Stop motion puppet armature building process

I make custom puppet armatures for stop motion animation films. This is the process I do to build a puppet based to a sketch.
From raw material to an articulated skeleton.
► Become a Patron: / edupuertasfruns
Music by: Silent partner and Jingle Punks
Animation Studio: www.citoplasmas...
Animation supplies Brand: www.kineticarma...
THE GEAR I USE (affiliate)
CAMERA, Canon EOS 80D ; geni.us/GdVo
WIDE LENS, Canon 10-22 mm; geni.us/gk25
NICE ZOOM, Canon EF 24-105mm; geni.us/YWJZ
MACRO LENS Canon 60mm; geni.us/Znz5j
MICROPHONE, Rode VideoMic; geni.us/qf33P
WIRELESS MICROPHONE, Rode; geni.us/4dlSf
SD CARD, SanDisk Extreme PRO 64GB; geni.us/U09Xb
DJI OSMO ACTION; geni.us/zDfvsu
TRIPOD, Manfrotto MKBFRA4-BH BeFree; geni.us/MGII6
MAGIC ARM, Manfrotto 244 Magic Arm; geni.us/E8DBG
SUPER CLAMP, Manfrotto 035; geni.us/E8DBG
GEARED HEAD, Manfrotto 410; geni.us/P7KQJeB
LED LIGHT LUME CUBE; geni.us/DvB3nx1
SOFTWARE, Dragonframe: geni.us/ZSra56
#stopmotion #diy #edupuertas

[@xersys]

"man, $150 IS A LOT for an armature" ** Watches Video ** "huh, $150 seems pretty cheap for an armature"

[@Noah_003]

Its true

[@luisromeri2672]

Noah Lievastro -I can build armatures like this for low-costs, i think that i could sell it for the same price!

[@Noah_003]

🖒

[@lindsaym11]

Where do you buy for $150?

[@anhnhvn]

@@lindsaym11 Kinetic Armatures. Though the price now starts from $190

[@LeonSanginiti]

My friend, your work is amazing. Such care and devotion to the most minute scale, BRAVO!! Your talent for both designing, creating, assembling, and animating is an asset to the stop motion animation community

[@vamogamingyt8432]

He looks very tired but also he keep smiling,,,,

[@pjmasterzz]

"Balls ready, let's do all the joints" is my new favourite sentence

[@edupuertasfruns]

that's what happens when you are not english native

[@Princess.Fothergill]

Balls ready, let's do all the joints is perfect English 😛 love it

[@comontoshi]

Considering the time designing and making the armature . . . minimum $2500. Now let’s add your skills and experience . . . Priceless! 🙀👏👍👍👍👍

[@t.mendoza1396]

this video is so fun to watch. i love all the tools and skills needed to build the puppets and watching the entire process. then seeing it animated makes all the time and hard work even more enjoyable

[@purrosleukos253]

Mr Puertas you are an amazing dude!!!! 🤓

[@carlahavemann7720]

loving this! In my country it will cost you less than $40 but I think its totally worth it. This guy is amazing. It really makes you realize how delicate and well planned a stop-motion is. Many people do not understand the animation industry and think that it is child's play. In a way it is, just with many technicalities involved. I am studying this, just on a much broader level. We need to conceptualize and realize everything as animators and with this I mean the narrative, the designs, the materialization of the designs as well as being active in the production as directors and animators straight through to post where we dictate and direct the post components within very short periods of time, such as 3 weeks for a 10 minute production (Production and post-production included) . Coming back to this video, it really gives insight into the international standard of production and I absolutely adore it. Thank you Edu for sharing your trade! Much appreciated.

[@edupuertasfruns]

It's my pleasure, hope as you say this is useful for people to understand what it means and encourages more to learn and make stop motion in their homes. I really believe in that technique as a great medium to express ideas and tell stories.

[@prashanth7968]

I end up seeing this video again n again. It's a great pleasure watching it. Such a beauty in making.

[@edupuertasfruns]

+Prashanth Chandra thank u

[@RandomActsofAnimation]

This is amazing. Thank you for showing your work. Now I feel inspired.

[@mokanamedia]

I enjoy your videos very much. Your personality shines.

[@mydok2014]

Oye te quedo guapisimo!!!! impresionante trabajo!!!

