# Loose tenon joint (floating tenon)

> What size is a loose tenon?

- Category: Joinery › Dowel & loose tenon joints
- Kind: Hardware
- Basis: Xem Studio design — geometry computed in the generator from traditional proportions
- Page: https://xemstudio.com/objects/loose-tenon-joint/ · JSON: https://xemstudio.com/api/geometry?object=loose-tenon-joint · Plain text: https://xemstudio.com/objects/loose-tenon-joint/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).
- Both parts get a mortise and a separate tenon joins them — the printable version of a Domino joint.

## Sizes

| dimension | value |
|---|---|
| stock | 20 × 20 mm square |
| parts | stile, rail, tenon |
| tenon | 15 × 6 × 24 mm (12 mm into each part) |
| assembles | tenon into both mortises, then close up |
| holds | racking; pin or glue against pull-out |

## 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 (4 parts, Xem Studio Design License, Xem Studio)

Index: https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/loose-tenon-joint/index.json · license: https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/loose-tenon-joint/LICENSE.md

- loose-tenon-joint-stile: [STEP](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/loose-tenon-joint/loose-tenon-joint-stile.step) · [STL](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/loose-tenon-joint/loose-tenon-joint-stile.stl) — Member with a 12 mm deep mortise
- loose-tenon-joint-rail: [STEP](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/loose-tenon-joint/loose-tenon-joint-rail.step) · [STL](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/loose-tenon-joint/loose-tenon-joint-rail.stl) — Butting member with a matching mortise
- loose-tenon-joint-tenon: [STEP](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/loose-tenon-joint/loose-tenon-joint-tenon.step) · [STL](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/loose-tenon-joint/loose-tenon-joint-tenon.stl) — Floating tenon 15 × 6 × 24 mm
- loose-tenon-joint-assembled: [STEP](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/loose-tenon-joint/loose-tenon-joint-assembled.step) · [STL](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/loose-tenon-joint/loose-tenon-joint-assembled.stl) — All parts in their assembled position (each part its own solid)

## Questions

**Why a loose tenon for prints?**

Both parts stay simple straight pieces; the tenon prints flat and strong.

## Fits with

- [Dowel joint (butt joint with two dowels)](https://xemstudio.com/objects/dowel-joint/)
- [Blind mortise and tenon joint](https://xemstudio.com/objects/blind-mortise-and-tenon-joint/)