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![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/12fdfe_7c882d0fb2134c94a5e371be5afe8865~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_378,h_600,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/12fdfe_7c882d0fb2134c94a5e371be5afe8865~mv2.png)
Justin W.H. Yuen
Poseable Action Figures with Ball Joints
Entirely 3D printed
Advanced Mechatronics Course, Fall 2018
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/12fdfe_32a4a34b4bf94be4bd8817f1b7325f16~mv2_d_3000_1647_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_538,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/12fdfe_32a4a34b4bf94be4bd8817f1b7325f16~mv2_d_3000_1647_s_2.jpg)
Goal
Become acquainted with 3D printing ball joints by making a poseable toy
Results
A poseable toy that is easily assembled and disassembled
Inspiration
One of my favorite toys were the Bionicles from Lego. Unlike most action figures, they had a lot of movable joints with a wide range of motion.
![20190730_194723.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/12fdfe_87a693cb98bb4fbeb5eb1181919164f0~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_600,h_450,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/20190730_194723.jpg)
Iterations
The most difficult part of the project was determining the right geometry to create a snap-fitting ball joint. I methodically adjusted the thickness of the walls until the ball joint wasn't too loose or too tight.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/12fdfe_da3c23d669c84fa28ad2c1549f5eee2e~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_600,h_413,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/12fdfe_da3c23d669c84fa28ad2c1549f5eee2e~mv2.png)
Light Box Photoshoots
I decided to try to make my own DIY light box so I could take nicer pictures of my projects.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/12fdfe_27a2122a0444426ea97c1b4f2cf1a26c~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_429,h_322,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/12fdfe_27a2122a0444426ea97c1b4f2cf1a26c~mv2.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/12fdfe_5999a1f9a63345d39eafdc9afe120a42~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_429,h_322,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/12fdfe_5999a1f9a63345d39eafdc9afe120a42~mv2.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/12fdfe_64b24bcc91684f1880a5fe9c8733f48e~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_429,h_322,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/12fdfe_64b24bcc91684f1880a5fe9c8733f48e~mv2.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/12fdfe_8b852ab5718d401098c47b39f3fd9e42~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_232,w_3024,h_2266/fill/w_430,h_322,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/12fdfe_8b852ab5718d401098c47b39f3fd9e42~mv2.jpg)
Results
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/12fdfe_6f4f5457089d41f7a19d0a2339c4bfd9~mv2.png/v1/crop/x_0,y_121,w_3024,h_3266/fill/w_450,h_486,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/12fdfe_6f4f5457089d41f7a19d0a2339c4bfd9~mv2.png)
![20190730_191931.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/12fdfe_0e5eff2b9d4a40cebace28629d32b8fa~mv2_d_3024_4032_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_349,h_465,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/20190730_191931.jpg)
![20190730_192452.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/12fdfe_35cc1ac20b174fe1b53942b342818bcb~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_621,h_466,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/20190730_192452.jpg)
![20190730_194038.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/12fdfe_97b69cb19d554283b5132dff7f498699~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_488,h_366,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/20190730_194038.jpg)
![20190730_190258.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/12fdfe_391fa06ea27e412ebcbf788b1fbf3ca1~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg/v1/crop/x_98,y_8,w_3934,h_2999/fill/w_480,h_366,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/20190730_190258.jpg)
And I may have gone overboard...
![20190730_194946.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/12fdfe_1be59c479ca0400999b7a31e55f82820~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg/v1/crop/x_4,y_592,w_4024,h_2020/fill/w_978,h_491,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/20190730_194946.jpg)
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