[@dubois666xxx]

Outstanding.

[@224ciapoliciamilitar3]

Thanks for your help!!

[@CarlinComm]

That's some beautiful work. Amazing, even with the machine shop, you still have a lot of hand work involved. Thank you for sharing the process! As others have posted, the price seems like a lot, until you realize how much work it takes. Wish you much success!

[@edupuertasfruns]

Thanks, it is something that drives me to make the videos, to show all the work involved in making professional armatures.

[@esotericsean]

Edu, that was awesome!

[@GOSPELWITHLYRICS]

wow.. amazing

[@DirtyEngineer]

I really enjoyed watching this. Thank you!

[@antzieisme]

Sos un verdadero artesano! Muchas gracias por hacer estos vídeos y compartir cuánto trabajo y pasión hay detrás!

[@edupuertasfruns]

Gracias a tí por tu ayuda!!!!!! Espero poder volver al taller pronto y volver a hacer puppets pronto.

[@robertomaggioni3668]

Sei FANTASTICO !!! many thanks for your video ... you are a good genius

[@nicktheo4]

awesome job man! It makes me love "stop motion animation" much more than before!!

[@oldwatt]

Wow, you must be so proud of all this puppets, they are amazing, good work !

[@ianlee692]

beautiful work

[@abdielavila1649]

Tuz videos son muy útiles para las personas a las que nos gusta hacer Stop Motion 📸

[@fluffyfish09]

great video. very inspiring and I love your attention to detail.

[@kimnhungtran8467]

That's so good job you did

[@ivanreyes4333]

te agradezco infinitamente, llevo varias semanas ideando estructuras y en el proceso de prueba y error, me has aclarado muchos puntos y me ahorras mucho tiempo, gracias por compartir toda tu experiencia de la forma tan desinteresada como lo haces...un abrazo enorme desde México!!!

[@edupuertasfruns]

+guitar doctor saludos, me encanta compartir este proceso y entusiasmar a la gente con el DIY

[@dashon977]

Wow that's amazing, man

[@pattybl100]

El mejor video que he visto!

[@bearshield7138]

very nice thank you for showing this

[@CHIPNDEATH]

Not Fair,,, you got all the tools, and machines,,, awesome work!!

[@voronOsphere]

Thank you!!!!

[@shobalk]

You are an amazing talent. Wonderful work! Thanks for sharing.

[@johanedstrom4117]

Awesome! And it was super great meeting you in Annecy!

[@edupuertasfruns]

The same, enjoyed talking a little.

[@dakellymon]

Well done sir.

[@JackandMaxtheCats]

That's a lot of machining, Nice work

[@edupuertasfruns]

+Trent Alexander thanks, now I am machining parts for another project. I am trying to make a star wars articulated droid out of metal for the channel

[@JackandMaxtheCats]

I like your set up its perfect for small work, makes me miss being a welder. keep up the good work.

[@HivernaalChannel]

Really great thank you

[@sankar1408]

Very nice and interesting work. Cool video.

[@katzchen100]

ok I'm in love!!! hope to meet you Edu!! amazing job!!

[@edupuertasfruns]

It's not imposible.. could be, just we must be in the same place at same time.

[@roddypine6077]

Mucho trabajo!!!!

[@hzjp8668]

excellent really excellent

[@ako9212]

So dang cool. Thanks for upload

[@jauniejianimatoriai1199]

Wonderful!

[@timetowoodworking4965]

I love it man))) you and your hobby is so nice... wish you good luck))

[@AdventureLandx]

wow this is so cool

[@mycroft1981]

Nice work! Good video!

[@StijnJacobs33]

You really deserve more views man.

[@Orphanlast]

For the spine, it'd be interesting if it was made similarly to how a Bicycle chain is made. Only that a bike chain can only move two directions. So instead of a rod joining each part of the chain, if it was a washer (ball) then you'd be able to get tons of motion out of the spine.

[@YAYATVkh]

Nice video

[@IFraid]

great job !

[@ahmed3261]

I watched the video and I don't have any tools.

[@animassistant1156]

Thanks

[@aldairortiz412]

Gracias por hacer videos de stop motion, eres genial.

