Design and Manufacturing Ankle Foot Prosthetics for Patients with Transtibial Amputation

Abstract

Rapid Prototyping (RP) is a technology used to incrementally shape products or add material using 3D printing equipment. 3D printing is extensively utilized throughout several industries, particularly in the medical sector. This study aims to make a valuable contribution to the field by specifically focusing on the manufacturing of foot prosthetics for patients who have undergone below-knee amputations. The design step on Solidwork software is initiated, followed by the realization of the chosen design utilizing a 3D printing machine, which utilizes PLA as the preferred material. The main focus of this study is to optimize the manufacturing process in order to determine the parameters that result in the most effective production of foot prosthesis, while minimizing the time required for machining. Optimization analysis revealed that the most effective parameters for producing PLA foot prosthesis using a 3D printing machine are a layer height of 0.1 mm, infill density of 100%, print speed of 100 mm/s, and nozzle temperature of 210°C. These adjusted parameters are essential benchmarks for the production sector of foot prostheses.