<p>The mechanisms for &quot;click-in&quot; joining are varied. It's important to note that they are not resin-printer specific, although one should make considerations for the material from which the parts are made.</p>
<p>Some resin printed models will be brittle and would require that the click-in feature be constructed with minimal distortion, while others could be printed with more flexible resin and tolerate much greater distortion, but may also release more easily.</p>
<p>From a <a href="https://pinshape.com/items/11532-3d-printed-popcorn-hole-click-joints" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Pinshape</a> site:</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/tTknA.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/tTknA.png" alt="click-joint ball" /></a></p>
<p>Note that in this image, the joint requires a matching spherical portion to accept the male portion. This is presented as a sample, not as a complete answer.</p>
<p>The upper most portion of the male segment is a cylinder of slightly larger size than the main body. The top of the cylinder has a taper which enables the receiving hole to force the sides inward, beyond the matching notch in the receiving hole.</p>
<p>The underside of this larger cylinder can be bluff, making removal difficult, or can be tapered to match, allowing for easier removal.</p>
<p>Consider that the cylinder can be stretched out, flattened in such a way that the cross sections of the male portion and the receiving hole are slots rather than cylinders.</p>
<p>The pages at <a href="https://www.hubs.com/knowledge-base/how-design-snap-fit-joints-3d-printing/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">hubs.com</a> provide greater insight to designing snap-fit joints in 3D printing. The following image represents fairly closely the above dissertation regarding deflection:</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/YvopU.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/YvopU.png" alt="click joint" /></a></p>
<p>Much more detail regarding design can be found on the linked site.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-02-03T14:22:41.793Z
Do you know if there are any good snap-fit mechanisms especially y good for trapping water?
Anwar Elhadad
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-02-03T17:54:17.297Z
If you wish to entrap a fluid inside a 3D printed item, it might be easier to incorporate a channel and some form of gasket, akin to an O-ring to accomplish that task. One could envision a groove in the channel of the last image, sized to fit an appropriate O-ring, which would be compressed and sealed when the snap portion engaged. That would require a full perimeter snap, though, which isn't particularly practical. Surface grooves would be easier.
fred_dot_u
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-02-02T18:20:44.533Z
2022-02-02T18:20:44.533Z
fred_dot_u
<p>I would like to create something like a treasure box model. I want to print two parts: one is the base and the other one is the lid. However, I want them to snap fit together like LEGO pieces when pressed against each other, creating a perfect seal.</p>
<p>For example, something like this egg where it has two sided, but when pressed against each other they &quot;click-in&quot;.</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/SrZF8.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/SrZF8.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
<p><strong>Is there a mechanism to attach two printed part?</strong></p>
<p>(Note:I am using Solidworks and a Formlab resin printer)</p>

<3d-models><3d-design><resin>
Can you snap fit 3D resin printed parts?
Anwar Elhadad
# Can you snap fit 3D resin printed parts?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2022-02-02)

I would like to create something like a treasure box model. I want to print two parts: one is the base and the other one is the lid. However, I want them to snap fit together like LEGO pieces when pressed against each other, creating a perfect seal.

For example, something like this egg where it has two sided, but when pressed against each other they "click-in".

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/SrZF8.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/SrZF8.png)

**Is there a mechanism to attach two printed part?**

(Note:I am using Solidworks and a Formlab resin printer)

**Tags:** 3d-models, 3d-design, resin

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2022-02-02. Score: 0 | Accepted answer

The mechanisms for "click-in" joining are varied. It's important to note that they are not resin-printer specific, although one should make considerations for the material from which the parts are made.

Some resin printed models will be brittle and would require that the click-in feature be constructed with minimal distortion, while others could be printed with more flexible resin and tolerate much greater distortion, but may also release more easily.

From a [Pinshape](https://pinshape.com/items/11532-3d-printed-popcorn-hole-click-joints) site:

[![click-joint ball](https://i.sstatic.net/tTknA.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/tTknA.png)

Note that in this image, the joint requires a matching spherical portion to accept the male portion. This is presented as a sample, not as a complete answer.

The upper most portion of the male segment is a cylinder of slightly larger size than the main body. The top of the cylinder has a taper which enables the receiving hole to force the sides inward, beyond the matching notch in the receiving hole.

The underside of this larger cylinder can be bluff, making removal difficult, or can be tapered to match, allowing for easier removal.

Consider that the cylinder can be stretched out, flattened in such a way that the cross sections of the male portion and the receiving hole are slots rather than cylinders.

The pages at [hubs.com](https://www.hubs.com/knowledge-base/how-design-snap-fit-joints-3d-printing/) provide greater insight to designing snap-fit joints in 3D printing. The following image represents fairly closely the above dissertation regarding deflection:

[![click joint](https://i.sstatic.net/YvopU.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/YvopU.png)

Much more detail regarding design can be found on the linked site.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Do you know if there are any good snap-fit mechanisms especially y good for trapping water?  
> **username_1**: If you wish to entrap a fluid inside a 3D printed item, it might be easier to incorporate a channel and some form of gasket, akin to an O-ring to accomplish that task. One could envision a groove in the channel of the last image, sized to fit an appropriate O-ring, which would be compressed and sealed when the snap portion engaged. That would require a full perimeter snap, though, which isn't particularly practical. Surface grooves would be easier.  

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