[@Tropictank]

You are very talented person. I will order one of your armature soon :)

[@edupuertasfruns]

+Tropictank Great!!!

[@yomyomcam]

So one can order armatures from you? great!

[@JeffLafferty]

Nice work man!

[@edupuertasfruns]

I am following you, impresive work. I loved your crane and your puppet making!!

[@mikethegrape1]

Here I was wondering, "Where do they buy the pieces to build those armatures? Maybe a hobby lobby? Maybe a Home depot?" NOPE. Each of those pieces is painstakingly made by a guy like this who has all the equipment. Now I need to bulk up on my heavy duty machinery. lol. I'm, like, "I got a dremel kit! That's a start!" lol

[@edupuertasfruns]

Dremel is a good start

[@felixdietzCGN]

so cool! your channel is already very cool and unique, keep the videos coming and you'll be full time youtubin about animation in a few years :-)

[@edupuertasfruns]

Thanks!!! Hope so, I love doing this.

[@JohanStegmann]

Beautiful thanks!

[@squared64]

Very good job i know how its hard to create in real life and animate frames per frames. I don't know why there are 10 dislikes "At this moment" i liked. You just need to be more popular to get more likes. You anwser, you show, you replay, you teach, you create. When i looked at the comments of this video, there are only respectful and good messages. Continue, and you will get more suscribers. Im rooting for you ! And i subscribe. I hope that you enjoyed that comment.

[@edupuertasfruns]

Hi, I enjoy every comment and every like, subscription and also I appreciate dislikes. It must be room for all the opinions and all of you gives me the feedback I need to keep making those videos even it is hard for me to find the time to. Last month was impossible... and I feel bad. See you!

[@stopmotioncreator5472]

Yo tambien hago stop motion,buen videos

I love you, Edu :)

[@4rjohny5]

Such Beautiful work! I hope to be able to order from you in the near future =)

[@saviomarques7621]

Espetacular, parabéns! Sávio Marques. Norte do Brasil.

[@LotteStarck]

Fantástico - obra/trabajo muy bien, gracias!

[@delfososa4981]

te kedo muy buenooooo¡¡¡¡¡¡¡

[@jzfriday]

Impresionante!!! personalmente siempre me dieron ganas de crear una animación en stopmotion para agregarla a mi portafolio de trabajos, ver todo tu procedimiento me pareció increíble y bello, aunque también me dio un poco de miedo todas las herramientas que usas xD por ahora creo que me iré por lo básico, alambres con palitos y unicel :'v gracias por compartir este video, va a favoritos!

[@edupuertasfruns]

+jzfriday gracias, un saludo

[@WibowoSusilo]

great videos!!

[@BautistaMedranoYT]

MY LIKE

[@NeutronTV]

good work

[@TheVedicWayChannel]

Wow, awesome detail! Thank you for sharing. I was wondering, have you tried doing this kind of armature but through 3D printing instead?

[@edupuertasfruns]

+The Vedic Way yes I do, I have a 3dprinting machine, plàstics and the process aren't durable enought. This kind of armatures need to be reallly strong

[@TheVedicWayChannel]

Shapeways and other online 3D printing services are capable of 3D printing metal parts. But I guess it would be much more expensive, since they are charging $5 usd per cm3: www.shapeways.com/materials/steel Have you tried metal 3D printing?

[@edupuertasfruns]

+The Vedic Way I know that services but I am not sure they are ready to this kind of pieces and its requirements

[@DaJoPaHo]

Hi there.... Love your videos and all the content you release...... Big fan of what you show here... But curious.... What screws and nuts do you use to clamp each ball joint piece together (the brass parts that are compressed together to put pressure on ball joints). Or do you tap and die them? Or maybe.... Something else entirely. Thanks so much and I'm always looking forward to your next video!

[@edupuertasfruns]

I use M3 screws and I tap the brass part to make the joint

[@DaJoPaHo]

@@edupuertasfruns thanks so much. Looking forward to trying this kind of armature. Do you use any kind of thread locker as well, or just the tapping works for holding over time?..... I'll most likely just purchase from you in the future though. Thanks again very much and thanks for the great videos! Ever thought of doing a video on facial animation or replacement animation or maybe the process of pouring silicone over the armature ( if that's something you do?). Thanks again.

