JointSCAD

Joints made easy, with JointSCAD

What is JointSCAD?

Often times 3D prints must be printed in parts. This might be due to unavoidable overhangs, or size limitations of the printer itself. Sometimes it is easier to paint individual parts which can be put together, and other times it is required in as part of an object in motion.

JointSCAD aims to be a single stop OpenSCAD library for simple, parametric joint creation.

Contents

• Setup
• Contributing
• License
• API

Setup

The dist directory contains all .scad files used by JointSCAD.

The simplest way to get JointSCAD working, is to have all JointSCAD files in the same directory and include it into your SCAD project: include <path/to/JointSCAD.scad;

Contributing

See the Contributing document for more information on contributing.

License

See the License document for more information on licensing.

API

API Contents

• Bridle Joint
• Dovetail Joint
• Dowel Joint
• Finger Joint
• Mortise And Tenon Joint
• Scarf Joint

Bridle Joint

bridleJointA(dimensions);

Creates the centre part, which rests in between the gap created by the two 'fingers' of its counterpart.

Parameter	Data Type	Description
dimensions	Number[3]	An array/vector of three numbers, which describes the [x, y, z] dimensions of the joint respectively. This should be the same when used with its counterpart to ensure correct sizing.

bridleJointB(dimensions);

Creates the two 'fingers', which is intended to receive its counterpart.

Parameter	Data Type	Description
dimensions	Number[3]	An array/vector of three numbers, which describes the [x, y, z] dimensions of the joint respectively. This should be the same when used with its counterpart to ensure correct sizing.

Dovetail Joint

dovetailJointA(dimensions, numberOfDovetails);

Creates the "dovetails", which rests in between the gaps created by its counterpart.

Parameter	Data Type	Description
dimensions	Number[3]	An array/vector of three numbers, which describes the [x, y, z] dimensions of the joint respectively. This should be the same when used with its counterpart to ensure correct sizing.
numberOfDovetails	Number	A number which specifies the number of dovetails to use in the joint. This should be the same when used with its counterpart to ensure correct sizing.

dovetailJointB(dimensions, numberOfDovetails);

Creates a block with gaps designed to allow the specified number of dovetails to rest in.

Parameter	Data Type	Description
dimensions	Number[3]	An array/vector of three numbers, which describes the [x, y, z] dimensions of the joint respectively. This should be the same when used with its counterpart to ensure correct sizing.
numberOfDovetails	Number	A number which specifies the number of dovetails to use in the joint. This should be the same when used with its counterpart to ensure correct sizing.

Dowel Joint

dowel(sides, radius, length);

Creates a dowel using a prism, instead of a cylinder. This is because:

• cylinders are readily available from OpenSCAD
• some 3D printers struggle to print round things exactly
• sometimes a prism is preferable

Parameter	Data Type	Description
sides	Number	Specifies the number of sides the polygon should have. This polygon is extruded to create the prism.
radius	Number	The distance from the centre point to place each corner of the polygon.
length	Number	The length of the extruded prism

Note: Dowel does not have a counterpart. If the counterpart hole is required, use difference().

Finger Joint

fingerJointA(dimensions, fingerCount);

Creates one set of "fingers", which are designed to rest in between another set of "fingers".

Parameter	Data Type	Description
dimensions	Number[3]	An array/vector of three numbers, which describes the [x, y, z] dimensions of the joint respectively. This should be the same when used with its counterpart to ensure correct sizing.
fingerCount	Number	A number which specifies the number of fingers to use in the joint. This should be the same when used with its counterpart to ensure correct sizing.

fingerJointB(dimensions, fingerCount);

Creates the other set of "fingers", which are designed to rest in between the initial set of "fingers".

Parameter	Data Type	Description
dimensions	Number[3]	An array/vector of three numbers, which describes the [x, y, z] dimensions of the joint respectively. This should be the same when used with its counterpart to ensure correct sizing.
fingerCount	Number	A number which specifies the number of fingers to use in the joint. This should be the same when used with its counterpart to ensure correct sizing.

Mortise And Tenon Joint

Standard Mortise and Tenon Joint

mortise(dimensions, proportionsOfTenon);

Creates a mortise, allowing space for a counterpart tenon to be inserted.

Parameter	Data Type	Description
dimensions	Number[3]	An array/vector of three numbers, which describes the [x, y, z] dimensions of the joint respectively. This should be the same when used with its counterpart to ensure correct sizing.
proportionsOfTenon	Number[3]	An array/vector of three numbers, which describes proportions of the [x, y, z] dimensions of the tenon slot respectively. This should be the same when used with its counterpart to ensure correct sizing.

tenon(dimensions, proportionsOfTenon);

Creates a tenon, designed to be inserted into a matching mortise.

