Armature
Trained under Patrick Zung at Standing Figure LLC on how to machiene armatures. Breakdown of work, including ideation process. Currently in the process of finishing armature in personal workshop. (Will finish in June).
Armature Sketch and Breakdown:
Armature drawing to scale. Documenting armature sketch, mapping and planning joint sizes and structure for animation capability.
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1/4 ball joints for chest, and hip, 3/16th for limbs, 5/32nds for wrists. Ball joint instead of hinge for toe hinge for foot stability on textured ground. Offset neck behind shoulders for wider movement range and screw access for tightening.
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Knee hinge has slight forward tilt for material gathering in the back of the knee for less resistance in knee bend.
- Measured with exterior lengths and and mid ball lengths to be able to have most accurate fit into sketch. Replicatable design based on sketch.
Learned skills during workshop:
- Armature drawing from character sketch, armature drawing from mold rubbing, how to perform measurements, presentable and replicable armature blueprints for reproductions.
- Decision of joint size, metal bar size and placement within a character drawing.
- Grip block placement, rig point placement, screw placement.
- Cutting metal stock, turning edges down to fit ball joints. Friction fitting stock into joint.
- Braising specifics for all applicable joints and body parts.
- How to fix biasing joints.
- End milling trenches for shoulder and hip connection.
Below is a way developed to build high quality armatures with an “at home” workshop. This is how I specifically have been working due to reduced access to industrial equipment. Armatures are made with mini drill press, grinder, mini cut-off chopsaw, and tabletop metal lathe.
Working with stainless steel balls and w2 tool steel joints.
Prototyping making 1/4th ball joints with mini drill press:
Process:
1. Cut metal stock to size, deburr stock, measure cup center and screw holes.
2. Center punch all sections. Drill through holes for screw, tap one plate.
3. Drill joint hold, measure with calipers and ball to make sure joint hold is 30% of ball size. equalize measurement on both sides.
4. Use ball end mill to round joint hold. Use Brass ball with hand drill + polishing base to smooth out joint hold. Test for equal connection with ball on both sides, repeat polishing step and relieving one screw hole to get perfect fit to remove biasing.
5. Grinding edges and relieving joints.
Clamp for drilling balls on mini drill press:
2. Double sided tape is used to stick balls into clamp for minimal rotation. Then clamp and balls are flipped and evenly sanded to create a flat surface for the drill bit to drill into. As well as creating a lip for the silver solder to flow and form a ring at base of ball.(Instead of countersinking).
3. Balls are clamped together and drilled into, using the pilot holes on the top of the clamp to steady the drill bit.
4. Example ball is used to set depth stop on drill press to get even hole depth for each ball.
Soldered rod to joint example. Rod is pinned before soldering for security. Soldered at slight angle for extra space behind the knee.
Armature is getting finished in late June (I’m currently getting married :) ).
27–05–2026