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

背景：所需设备为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3D打印机，这些打印机依赖于其他技术，如熔融沉积建模(FDM)和立体平版印刷(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。有不同的选项可供选择：1)机械加工允许制作坚固部件的原型；但是，由于重量、可行的形状、硬度和外观，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，但在研究背景下成本效益不高；由于涉及的成本，这种方法适合于大批量(10,000或更多)的零部件生产。3)SLS打印可以生产机械特性优良的部件，可与注塑部件相媲美，并且可以以低成本生产。作为购买SLS打印机的替代方案，子选项将是使用打印和运输部件的3D打印服务。然而，这将导致设计过程中的重大延误(由于发货时间和最小订单要求)和重要成本(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打印机将在许多项目中每周使用几次，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，迭代的以用户为中心的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至第3类，需要临床验证以确保技术的有效性和可信度，并需要生产许多原型(每个项目10至30个)的影响：SLS印刷机将允许实现几个针对重要社会方面的项目，即援助残疾人和老年人。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。如果做不到这一点，将导致HQP项目和出版的重大延误。无法获得这项技术也将严重损害我们团队的竞争力，由于缺乏初步数据，很难获得拨款。这还会导致成本增加，并阻止HQP接受使用这项技术的培训，无法第一手学习独立操作SLS打印机，以及开发工业中需求很高的高级原型技术。

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.