COMBINING 3D PRINTING WITH SHAPE-MEMORY ALLOY ACTUATION FOR PROSTHETIC APPLICATIONS

Motorless actuation approaches using shape memory alloy (SMA) materials offer a potentially lightweight, compact and quiet alternative to generating movement within a prosthetic device. This video showcases the results of combing Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) with Nitinol SMA wire. Movement of the actuator was achieved through direct Joule heating the wire. Bidirectional motion was generated using torsion springs. To improve grip, sections of the prosthesis were printed using a Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPU) filament material. The use of FFF - a type of 3D printing process - allows patient specific and personalised prosthetics to be rapidly manufactured.

[@joseramontorrescuellar538]

What printer do you use and what specific filament?

[@daniel-kq1oe]

How much voltage is needed?

[@toraguchitoraguchi9154]

8X speed.......this is not gonna work is it?

[@futuremanufacturingprocess9003]

You are right that a current challenge with Shape Memory Alloy actuators is their slow response speed. Researchers are seeking to improve response speeds while still being able to generate large force and displacement outputs

[@toraguchitoraguchi9154]

@@futuremanufacturingprocess9003 Yes, bi-directional control, response time as well as precision, essential in prosthesis design. If shape-memory alloys respond to a large temperature differential, it makes them impractical for prosthesis, but if they respond to a small temperature differential, then they become difficult to control as the ambient temperature of humans does vary as they go about their daily business.

[@ahmedosama7463]

Useless for human , suitable for a tortoise !!!! 8X!!!

[@miro-hristov]

first I thought... it's not that horribly slow... then i saw the 8X lol