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：要求的设备是一台台式选择性激光烧结（SLS） 3D打印机。共同申请者已经可以使用其他技术的3D打印机，如熔融沉积建模（FDM）和立体光刻（SLA）。然而，随着我们的项目通过技术准备水平的进展，它们达到了极限；虽然它们适用于基本的概念验证，但使用这些技术生成的部件很脆，不适合机械用途。不同的选项可用：1)加工允许原型坚固的零件；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，但对于研究背景而言不具有成本效益；由于涉及成本，这种方法适用于大批量（10,000或更多）零件的生产。3) SLS打印可以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，子选项将是使用3D打印服务来打印和运输零件。然而，这将导致设计过程中的重大延迟（由于运输时间和最低订单要求）和重大成本（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几次，包括1)辅助技术（进食辅助设备，手臂支撑，外骨骼，矫形器和假肢），2)工伤预防设备，3)康复干预（机器人设备），以及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，对于第1到3类，需要进行临床验证，以确保技术的有效性和可信度，并需要生产大量的原型（每个项目10到30个）。影响：SLS打印机将允许实现几个针对重要社会方面的项目，即帮助残疾人和老年人。学生将使用所要求的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。我们团队迫切需要一台SLS打印机。如果不这样做，将导致HQP项目和出版的重大延误。无法获得这项技术也会对我们团队的竞争力造成重大损害，由于缺乏初步数据，很难获得资助。这也将导致成本增加，并阻止HQP接受培训，以使用这项技术，学习独立操作SLS打印机的第一手资料，并开发工业中高需求的先进原型技术。