Joints, whether in the human body or in engineered structures, are formed through distinct processes.
Biological Joints (e.g., in the Human Body)
Joints in the human body, like knees and elbows, are created during embryonic development, simultaneously with the development of the associated bones. This process involves mesenchyme, the embryonic tissue that gives rise to all bones, cartilages, and connective tissues. Different types of joints, such as synovial joints (allowing for the greatest range of motion), are characterized by specific structural features, including cartilage and cavities. For example, synovial joints feature a cavity in one bone that another bone fits into, with slippery hyaline cartilage providing a smooth surface for movement. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/25137-joints
Engineered Joints (e.g., in Construction or CAD Software)
In engineering contexts, joint creation varies depending on the application. Examples include:
- Advance Steel: In Advance Steel software, joints are created using a master-slave system. A master joint is created first, followed by dependent slave joints. https://help.autodesk.com/view/ADSTPR/2021/ENU/?guid=GUID-352AC3F4-5F25-4B7B-82B0-046CC37AB406 https://help.autodesk.com/view/ADSTPR/2025/ENU/?guid=GUID-1341274B-B275-40FA-8D86-5563D155C259
- Fusion 360: In Fusion 360, joint creation might involve defining a joint origin before creating the joint itself. https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-support/creating-a-joint-between-two-components/td-p/7876007 The software may sometimes require specific component orientations for successful joint creation. https://www.reddit.com/r/Fusion360/comments/13xkx3g/why_does_f360_relentlessly_insist_in_rotating/
- Grasshopper: In Grasshopper, a parametric modeling software, joints can be created using custom scripts, potentially involving complex algorithms for generating shapes like finger joints. https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/creating-finger-joints-in-grasshopper/149641
- Other software and manual methods: Various other software packages and manual methods exist for creating joint designs, from vector-based designs in Illustrator https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/t/arrowhead-box-joint-created-test-it/16123 to physical construction techniques.
The specific method for creating a joint depends heavily on the context. Challenges such as misaligned components or software limitations can impact the process. https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/no-joint-created-warning/373921
