Making a pivot hinge

[Zip]

If I wanted to take two pieces of aluminum stock approx 1" wide, 6" long and 1/8" thick how could I join them on one end and still have a high quality hinge (and low profile)? Looking at an old caliper it appears to have a pressed button hinge and after all these years is still tight and precision like new:-)

Have any ideas to make a similar hinge without a heavy press?

 

[Joe Gwinn]

If I wanted to take two pieces of aluminum stock approx 1" wide, 6" long and 1/8" thick how could I join them on one end and still have a high quality hinge (and low profile)? Looking at an old caliper it appears to have a pressed button hinge and after all these years is still tight and precision like new:-)

Have any ideas to make a similar hinge without a heavy press?

Take the caliper apart and look. They are not that hard, at least not the calipers from Starrett and the like. I don't recall if I needed an arbor press, but it was nothing like pressing ball bearings in and out.They also have patents one can read for a clue on disassembly.

But the caliper's approach will probably not work if one uses aluminum.

What are you trying to build?

 

[Trboatworks]

Do you have a lathe?
Any number of ways to do the job from a machine screw tapped in the plate to a nesting post and flange arrangement out of brass, delrin etc.

A simple hinge in the plate thickness leaves one side plain while the other is bored and beveled ‘out’.
A disk of plate thickness with the same bevel is set in and secured to other side with three or four small countersunk machine screws.
Rotation is on bevel.
Or-
Step in plate/disk to achieve same thing.
Or-
‘Button’ slightly proud of surface to get rotation on perpendicular bore, or add bushing on bore, etc etc.

This need to resist corrosion- articulate endlessly, how much load, direction of load?
Do you need to maintain some friction so the pieces will stay at any given angle or free to rotate?
Have a need to stop rotation at some angle?

Edit- buy a common rivet or sex bolt made in a million types for just this sort of job...?

 

[Cole2534]

Countersunk screw and loctite?

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[rons]

A neodymium magnet inside a cup on one side. The movement would always be tight. The cups on both sides are magnetic. Might work for smaller magnets.

 

[Zip]

Thanks guys...a lot of good info to get my head fired up.

 

[Frank Ford]

I've made any number of this kind of thing (usually smaller) with a simple rivet and a Belleville spring washer on each side.

 

[Cole2534]

I've made any number of this kind of thing (usually smaller) with a simple rivet and a Belleville spring washer on each side.

Great idea!

I came here, again, to suggest an o-ring in a groove for friction but I like the belleville much better.

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[Trboatworks]

I've made any number of this kind of thing (usually smaller) with a simple rivet and a Belleville spring washer on each side.

And these are also done with a bit of solid or tube with circlip on one or both sides.

 

[Zip]

Great ideas! In the meantime I learned that this type of hinge is called a "straight knife hinge". Thanks again.