Benchtop Selective Laser Sintering 3D printer for rehabilitation engineering and robotics

用于康复工程和机器人技术的台式选择性激光烧结 3D 打印机

• 批准号: RTI-2023-00007
• 负责人: CampeauLecours, Alexandre
• 金额: $ 7万
• 依托单位: Université Laval
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Research Tools and Instruments
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2022-01-01 至 2023-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=754417
• 关键词: Benchtop; Selective; Laser; Sintering; 3D

Context: The requested equipment is a benchtop selective laser sintering (SLS) 3D printer. The co-applicants already have access to 3D printers that rely on other technologies, such as fused deposition modeling (FDM) and stereolithography (SLA). However, they reach their limits as our projects progress through technological readiness levels; although they are appropriate for basic proof of concept, parts generated using these technologies are brittle and unsuitable for mechanical purposes. Different options are available: 1) Machining allows prototyping of robust parts; however, it is unsuitable for many projects (e.g., prosthesis) due to weight, feasible shapes, stiffness, and appearance. 2) Plastic injection or molding fills a gap between 3D printing and machining but is not cost-effective for a research context; because of the costs involved, this method is suitable for the production of parts in large quantities (10,000 or more). 3) SLS printing enables production of parts with excellent mechanical characteristics, comparable to injection-molded parts, and can be produced at low cost. As an alternative to acquiring an SLS printer, a sub-option would be to use 3D printing services that print and ship parts. However, this would lead to important delays in the design process (due to shipping time and minimum order requirements) and important costs (due to startup costs and markup). For the high volume of prints we require, acquiring an SLS printer is much more economical. Projects: The SLS 3D printer will be used several times a week in many projects, including 1) assistive technologies (eating assistive devices, arm supports, exoskeletons, orthoses and prosthesis), 2) work injury prevention devices, 3) rehabilitation intervention (robotic devices), and 4) collaborative robots and novel parallel robots. Within these projects, an iterative user-centered methodology will lead to many prototypes (3 to 5) per project. Further, for categories 1 to 3, clinical validation is required to ensure technology's validity and credibility and necessitates production of numerous prototypes (10 to 30 per project) Impact: The SLS printer will allow to realize several projects that target important social aspects, namely the assistance of people living with disabilities and older adults. The prototypes that students will develop using the requested SLS printer will positively impact many aspects of the lives of end users. It is urgent that our team acquire an SLS printer. Failure to do so will lead to important delays in HQP projects and publication. Not having access to this technology would also be a significant detriment to our team's competitiveness, making it difficult to obtain grants due to a lack of preliminary data. It would also lead to increased costs and prevent HQP from being trained to work with this technology, learning to independently operate SLS printers firsthand, and developing advanced prototyping skills that are in high demand in industry.

背景：所需设备是台式选择性激光烧结 (SLS) 3D 打印机。共同申请人已经可以使用依赖其他技术的 3D 打印机，例如熔融沉积建模 (FDM) 和立体光刻 (SLA)。然而，随着我们的项目在技术准备水平上取得进展，它们达到了极限；尽管它们适合基本的概念验证，但使用这些技术生成的零件很脆且不适合机械用途。 提供不同的选项：1) 机加工允许制作坚固零件的原型；然而，由于重量、可行的形状、刚度和外观，它不适合许多项目（例如假肢）。 2) 塑料注射或成型填补了 3D 打印和机械加工之间的空白，但对于研究环境而言并不具有成本效益；由于涉及成本，该方法适合大批量（10,000个或更多）零件的生产。 3）SLS打印能够生产具有优异机械特性的零件，可与注塑零件相媲美，并且可以以低成本生产。作为购买 SLS 打印机的替代方案，一个子选项是使用打印和运输零件的 3D 打印服务。然而，这将导致设计过程的严重延迟（由于运输时间和最低订单要求）和重要的成本（由于启动成本和加价）。对于我们需要的大量打印，购买 SLS 打印机要经济得多。项目：SLS 3D打印机每周将在许多项目中使用多次，包括1）辅助技术（进食辅助装置、手臂支撑、外骨骼、矫形器和假肢），2）工伤预防装置，3）康复干预（机器人）设备），4）协作机器人和新型并联机器人。在这些项目中，以用户为中心的迭代方法将导致每个项目产生许多原型（3 到 5 个）。此外，对于 1 至 3 类，需要进行临床验证以确保技术的有效性和可信度，并且需要生产大量原型（每个项目 10 至 30 个）。 影响：SLS 打印机将允许实现多个针对重要社会方面的项目，即残疾人和老年人的援助。学生将使用所需的 SLS 打印机开发的原型将对最终用户生活的许多方面产生积极影响。我们的团队迫切需要购买一台 SLS 打印机。如果不这样做，将导致总部项目和出版的严重延误。无法使用这项技术也会严重损害我们团队的竞争力，由于缺乏初步数据而难以获得资助。它还会导致成本增加，并阻碍 HQP 接受使用该技术的培训、亲自学习独立操作 SLS 打印机以及开发行业急需的先进原型制作技能。