A 3D-printed in-place hinge is a mechanism joining two sections that moves with a thinned section of material, which, in small sections, is flexible enough to distort a few times without breaking off.
YouTuber Slant 3D has posted a video demonstrating the different kinds of springs and hinges that can be printed, as well as some common pitfalls and areas to concentrate on.
The key is “a few times,” as all materials will eventually fail due to overworking, which may not be a huge concern for low-cost products.
However, robustness comes at the cost of compactness, and spreading the bending load across multiple flexure elements reduces wear and increases the flex life of the hinge.
Overall, the video is a concise guide to the topic, well worth the viewers time.
