Möjligheter inom additiv tillverkning för hand- och fingerortoser

Abstract

Additive Manufacturing is a constantly growing manufacturing method in the industry. It is not just in the industry that additive manufacturing can be used but also in the healthcare. Alingsås Lasarett wants to explore the possibilities with using this method of manufacturing in the rehab department and manufacture orthosis. Today Alingsås Lasarett has no experience in additive manufacturing and no orthosis in manufactured using this method. This means that we have started from the beginning examine different methods for additive manufacturing and scanners as well as the pros and cons. We have presented Alingsås Lasarett with different purchase recommendations based on this research. The goal is to purchase and use both printer and scanner for manufacturing orthosis on their own. In this report the optimal geometry of the orthosis is not included, neither if additive manufacturing can be used in different parts in the healthcare industry other than in orthosis manufacturing. The focus lies only on printers and scanners suitable for orthosis manufacturing. The result of the research showed that Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) were most suitable for orthosis manufacturing and the smaller, handheld scanners were the most optimal for Alingsås Lasarett. Recommendations of 3D-printers and scanners have been presented. Practical part that includes scanning and test printing of orthosis have not been made. Future work should include research of optimal geometry and design of orthoses. A software is required to craft the orthosis digitally after scanning before printing can be done. The full work process from scanning to completed printing should be optimized. To be able to make this complete work process education to workers is required.