# Ari kake (dovetail beam housing)

> What is an ari kake joint?

- Category: Joinery › Japanese joinery
- Kind: Hardware
- Basis: Xem Studio design — geometry computed in the generator from traditional proportions
- Page: https://xemstudio.com/objects/ari-kake-dovetail-housing/ · JSON: https://xemstudio.com/api/geometry?object=ari-kake-dovetail-housing · Plain text: https://xemstudio.com/objects/ari-kake-dovetail-housing/sheet.txt
- License: dimension sheet CC BY 4.0 (Xem Studio); files Xem Studio Design License (free to use and sell from, not to redistribute as files: https://xemstudio.com/license/)
- Use in every chat: add https://xemstudio.com/mcp as a connector (https://xemstudio.com/use-with-ai/)

## Overall (mm)

| length | width | height |
|---|---|---|
| 80.0 | 80.0 | 20.0 |

**Exact dimensions.** True size, with no printing tolerance added.

## 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 beam end dovetailed into the side of a girder, dropped in from above — Japanese framing's standard beam-to-girder joint.

## Sizes

| dimension | value |
|---|---|
| stock | 20 × 20 mm square |
| parts | girder, beam |
| dovetail | 8 → 13 mm, 10 mm deep, upper 15 mm of the beam |
| assembles | the beam drops in from above |
| holds | the beam from pulling away from the girder |

## Where the files are

- Xem Studio: [Joinery design (geometry computed in the generator from traditional proportions)](https://xemstudio.com/) — web — Xem Studio design

## Free STEP/STL (3 parts, Xem Studio Design License, Xem Studio)

Index: https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/ari-kake-dovetail-housing/index.json · license: https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/ari-kake-dovetail-housing/LICENSE.md

- ari-kake-dovetail-housing-girder: [STEP](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/ari-kake-dovetail-housing/ari-kake-dovetail-housing-girder.step) · [STL](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/ari-kake-dovetail-housing/ari-kake-dovetail-housing-girder.stl) — Girder with a dovetail socket open at the top
- ari-kake-dovetail-housing-beam: [STEP](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/ari-kake-dovetail-housing/ari-kake-dovetail-housing-beam.step) · [STL](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/ari-kake-dovetail-housing/ari-kake-dovetail-housing-beam.stl) — Beam with a dovetail on its upper 15 mm
- ari-kake-dovetail-housing-assembled: [STEP](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/ari-kake-dovetail-housing/ari-kake-dovetail-housing-assembled.step) · [STL](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/ari-kake-dovetail-housing/ari-kake-dovetail-housing-assembled.stl) — All parts in their assembled position (each part its own solid)

## Questions

**Why only the upper part?**

The lower part keeps the girder strong; the dovetail at the top resists pulling out.

## Fits with

- [Dovetail halving joint (dovetail lap)](https://xemstudio.com/objects/dovetail-halving-joint/)
- [Sliding dovetail joint (dovetail housing)](https://xemstudio.com/objects/sliding-dovetail-joint/)
- [Ari tsugi (Japanese dovetail splice)](https://xemstudio.com/objects/ari-tsugi-dovetail-splice/)