Model Making Materials

1 x 6mm Animation Toolkit Single Ball Joint.

Contents:

1 x stainless steel double ball joint plate (male)

1 x stainless steel double ball joint plate (female)

1 x hardened steel M2.5 x 8mm socket head screw

1 x stainless steel 6mm x M3 thread ball

The Animation Toolkit 6mm ball joints are new in design with the following features:

• Two piece precision engineered magnetic stainless steel joint
• Ergonomic rounded design
• Deep ball cup for improved, smooth precision movements
• Grease holes for balls
• Countersunk M2.5 thread and socket head fitting
• Anti-warp extruded threaded boss feature for added strength and life
• M3 tapped end boss
• 1 x 6mm x M3 stainless steel threaded balls
• Brushed metal matt finish

The new Animation Toolkit ball joints are professional quality as standard. We have custom designed and built these joints to last over the strenuous rigours of armature performance.

Manufacturing our joints out of stainless steel means that they are stronger than any standard steel joint on the market. The use of stainless steel in joints reduces bend resulting in plates to  ‘banana’ out of shape and loose tension on balls. Stainless steel is very unreactive which also mean they will last a lot longer against corrosion in the foam baking process.

The stainless steel compound we use is a specialist magnetic formula. That’s not to say they can be used as magnets, but to say they will attract to magnets (like standard steel). This feature enables you to use the joints as feet enabling you to magnetise them to set.

The new ergonomic rounded design helps reduce tears and rips in armature skins. They help shape the bone structure of your armatures and can accentuate features such as knees, shoulders and elbows should you need it.

The deep ball cup feature allows for smooth, precision movements when animating. This also lengthens the life of the ball instead of cutting into them.

Grease holes drilled into the deep cup features enables quick and fast greasing without having to take the joint apart.

The countersunk M2.5 socket head is a tough, strong and effective fastener for the two halves of the joint. The countersunk, inbuilt feature doesn’t impede on armature designs and doesn’t have to be accounted for in terms of ‘joint thickness’.

The anti-warp extruded threaded boss (which supports the M2.5 socket head screw) fortifies the design of the joint.  This further prevents joints to banana and bend.

Stainless steel balls used in a stainless steel joint combination are extremely robust. Together they increase smooth movements and have a long life span. Note: Typically, stainless steel balls used in standard steel joints creates bad friction and wears out very quickly.

Joints can be brazed/silver soldered, ground/filled down (so make slimmer), cut, polished, painted and customised to meet the needs of your armature’s specifications.  The matt brushed steel finish enables joints to easily adhere to paint, foam and silicone applications.