[@VIProach]

cool

[@amitrakshe5773]

cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@kurthutchinson6364]

Im que piensa de comenzar a hacer animaciones del movimiento de la parada y usted es una ayuda masiva. ¡Gracias hombre!

[@JohnDoe-pe8ts]

I really admire your work as well as the dedication involved and I probably will be purchasing one. I prefer these armatures to wire ones because you can reuse them again without wire fatigue. How long would it take you to construct a 1:12 scale(6 inches) armature from start to finish?

[@edupuertasfruns]

Well time to build depends. If I am making an armature from 0 I will spend one week. But normally I build lots of joints so I can speed the building process for custom orders. Anyway in my armature site you can find a 6 inch standard. Thanks for your words.

[@williamsfarias7281]

fantanstic! why do you heat and drop the metal pieces into oil? (newbe question :D)

[@edupuertasfruns]

I do to some of them to protect from rust and get a black finish. Other times I niquel plated and others I use stainless steel.

[@fingerpickertheturd]

Here I am struggling to add armature to a preexisting action figure and my guy over is building 8 armatures out of metal. Still new to the field but this man might be puppet Jesus Edit: I am new to the field.

[@welatcan6993]

That is a really great job! How can I get a lathes cut set for spherical shapes ?

[@edupuertasfruns]

Shape tools

[@welatcan6993]

@@edupuertasfruns lovely,thanks for replay

[@leoroam2770]

+ edu puertas_ Ok, that's right !!Now i need how you'll build the next biggest armature for showing us in other videos

[@edupuertasfruns]

+Luis German Romero Chavez I don't know how yet, but I will do my best to do something big.

[@dimmiheev2542]

Прямые руки!

[@flight2jeju]

wow, it's alive!!... How many frames did you take?

[@ItsJustaMeNow]

How much do you charge per armature for a humanoid build with all the standard articulation points? Also, do you only accept orders for multiple builds to make it worth your time? Or can individuals commission one-offs from you? Thanks!

[@edupuertasfruns]

Hi, I make individual armatures as well, now with the lockdown I am not taking orders yet. But you can email me and if you send me a drawing with measures I'll give you a budget. It depends so much on the size of the puppet and so the dimension of the joints

[@ItsJustaMeNow]

@@edupuertasfruns Awesome! I'll put together something and send it as soon as I'm able then. Just to get a rough estimate.

[@renatovelarde422]

Also if you’re looking for video subjects I would give you my leg for a video about tie-downs generally. Every animation related tutorial glosses over it so it’s baffling once you get to shooting. How to hide the holes? Only shoot in profile? What about frames where no feet are flat? Are there ways without tie downs or is that stupid? Everyones’ animation tutorial ends with “so that’s how you put holes in the feet!... now here’s a finished animation of walking...”. Whaaaatt!! Wait! Go back! Why not show me how to actually shoot with tie downs? I’m not finding it that easy to hide. Can’t find any resources for that, about jumping, types of tie downs, etc. pleeeease more! Thanks for all you do already, though.

[@edupuertasfruns]

Tie downs are screws from under the table. You can fill the holes with plasticine same color. On difficult spots we use rigs.

[@RunningStillsProductions]

Do you have any tips for getting the leg and arm pieces to hold on the ball joints without unscrewing? Thanks!

[@edupuertasfruns]

You can use thread locking fluid in the screws or a piece of Teflon tape

[@RunningStillsProductions]

@@edupuertasfruns Thanks so much! Your channel is so great! Informative, fun and detailed! Please keep the videos coming:)

[@juanmarquez3026]

hooogo tequedo chingon

[@FredBarbarossa]

very nice, how long does it take to build one and how much do these cost if bought?

[@renatovelarde422]

Wow this is great, and I love all your videos, thanks! I still feel stuck, right now. maybe I’ll wait until I have better tools. I only have hand tools, and drills. I got through making balls, limbs cutting thread, almost there. But I can’t find brass or copper strips thick enough anywhere. The “K&S metals” here apparently don’t ever carry the thick stuff at hobby shops and I can’t actually tell what minimum thickness should be to look it up with online. Everything I’ve used bends with tightening.. any suggestions of the actual thickness the ball joint metal should be or a source for it? I don’t have a good enough metal shop to just cut up bigger slabs. God, it’s slow going without a proper lathe or drill press too, but rewarding if you can’t order $400 ones (before shipping) that only seem to be sold in Europe.

