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ball and socket design
2

ball and socket design

ball and socket design

(OP)
Hi,
  I am trying to design a plastic ball and socket.  This will allow for my holder(attached to the socket) to be rotated and tilted.  This will essentailly work like a GPS sat nav holder.  I have done some prelimary design in a software package but I am unsure if it will work correctly when manufactured.  

I would also like this to be a push fit to cut down on assmebly costs although once fitted it needs to be difficult to be pulled out!

Can someone please give me any tips or point me at any example CAD files that does this.
  

RE: ball and socket design

I'm not sure what your volumes are or your estimated budget. But if you want to keep your assembly costs down you might want to look into something like doing 2 shot "In-mold assembly". With this process you utilize 2 different materials; shoot the first part (say the socket) and then the mold rotates and uses the socket as the "cavity" for the ball. For an example I think I read somewhere that Lego is now using this method to manufacture their Lego "people". I also think there was a big article on this from one of the last 2 K-shows where they were highlighting the technology

Your upfront mold cost is more but you eliminate labor almost all together.
 

RE: ball and socket design

(OP)
Thanks for the reply.  This is exactly what I wanted.

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