Tis the season to be jolly, and there’s few things in the world to put more joy in the heart than seeing a happy little dog bounding around for the first time on prosthetic legs.
This has been enabled by 3D Systems, and its technology, using its 3D scanning, design and 3D printing tools to fit Derby the dog with custom prostheses.
Derby was born with a congenital deformity characterised by small forearms and no front paws, and while always cheerful, he was, until now, only able to get around on soft surfaces. Hard surfaces, like sidewalks, cause severe abrasions on his front extremities.
Having fostered Derby through a dog rescue group, 3D Systems employee Tara Anderson decided to help.
Marshaling help from a orthotist and 3D Systems’ designers, data of Derby’s forearms and 3D scan data of a cup design were used to create the 3D design. The team used Geomagic Freeform‘s digital sculpting platform to allow them to create organic shapes and smooth curves for Derby’s shape.
With the ProJet 5500X 3D printer’s multi-material in a single build capability, the designers could build complete prosthetics with comfortable cups in rubber and rigid spokes and base, ready in a few hours, for Derby to test.
Through the power of 3D technologies Derby is now able to run alongside, and sometimes past, his newly adoptive owners.
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