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.