Prosthetic arms can make life easier for lots of people. They are not always affordable and accessible to everyone though. Ambionics is using 3D printing to develop hydraulic prosthetic arms for children. Ben Ryan developed it by using fluid to operate a grabbing mechanism. It doesn’t require any batteries and is powered by the wearer’s own muscles.
Here is how this is made:
Only Stratasys’ strong rubber-like and dissolvable support 3D printing materials make production and use of the DAHB units possible. The internal cavities are complex and it would be impossible to remove the support material using mechanical means. The materials must also be strong yet flexible as they are used to transmit fluid pressure to operate the grip.
Pretty impressive, don’t you think?
[HT]