How to Make Advanced Ball and Socket Armatures for Stop Motion I

Learn how to make hand-made ball and socket parts for Stop Motion armatures from scratch.

Disclaimers PLEASE READ!::

1. This procedure is dangerous and should only be performed by people ages 18 and up, or with parental/guardian supervision. Also, anytime when working with tools, use appropriate safety measures and equipment.

2. Yes, I already know that you can make these easier using a lathe or mini-lathe, which I don't have, this is an alternative method of hand-crafting these parts using a drill press, dremel, and various metal files. Although if you'd like to give me a lathe or mini-lathe contact me cause that would be cool.....XD!

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• stop
• motion
• animation
• aluminum
• wire
• armatures
• tie
• downs
• claymation
• ball
• socket
• advanced
• clay
• how
• to
• tutorial

[sarge777]

Real professional video, Aut0, great result too. You gotta get this up on Animateclay (.) com. 5 stars, of course.

[AutOmatICa7334]

Thanks much guys, and yea I'm working on part II this week putting the parts together and showing the full armature at work. I used this method because I believe that machining the ball from one piece of steel is much better in the long run and stronger than drilling and tapping a ball bearing and attaching a threaded rod, then brazing it. Plus it takes much less time this way (especially when you have like 18 pieces or more to make XD!)

[gatometalico]

m_) so...how many tools did you actually use? It's a bit dark or maybe just my excitement that can't let me stop asking stupid questions.

[AutOmatICa7334]

Hey thanks man for the kind words...tools needed: 8" drill press -usually about $80 Dremel tool-$10 Metal vise-cost varies depending on size metal files-$5-10 drill bits-$3 -5 apiece metal punch-$5 or so Materials: 3/16" x 3' steel - $3.50 or so 1/16" thick brass plates $3-8 depending on size 4mm x 3/8" or smaller socket head cap screws - 100 for $5 You can cut them with the dremel instead of an angle grinder it just takes a lot longer

[sgtjlopez]

Haha, very amusing. Love the non-traditional methods :)

[DeadFroDisco]

I love your shirt!

[tophar5]

This is great stuff. I recently began work on my newest armature using all the techniques in your video, which is coming along really nicely. One question though - when you shape the ball joints in the drill press, is there a specific dremel bit that you use? I'm using the fiberglass reinforced cutoff wheels, but they wear down really fast and I go though 1 wheel every 2 joints or so and it gets expensive. I'm milling 1/4 inch steel. What do you suggest?

[Somedaysafe]

awesome video, truly, that peircing between your eyes is awesome also. Looks like it'd hurt though :D

[MarcusMcCabe]

how much of this can someone with fuck all power tools or even a vice make? Im just looking to make a simple armature for a reference figure for 2d animation

[bioborg9]

really awsome and simple tutorial thanx.

[finktube]

Nice, thanks for the tute.

[blindspotted]

really good video, thanks a lot. and man, hopefully one day i'll make one, wire armatures only go so far. thanks agan