In recent years, the application scope of 3D printing has become increasingly wider. Thanks to the pioneering efforts of many industrial and commercial leaders, 3D printing technology has gradually entered the medical industry and is playing a greater role. In addition to the preoperative communication model previously shared (further reading: Humanized Clinical Teaching, a New Driver of Doctor-Patient Relationships! ) , more and more wearable assistive devices are being made using 3D printing . This time, Sandima will demonstrate the effects of 3D-printed wristbands made of rigid materials and new soft materials! First, let's look at the elasticity of the soft material:
We found two styles of retainers and wristbands on a 3D open-source model website, suitable for printing on soft and hard materials respectively. The preview in Cura shows that soft materials only need to be laid flat for printing. ( Further reading: Free resources galore! 5 major 3D model libraries are here! )
We used the latest Ultimaker S5 and S3 simultaneously, printing on both machines at the same time to save time. The latest Ultimaker S3 on the right can be considered a mini version of the S5 . In addition to featuring a glass door panel and a full touchscreen, it also upgrades the feed gears and material breakage detection, features not found in the older Ultimaker 3 , thus enabling the printing of abrasive materials and composite materials. (Further reading: More powerful, smaller: Ultimaker S3 newly launched! )
Since wristbands inevitably have many ventilation holes, we used an elastic wristband to test the TPU effect of an external manufacturer. After using the Ultimaker S5 3D printer , no additional trimming was required. The TPU effect was almost completely free of stringing, and the finished product looked satisfactory. We'll see how it performs in actual use!
The rigid wristband has an opening on the left side, which allows for slight expansion when putting it on or taking it off; the retainer comes with Velcro straps, with three strap holes on each side, the diameter of which can be directly inserted into the thumb.
Actual testing showed that the elasticity of the TPU soft material allows the wristband to bend and wrap around the palm for fixation, and it does generate sufficient resistance to prevent patients from injuring themselves again during daily activities.
However, the colleague who demonstrated had a larger hand and felt that the curved bottom of the contact platform would be more comfortable when 3D printing medical aids. The strength of the 3D printed product can effectively restrain the movement of the affected area and can be customized for different cases to improve the quality and speed of medical care. Perhaps in the future, it can even be engraved with your own commemorative signature!
Do you have similar needs? Feel free to contact us and schedule a visit to SanDiMa to see these amazing application case studies. We'll provide relevant consultations and help you fully understand how to integrate 3D printers into your manufacturing process to maximize benefits. The external TPU that passed this practical test will also be available soon! Stay tuned to SanDiMa's Facebook fan page or for the latest news !
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