Universal Joint (kit plate)
A universal joint as a print plate: two yokes and a cross, laid out side by side, each standing the way it prints best. 22mm hubs, 8mm shaft bores, 5mm trunnions, about 30° of usable angle. Snap the cross into one yoke, then the other at 90°. The sockets are open-topped C-clips rather than closed bores, which is what makes it assemblable: a closed bore would mean springing the yoke arms several millimetres apart to get the cross in, and PLA cracks long before it flexes that far, whereas a C with a mouth 0.6mm under the trunnion only has to open by that much and then retains it. It also means the socket has no roof to droop. Clearance is 0.35mm on the trunnion radius. A one-piece print-in-place joint is not offered, and the reason is geometric rather than fussy: with the shaft axis upright, the top yoke's hub ends up above the cross with nothing under it — an island in mid-air. As three parts, each stands up properly and none needs support. One honest compromise remains: the cross has four trunnions on two perpendicular axes, and two perpendicular axes cannot both be vertical. The vertical pair print as perfect cylinders; the horizontal pair are short pegs whose lower quadrant is unsupported, which at Ø5 over 5mm the socket clearance swallows. PETG for the yokes — they have to spring.
from £4.23example, in PLA
Example pricing
A guide only — not a fixed quote. Final price depends on material, quantity, print orientation and printability.
| Material | 1 unit | 5 units | 10 units | 25 units |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PLA | £4.23 | £17.78£3.56/unit | £32.18£3.22/unit | £71.97£2.88/unit |
| PETG | £4.47 | £18.79£3.76/unit | £34£3.40/unit | £76.06£3.04/unit |
| ABS / ASA | £5.02 | £21.07£4.21/unit | £38.13£3.81/unit | £85.29£3.41/unit |
Per-unit prices fall with quantity. Larger batches are cheaper still — ask for a bulk quote.