Printing moving parts as one whole???

So I've seen videos of parts like baring and "impossible prints" where they print their part and chip some supports away and it moves seemlessly. Just wondering if its a special printer like resin or fine dust and laser or just abs/pla? Or do they make it all fit with small gaps in their software like inventor?

any help or guidance would be great! videos are reccomended.

My printer: MakerBot Replicator 2x
Makerware
Inventor 2014 and 2015

the best ones are just brilliantly designed.
Check out the lefab shops stuff on thingiverse.
The robot has 13 moveable joints and prints without supports.
amazing

elephant: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:257911
robot: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:331035

Quote:

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Originally Posted by curious aardvark

the best ones are just brilliantly designed.
Check out the lefab shops stuff on thingiverse.
The robot has 13 moveable joints and prints without supports.
amazing

elephant: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:257911
robot: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:331035

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OK? but didnt answer my question, should be more clear.
Do you need a special printer to make these moveable parts or will abs work?
Also how can you design these?

ABS works. Design them with tight tolerances. Download the stl and look at it - that's how they are designed.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JustAddMilk

OK? but didnt answer my question, should be more clear.
Do you need a special printer to make these moveable parts or will abs work?
Also how can you design these?

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These types of prints can be done on standard FFF printers with ABS, as well as a range of other materials out there.

I printed one of these on a Wanhao D4S. It required a little elbow grease to break free, but not too much effort to make it spin.