Comparing the Performance of Composite Polymer Structure and Single Polymer Material by Manufacturing Artificial Hand using 3D Printing Method

Subject Areas :

Abbas Savabpour ¹ , Ali Pourkamali Anaraki ² , Javad Kad Khodapour ³

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Received: 2024-09-26 Accepted : 2024-11-26 Published : 2024-12-23

Keywords: 3D Printer, Composite Material, Artificial Hand, ABS, TPU ,

Abstract :

A composite structure is a non-uniform solid that consists of two or more different materials with different kinds mechanically bonded together. Compared to their components, these structures have superior properties (such as high strength and flexibility, incredible softness, etc.). They can be designed according to the needs, and different mechanical properties can be achieved. In this article, to prove the superiority of composite structures over single material structures, two products, including an articulated hand (single material) and a flexible hand (composite material), have been designed and manufactured using 3D printing technology (incremental layering). To investigate the performance of these two hands, the bending angles of the fingers of each hand in the open and closed state at different times were measured by the protractor. They were eventually compared, analyzed, and evaluated. The results of this study indicate that due to the use of composite material, the flexi fingers can easily bend and straighten up to 100 degrees in 2.8 seconds. Still, the articulated hand repeats this movement in 3.3 seconds. These results indicate that the flexi hand repeats the movement of the human hand faster due to its high flexibility.

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