Innovative design and fabrication method of assistive device components using a 3D printer for low-volume high-variety production

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26560319
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Rehabilitation science/Welfare engineering
• Research Institution: National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities
• Principal Investigator: Suzurikawa Jun 国立障害者リハビリテーションセンター(研究所), 研究所 福祉機器開発部, 研究室長 (50571577)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): INOUE Takenobu 国立障害者リハビリテーションセンター(研究所), 研究所福祉機器開発部, 研究部長 (40360680) ; NAKAMURA Takashi 国立障害者リハビリテーションセンター(研究所), 研究所義肢装具技術研究部, 主任義肢装具士 (40415360) ; TAKASHIMA Atsushi 国立障害者リハビリテーションセンター(研究所), 研究所福祉機器開発部, 研究員 (90711284)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 3Dプリンタ / 強度 / 福祉機器 / パラメトリック設計 / 応力解析 / 引張試験

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we attempted to apply three-dimensional additive manufacturing to production of assistive device components. The anisotropic strength characteristics of the components fabricated by additive manufacturing hamper safety design and use of the 3D-printed products. Then, we systematically investigated strength characteristics of 3D-printer fabricated components dependent on the lamination directions by tensile and flexural testing. The existing surface modification treatments were found to improve tensile and/or flexural strength. The findings experimentally obtained were consistent with the results of the flexural test where a component of an upper-limb prosthesis was tested.

Free Research Field

福祉工学