Xem Studiomeasured geometryLibrary › Joinery › Japanese joinery ·
Sao tsugi (keyed rod splice)
What is a sao tsugi joint? · Hardware · basis: Xem Studio design — geometry computed in the generator from traditional proportions
Also called: sao tsugi, 竿継ぎ, keyed tenon splice, rod splice, japanese tie beam splice, empalme japonés con llaves, japanischer Stabstoß
Exact dimensions. True size, with no printing tolerance added.
- length
- 140.0 mm
- width
- 28.0 mm
- height
- 20.0 mm
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.
Sao tsugi size chart
| dimension | value |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Where the files are
Other publishers' files are linked, not hosted. "verify" = check the license at the link before commercial use.
| Xem Studio | Joinery design (geometry computed in the generator from traditional proportions) | web | Xem Studio design |
Free files
★ Free files 5 parts. Xem Studio design: free to use, print and sell things from; not to be republished as files. Xem Studio Design License. index.json
| sao-tsugi-rod-splice-male | Male member with a long tenon | STEP · STL |
| sao-tsugi-rod-splice-female | Female member with the long mortise | STEP · STL |
| sao-tsugi-rod-splice-key-1 | Square key 4 × 4 × 28 mm | STEP · STL |
| sao-tsugi-rod-splice-key-2 | Square key 4 × 4 × 28 mm | STEP · STL |
| sao-tsugi-rod-splice-assembled | All parts in their assembled position (each part its own solid) | STEP · STL |
https://xemstudio.com/mcp to Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor or any MCP client (free, no account, one minute) and it can look up exact sizes, mating fits and free STEP/STL from every chat.Plain text: sheet.txt · JSON: /api/geometry?object=sao-tsugi-rod-splice
Fits with
Questions
What holds a sao tsugi?
The keys across the tenon: pulling apart bears on them in shear.