Living hinge
{{Short description|Flexible hinge made of a thin, durable material that allows repeated bending without breaking}}
{{distinguish|Plastic hinge}}
A living hinge or integral hinge is a thin flexible hinge (flexure bearing) made from the same material as the two rigid pieces it connects.
Description
A living hinge or integral hinge is a thin flexible hinge (flexure bearing). It is made from the same material as the two rigid pieces it connects. It is typically thinned or cut to allow the rigid pieces to bend along the line of the hinge. The minimal friction and very little wear in such a hinge makes it useful in the design of microelectromechanical systems, and the low cost and ease of manufacturing makes them quite common in clamshell containers and other disposable, recyclable packaging.{{cite web
| url = http://www.efunda.com/designstandards/plastic_design/hinge.cfm
| title = Engineering Fundamentals: Living Hinge
| access-date = 2008-02-26
| archive-date = 2008-02-28
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080228120432/http://www.efunda.com/designstandards/plastic_design/hinge.cfm
| url-status = live
}}
Plastic
Plastic living hinges are typically manufactured in an injection molding operation{{Citation
| last =Sievers
| first =R M
| year =2005
| title =SIMULATING THE POLYPROPYLENE FILLING OF A DISPENSING CLOSURE MOLD WITH INJECTION MOLDING SOFTWARE
| publisher =American Society for Engineering Education
| publication-place =2005 IL/IN Sectional Conference
| page =
| url =http://ilin.asee.org/Conference2005papers/P166.pdf
| accessdate =18 May 2021
| archive-date =19 May 2021
| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20210519173552/http://ilin.asee.org/Conference2005papers/P166.pdf
| url-status =live
| last =Kim
| first =HS
| title =Gate location design in injection molding of an automobile junction box with integral hinges
| journal =Journal of Materials Processing Technology
| volume =140
| pages =110–115
| date =2003
| issue =1–3
| doi =10.1016/S0924-0136(03)00700-3
| url =https://d1wqtxts1xzle7.cloudfront.net/33285952/Gate_Location_Design_in_Injection_Molding_of_an_Automobile_Junction_Box_with_Integral_Hinges-with-cover-page.pdf?Expires=1621443803&Signature=GsrEJ3wvJsZjc8~sAKQIqQbOuN2oHvDHhQuOKqQPvVr3sxrTu4BCofjabwlFrfJKufrWIJ16FM1-2oYFixciDKwj73LoVYs2m14Axj~0qWhnvi1ueWIExTJzDXSXLGaC~x8f4jOGLekyVMeGRd7Q6EyligMStzBXppcj2IBd7KClLQS-jYgZrhdOaV5vNcmImMmZrHXoMV3m831yuJFmGSxFUJePVcvFijtBNbGZWey4CU9V6EmelFgULn8Cjca10kVk~h-lJSlZNMtDkE454W-~tDE5Bbt24txDLsoomdNfWms9Hmn9WBFR2oWsi3X011FBVePB3sFH6P7EaqCOPQ__&Key-Pair-Id=APKAJLOHF5GGSLRBV4ZA
| accessdate =18 May 2021
| archive-date =19 May 2021
| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20210519161708/https://d1wqtxts1xzle7.cloudfront.net/33285952/Gate_Location_Design_in_Injection_Molding_of_an_Automobile_Junction_Box_with_Integral_Hinges-with-cover-page.pdf?Expires=1621443803&Signature=GsrEJ3wvJsZjc8~sAKQIqQbOuN2oHvDHhQuOKqQPvVr3sxrTu4BCofjabwlFrfJKufrWIJ16FM1-2oYFixciDKwj73LoVYs2m14Axj~0qWhnvi1ueWIExTJzDXSXLGaC~x8f4jOGLekyVMeGRd7Q6EyligMStzBXppcj2IBd7KClLQS-jYgZrhdOaV5vNcmImMmZrHXoMV3m831yuJFmGSxFUJePVcvFijtBNbGZWey4CU9V6EmelFgULn8Cjca10kVk~h-lJSlZNMtDkE454W-~tDE5Bbt24txDLsoomdNfWms9Hmn9WBFR2oWsi3X011FBVePB3sFH6P7EaqCOPQ__&Key-Pair-Id=APKAJLOHF5GGSLRBV4ZA
| url-status =live
}} that creates all three parts at one time as a single piece, and if correctly designed and constructed, it can remain functional over the life of the part. Thermoforming can also produce hinged products. Polyethylene and polypropylene are considered to be the best resins for living hinges, due to their excellent fatigue resistance.{{Cite web |url=https://www.protolabs.com/resources/design-tips/designing-living-hinges-that-fold-flat/ |title=Proto Labs 2014-12 Design Tips |access-date=2017-11-21 |archive-date=2017-12-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201080858/https://www.protolabs.com/resources/design-tips/designing-living-hinges-that-fold-flat/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web
| url = http://www.idfuel.com/index.php?blog=2&p=502&more=1&c=1
| title = Hinges, both living and dead
| date = 2005-08-15
| author = Dominic Muren
| access-date = 2008-02-26
| archive-date = 2007-10-13
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071013185539/http://www.idfuel.com/index.php?blog=2&p=502&more=1&c=1
| url-status = live
}} Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) is also common.
| last =Gribbins
| first =C
| title =EXPERIMENTAL ANALYSIS ON AN ADDITIVELY MANUFACTURED ABS LIVING HING
| publisher =University of Texas,25th Annual International Solid Freeform Fabrication Symposium
| pages =1412–1424
| date =2014
| url =http://utw10945.utweb.utexas.edu/sites/default/files/2014-111-Gribbins.pdf
| accessdate =17 May 2021
| archive-date =18 May 2021
| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20210518002101/http://utw10945.utweb.utexas.edu/sites/default/files/2014-111-Gribbins.pdf
| url-status =live
}}
Wood
A variant on the kerf bend can be used to create living hinges in laser cut wood. The technique is popular for making light-duty hinges with large radii.{{cite web
| url = https://makezine.com/article/digital-fabrication/3d-printing-workshop/plywood-living-hinge-technique-for-laser-cutters/
| title = Plywood Living Hinge Design for Laser Cutters
| date = 2011-10-25
| author = Sean Michael Ragan
}} It is also possible to create a living wood joint by hand, but the result is less accurate.{{cite web| url-status = live| archive-url = https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/gYwtYbFfG0E| archive-date = 2021-12-05| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYwtYbFfG0E| title = Cutting A Living Hinge | website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}
Gallery
File:6er-Eierkarton.jpg|A pulp egg carton using a living hinge
File:Plastic cover - Soy sauce.JPG|Bottle cap
File:Mint box polypropylene lid.JPG|A living hinge on the lid of a Tic Tac box.
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://boxdesigner.frag-den-spatz.de/ Boxdesigner] – The box above was original created with this webservice
{{packaging}}