Optimal design and manufacturing of 3D printable prosthesis pylon

Abstract

Abstract The aim of this study is to design a pylon with an engineering structure that gives it support and strength and manufacture a pylon characterized by low cost, lightweight, and bearing the patient's weight. This study designed two pylon models and fabricated by additive manufacturing techniques. The polylactic acid polymer is used as the filament for the 3D printing of pylons. A force plate and tensile test with finite element method simulation ANSYS software were applied to the pylons to evaluate their performance. The results showed that 3D printed pylon with Y-section has enough strength under stress and good safety factor, and the ability to bear a high patient load without buckling and exceed the requirements to become instead of the metallic prosthetic pylons.