Helical Hinge

The helical hinge design takes full advantage of the unique capability of 3D printing. This hinge functions using a combination of the helical geometry and material properties. Depending on the materials used, the hinge can either function as a spring loaded hinge or as a hinge that holds its position. The properties of the hinge can also be varied in a number of ways: varying the thickness of the strands of the helices, varying the diameter of the helices, varying the number of helices, varying the length of the helices, and varying the material, making this a very versatile design. Moreover, because this design works by flexing the helices, there are effectively no moving parts, which can improve functionality and durability. This hinge design may experience issues with shear loads in certain applications, however, this can be fixed with minor supporting structure. Manufacturing this type of design is really most practical using additive technology because of the complex geometries involved. This hinge design is, strictly speaking, mechanically much more complex to manufacture than a standard hinge, but with additive manufacturing this design can be produced all as one piece, making it possible and practical, which is very exciting.