Design and production of orthopedic insoles with PolyJet Matrix

Aditivni postupci (e. Additive Manufacturing) čiji se proces izrade tvorevina temelji na nanašanju polimernih materijala sloj po sloj našli su veliku primjenu u medicini zbog mogućnosti izrade geometrijski složenih oblika tvorevina malih ili većih dimenzija. Vrijeme potrebno za izradu tvorevine od početne digitalizacije (3D skeniranje), pa do potpuno izrađene funkcionalne tvorevine je nekoliko sati ovisno o veličini tvorevine. U radu je opisan PolyJet i PolyJet Matrix postupak i mogućnost primjene različitih materijala za te postupke. Opisana je biomehanika ljudskog hoda koja je vrlo bitna za izradu ortopedskih uložaka. Dan je pregled postupaka i materijala kojima se ortopedski ulošci mogu izrađivati, a u eksperimentalnom dijelu opisan je cijeli postupak dobivanja ortopedskog uloška izrađenog PolyJet Matrix postupkom. Tako izrađeni ortopedski ulošci imaju definirane zone s različitim tvrdoćama čime pružaju maksimalnu udobnost.Additive manufacturing technologies are based on manufacture of polymer materials layer by layer. They are widely used in medicine because of their ability to produce very small or large objects with rather complex geometry. Time needed to manufacture an object, from digitalisation of an object to fully functional object, is several hours depending on its size. The paper describes PolyJet and PolyJet Matrix technologies and the possibility of applying different materials and procedures. The paper also describes the biomechanics of human locomotion which is essential for the production of orthopedic insoles. An overview of technologies and materials which are used for production of orthopedic insoles is given. Complete process of producing an orthopedic insole with PolyJet Matrix technology is described in the experimental part of the paper. Orthopedic insoles produced with PolyJet Matrix technology have defined zones with different hardnesses which provide maximum comfort