's page; dimensions are facts",
   "license_verified": true,
   "hosted": false
  }
 ],
 "xem": {
  "status": "free-files",
  "sheet_free": true,
  "mesh_price_usd": null,
  "step_price_usd": null,
  "tolerance_mm": null
 },
 "related": [
  "ball-end-tube-d30-12x8",
  "ball-joint-socket-d40-cup-r15",
  "ball-joint-cap-d40-r15"
 ],
 "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 ball-and-socket joint connect two tubes at an angle?",
   "a": "One tube ends in a ball with the bore running through it; the other ends in a spherical cup. A ring with a spherical seat is screwed over the ball and holds it in the cup, so the first tube can be swung in any direction about the ball's centre while the bores stay connected."
  }
 ],
 "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": "tube-ball-and-socket-joint-mechanism-assembly",
   "formats": [
    "step",
    "stl"
   ],
   "price_usd": 0,
   "license": "Xem Studio Design License",
   "step": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/tube-ball-and-socket-joint-mechanism/tube-ball-and-socket-joint-mechanism-assembly.step",
   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/tube-ball-and-socket-joint-mechanism/tube-ball-and-socket-joint-mechanism-assembly.stl",
   "note": "Assembled mechanism, all parts placed at one pose (STEP keeps each part separate)"
  }
 ],
 "markdown": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/tube-ball-and-socket-joint-mechanism/index.md"
}