3D Printing Responses
Joseph Brenner
Description
Collection
Title:
3D Printing Responses
Creator:
Joseph Brenner
Date:
6/23/2014
Text:
A majority of the responses posted were requests to post responses. Here is what I received folks. - Hi Joseph. I founded a clinic in Bolivia and people are always telling us that we should try 3D but we have no data.
- Joseph,
We have been fitting 3D printed definitive sockets selectively on patients for the past 7 years and as of about a year ago on all of our patients. This is through Prosthetic Design Inc (PDI). Here is a YouTube link you might be interested in <URL Redacted>. I have a bunch of videos with patients walking in it that I haven't posted yet. Material is a copoly blend. Besides sockets we print liner molds, fairings, IPOPs, etc. Possibilities are looking to be endless.
-Mr. Brenner,
I am neither a Prosthetist or Orthotist. I merely monitor the site
looking for the occasional request for used equipment. That said, I do
have familiarity with Rapid Prototyping (RP) having sold equipment and
services since 1996 and used equipment since 2001. I cringe whenever
people (including President Obama) tout 3D Printing as the next big
thing because it is actually now somewhat old hat. Furthermore, due
to the inherent structural limitations of the materials, there are very
few applications where RP can successfully replace traditionally molded
plastic parts.
The Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) method may hold the most structural
promise however the size and expense of that equipment is usually
impractical to acquire. Luckily there is an abundance of service
bureaus offering a wide variety of RP technologies (even Fedex Kinkos to
some extent).
After reading your thoroughly written inquiry, I suspect you've already
reached these conclusions and have directed attention to the actual
benefits of ... rapidly built prototypes. You can safely ignore the
hype in the media (or from you peers that have read it). To get a more
accurate overview, sit down with some local service bureaus to discuss
which (non structural) applications within your industry might be
achieved affordably with 3D software, laser scanning and RP.
-I use the ARTEC scanner and Medico along with a Medico carver. The system is awesome. ***But, we are very good with our hands and because of materials we use can't be done with the technology at this time.***
This does not help you entirely, but can surely give you the idea that I have the best or close to it and even with everything purchased it still has the level of drawbacks that prevent use at this time at a level that is feasible. Now, realize I am working with 3D printers also, but they have further work before they can be used effectively.
You will be amazed at how this will be different in 10 years.
***Anyone that can do this without grants and free staff and make it profitable is a god at this time***
The biggest problem for most is that the US is so far behind in software file systems. They just wont work together yet. .obj or .stl come on people change is good;)
-Most reports including my own research while I was NUPOC points to it not being cost effective at this time. The percentage of people utilizing 3D printers is probable small at this time. I know some larger manufactures are prototyping at this time but constrains in materials with weight limits and design are just some of the issues. NUPOC has a printer and has designed some AFO's, sockets I believe, and some pyramids. At this time the only viable thing I see 3D printing for is desktop versions to make small parts such as custom joints, screws, and adapters that don't need a high weight rating. It is an emerging field and at some point will become cost effective. You should also look into desktop CNC mills since its another system that is emerging but is overshadowed at times by 3D printing. -When we looked into it, we found that it was too slow and too expensive
to use for any orthotic application.
-Hi Joseph
I was very interested to read your message about 3-D printing. Would you mind forwarding any responses?I work within the NHS in the UK but so far we have not utilized 3-D printing in any form. I am very interested in whether it might be possible to scan a sound hand, flip it and print it out to be used for a cosmetic hand (in much the same way that a hard PVC shell glove might be fitted). A contact of mine in the field of 3-D printing thought it would not be possible to print out a very accurate hand without losing fine detail such as veins and wrinkles. I figure skin colour would need to be addressed by some kind of spray. Do you have any experience of this?
Thanks
-Talk to pdi.
Best Regards ,
Joseph Brenner, C.P., FAAOP
Michigan Institute for Electronic Limb Development - A Hanger Clinic
32975 West Eight Mile
Livonia, MI 48152(248) 615-0600 Off.
