Is this 3D model free to download?

Yes, Improved Ball and Socket Joint for PCB Workstation is free to download from Thingiverse. Open it in the free Thinger app, or use the "Download from Thingiverse" link to open the original listing by the creator.

Where do I download the STL file?

The download is hosted by Thingiverse. Use the "Download from Thingiverse" link on this page to open the original listing and grab the file, or save it to your print queue in the free Thinger app.

Designed by Esquilo, published on Thingiverse. Please credit the creator when sharing your print.

Can I print this at home?

Yes. This is a printable 3D model intended for home FDM and resin printers. Check the original listing for suggested print settings.

Improved Ball and Socket Joint for PCB Workstation 3D printable model by Esquilo

Improved Ball and Socket Joint for PCB Workstation

Source: Thingiverse by Esquilo

The Improved Ball and Socket Joint for PCB Workstation is a free printable 3D model from Thingiverse by Esquilo. This is an improved ball and socket joint for giufini's excellent PCB Workstation with Articulated Arms. You can download the STL file from the original listing below and print it at home.

Open in Thinger (free) Download from Thingiverse

1,491 saves Source: Thingiverse Updated 2026-10-16 License: CC-BY-SA · commercial OK 3 makes Category: Gadgets & Electronics

Tags: Articulated, Ball and Socket, ball joint, pcb, third hand

About this model

This is an improved ball and socket joint for giufini's excellent PCB Workstation with Articulated Arms. The author used HIPS for his ball and socket joints but I only print with PLA and PETG. With both materials, I ran into a number of problems getting the articulated arms to work well. Here's a summary of the problems I had: 1. The socket ball wears quickly and the articulated arm becomes very loose 1. The ball easily pops out of the socket when the travel limit of the arm is reached 1. The arms don't bend with a very tight radius so moving the arm around frequently causes the balls to pop out I tried both versions of the alternative ball and socket design with heat shrink tubing but the heat shrink quickly breaks down and gums up the socket. Plus, the bend radius is also reduced with th…

Frequently asked questions

Is this 3D model free to download?: Yes. Improved Ball and Socket Joint for PCB Workstation is free to download from Thingiverse. Open it in the free Thinger app, or use the "Download from Thingiverse" link above to open the original listing.
Where is the STL hosted?: The download is hosted by Thingiverse, not by Thinger. We link you directly to the original listing by Esquilo.
Who made this model?: Designed by Esquilo, published on Thingiverse. Please credit the creator when sharing your print online.
Can I print this at home?: Yes. This model is intended for home FDM and resin 3D printers. Check the original listing for suggested print settings like layer height and supports.