[@edupuertasfruns]

Joints for 5mm balls could be 3mm thick. Tools are very important if you need some precision.

[@hm-px3zc]

*Me:* foolish man, he has show me his secrets. Now I will make the puppet myself!!! *Me 9 minutes and 43 seconds later:* .......................I'm gonna have to pay him to do this for me, amn't I?

Gran trabajo, una pregunta: el buril que utilizas en el torno ya tiene la forma y el tamaño de la bola? ; asi lo compras o tu lo haces?. Saludos desde México

[@edupuertasfruns]

+Gilberto Chávez Todos los buriles los hago yo, me resulta mas practico. Y para las bolas tengo varios, tienen la forma de la bola, la clave són los angulos como en cualquier buril.

gracias por la información, tienes en mi un seguidor y admirador de tu entrega en el que hacer del trabajo o pasatiempo. Gracias por compartir tu experiencia, conocimiento y tiempo; te deseo éxito en lo que realices. Saludos desde México.

[@figuraspersonalizadaspuebl2849]

Amigo increíble tu trabajo, yo tengo una pregunta, que aleación usas para las piezas de acero y latón, saludos igual desde México

[@arianabarrett8760]

Thanks for sharing your process, it's being very useful! I have one question tho, when you are doing the joints, you al ready have the rectangles cut and then you do the holes? Or yo do the holes and then cut the metal plate? Also whats that material? Thanks a lot, you are a real pro!

[@edupuertasfruns]

Thanks Ariana, I use brass because it is easy to work with my tools. For the holes, depends on what you are doing, if you are making one joint then I cut the size and make the holes, but if I make more I keep them in the original plate till I finish all operations.

[@wherestheapex]

This is amazing!!! I'm getting into stop animation and i need to buy one of these from you!!! when will they be in stalk again?

[@edupuertasfruns]

+R.A Peterson now I have stock, the site is under construction. Mail me at [e-mail]

[@tylercomtois8108]

Did you make the tool for making a ball on the lathe or did you buy it? If so, where did you buy it? Thanks in advance!

[@edupuertasfruns]

I made it in the grinder

[@tylercomtois8108]

@@edupuertasfruns Thanks. I think it would be a cool video if you went over all the custom stuff you've made for creating the armatures.

[@joshuagonzales1862]

Just came across your channel today and you have a new fan! I studied stop motion back in college a bit and was always interested in creating armatures like this. I'm doing research into different tools that would be handy to have...what is the name of the tool that you're using at 4:55 of the video to shape your pieces? Truly inspiring work that is reigniting my desire to pursue this interest of mine! Thank you so much for being out there!

[@josedanielcamachosantos5131]

prquen lo calienta la estructura esqueletica

[@azyfloof]

"Gaaaaaa!" ~woosh!~ Love these puppet armatures :D I'm always reminded of Steve French's "Woody". Check out Clickspring if you want a beautiful blue on those parts prior to oil quenching :) He makes a Bluing tray, filled with brass shavings for even heat dissipation.

[@edupuertasfruns]

+Azayles thanks, for sure I follow clickspring. He's the màster.

[@anhnhvn]

The enthusiasm is nice. Though why would he need "beautiful blue" or whatever? Armatures are the skeletons, they won't be seen!

[@mlukluc9991]

Amazing :D

[@GarikLegend]

Hi Edu , can you tell me please what is the common size of square tube is used on armature puppets and what size you using for yours for hands , for head ? Thanks

[@edupuertasfruns]

I normally use 3 sizes, there are more but I go for them only in tiny or big puppets. Side square tubbing sizes: 3,2 mm also 3,96 mm and 4,76 mm

[@Dejahnel]

I have a question for you what is the best glue for a the metal armature puppet?

[@UncommonAntics]

What kind of metal alloy should I use for the joints?

[@editamilosevic1438]

Great video Edu :). I have a question for you. What kind/brand of oil do you use when heating/strengthening the machined parts? Thanks in advance.

[@edupuertasfruns]

+Edita Milosevic a cutting oil the brand and type is not so important

[@editamilosevic1438]

Thanks a lot! :)