Parameter	Data Type	Description
dimensions	Number[3]	An array/vector of three numbers, which describes the [x, y, z] dimensions of the joint respectively. This should be the same when used with its counterpart to ensure correct sizing.
proportionsOfTenon	Number[3]	An array/vector of three numbers, which describes proportions of the [x, y, z] dimensions of the tenon respectively. This should be the same when used with its counterpart to ensure correct sizing.

Pinned Mortise and Tenon Joint

pinnedMortise(dimensions, proportionsOfTenon, numberOfDowels, dowelSides, dowelRadius);

Creates a mortise, allowing space for a counterpart tenon to be inserted. In addition, this adds a respective amount of slots for pins to be inserted.

Parameter	Data Type	Description
dimensions	Number[3]	An array/vector of three numbers, which describes the [x, y, z] dimensions of the joint respectively. This should be the same when used with its counterpart to ensure correct sizing.
proportionsOfTenon	Number[3]	An array/vector of three numbers, which describes proportions of the [x, y, z] dimensions of the tenon slot respectively. This should be the same when used with its counterpart to ensure correct sizing.
numberOfDowels	Number	The number of pins/dowels to be used in joint creation. These pins are evenly spread, vertically, along the centre of the joint.
dowelSides	Number	The number of sides the polygon to be extruded should have, which is used to create the slot for each pin/dowel.
dowelRadius	Number	The distance of each corner in the polygon, from its centre.

pinnedTenon(dimensions, proportionsOfTenon, numberOfDowels, dowelSides, dowelRadius);

Creates a tenon, designed to be inserted into a matching mortise. In addition, this adds a respective amount of slots for pins to be inserted.

Parameter	Data Type	Description
dimensions	Number[3]	An array/vector of three numbers, which describes the [x, y, z] dimensions of the joint respectively. This should be the same when used with its counterpart to ensure correct sizing.
proportionsOfTenon	Number[3]	An array/vector of three numbers, which describes proportions of the [x, y, z] dimensions of the tenon respectively. This should be the same when used with its counterpart to ensure correct sizing.
numberOfDowels	Number	The number of pins/dowels to be used in joint creation. These pins are evenly spread, vertically, along the centre of the joint.
dowelSides	Number	The number of sides the polygon to be extruded should have, which is used to create the slot for each pin/dowel.
dowelRadius	Number	The distance of each corner in the polygon, from its centre.

Shouldered Mortise and Tenon Joint

shoulderedMortise(dimensions, proportionsOfTenon, proportionOfShoulder);

Creates a mortise, allowing space for a counterpart tenon to be inserted. In addition, adds two supporting shoulders for the tenon.

Parameter	Data Type	Description
dimensions	Number[3]	An array/vector of three numbers, which describes the [x, y, z] dimensions of the joint respectively. This should be the same when used with its counterpart to ensure correct sizing.
proportionsOfTenon	Number[3]	An array/vector of three numbers, which describes proportions of the [x, y, z] dimensions of the tenon slot respectively. This should be the same when used with its counterpart to ensure correct sizing.
proportionOfShoulder	Number	The width of the shoulder, in relation to the tenon, rather than the entire joint.

shoulderedTenon(dimensions, proportionsOfTenon, proportionOfShoulder);

Creates a tenon, designed to be inserted into a matching mortise. In addition, adds two supporting shoulders for the tenon.

Parameter	Data Type	Description
dimensions	Number[3]	An array/vector of three numbers, which describes the [x, y, z] dimensions of the joint respectively. This should be the same when used with its counterpart to ensure correct sizing.
proportionsOfTenon	Number[3]	An array/vector of three numbers, which describes proportions of the [x, y, z] dimensions of the tenon respectively. This should be the same when used with its counterpart to ensure correct sizing.
proportionOfShoulder	Number	The width of the shoulder, in relation to the tenon, rather than the entire joint.

Scarf Joint

scarfJointA(dimensions);

Creates one half of a scarf joint. This half is the upper/left half of a scarf joint.

Parameter	Data Type	Description
dimensions	Number[3]	An array/vector of three numbers, which describes the [x, y, z] dimensions of the joint respectively. This should be the same when used with its counterpart to ensure correct sizing.

scarfJointB(dimensions);

Creates the other half of a scarf joint. This half is the lower/right half of a scarf joint.

Parameter	Data Type	Description
dimensions	Number[3]	An array/vector of three numbers, which describes the [x, y, z] dimensions of the joint respectively. This should be the same when used with its counterpart to ensure correct sizing.