(248) 615-0606 Fax
- Joseph,
We have been fitting 3D printed definitive sockets selectively on patients for the past 7 years and as of about a year ago on all of our patients. This is through Prosthetic Design Inc (PDI). Here is a YouTube link you might be interested in <URL Redacted>. I have a bunch of videos with patients walking in it that I haven't posted yet. Material is a copoly blend. Besides sockets we print liner molds, fairings, IPOPs, etc. Possibilities are looking to be endless.
-Mr. Brenner,
I am neither a Prosthetist or Orthotist. I merely monitor the site
looking for the occasional request for used equipment. That said, I do
have familiarity with Rapid Prototyping (RP) having sold equipment and
services since 1996 and used equipment since 2001. I cringe whenever
people (including President Obama) tout 3D Printing as the next big
thing because it is actually now somewhat old hat. Furthermore, due
to the inherent structural limitations of the materials, there are very
few applications where RP can successfully replace traditionally molded
plastic parts.
The Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) method may hold the most structural
promise however the size and expense of that equipment is usually
impractical to acquire. Luckily there is an abundance of service
bureaus offering a wide variety of RP technologies (even Fedex Kinkos to
some extent).
After reading your thoroughly written inquiry, I suspect you've already
reached these conclusions and have directed attention to the actual
benefits of ... rapidly built prototypes. You can safely ignore the
hype in the media (or from you peers that have read it). To get a more
accurate overview, sit down with some local service bureaus to discuss
which (non structural) applications within your industry might be
achieved affordably with 3D software, laser scanning and RP.
-I use the ARTEC scanner and Medico along with a Medico carver. The system is awesome. ***But, we are very good with our hands and because of materials we use can't be done with the technology at this time.***
This does not help you entirely, but can surely give you the idea that I have the best or close to it and even with everything purchased it still has the level of drawbacks that prevent use at this time at a level that is feasible. Now, realize I am working with 3D printers also, but they have further work before they can be used effectively.
You will be amazed at how this will be different in 10 years.
***Anyone that can do this without grants and free staff and make it profitable is a god at this time***
The biggest problem for most is that the US is so far behind in software file systems. They just wont work together yet. .obj or .stl come on people change is good;)
-Most reports including my own research while I was NUPOC points to it not being cost effective at this time. The percentage of people utilizing 3D printers is probable small at this time. I know some larger manufactures are prototyping at this time but constrains in materials with weight limits and design are just some of the issues. NUPOC has a printer and has designed some AFO's, sockets I believe, and some pyramids. At this time the only viable thing I see 3D printing for is desktop versions to make small parts such as custom joints, screws, and adapters that don't need a high weight rating. It is an emerging field and at some point will become cost effective. You should also look into desktop CNC mills since its another system that is emerging but is overshadowed at times by 3D printing. -When we looked into it, we found that it was too slow and too expensive
to use for any orthotic application.
-Hi Joseph
I was very interested to read your message about 3-D printing. Would you mind forwarding any responses?I work within the NHS in the UK but so far we have not utilized 3-D printing in any form. I am very interested in whether it might be possible to scan a sound hand, flip it and print it out to be used for a cosmetic hand (in much the same way that a hard PVC shell glove might be fitted). A contact of mine in the field of 3-D printing thought it would not be possible to print out a very accurate hand without losing fine detail such as veins and wrinkles. I figure skin colour would need to be addressed by some kind of spray. Do you have any experience of this?
Thanks
-Talk to pdi.
Best Regards ,
Joseph Brenner, C.P., FAAOP
Michigan Institute for Electronic Limb Development - A Hanger Clinic
32975 West Eight Mile
Livonia, MI 48152(248) 615-0600 Off.
(248) 615-0606 Fax
Citation
Joseph Brenner, “3D Printing Responses,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 5, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/236347.
