Design and manufacture of life size human model using material extrusion and vat photopolymerization additive processes

Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Faculty of Materials Science and Technology in Trnava, Institute of Production Technologies, Jána Bottu 2781/25, 917 24 Trnava, Slovak Republic

^* Corresponding author: ivan.molnar@stuba.sk

Abstract

Nowadays, Additive Manufacturing (AM) is increasingly being used in various fields of medicine. Using Material Extrusion additive process – Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) method are produced 3D models of organs or body parts designed for preoperative planning, individual prosthetic and orthopaedic appliances and others. The Vat Photopolymerization additive process – Stereolithography (SLA) method is used to produce precision hearing aids, wearable assist devices, prosthetics, orthotics and so on. The content of the article describes the process of designing and manufacturing the life size human model to show the possibilities and advantages of using selected additive methods in the field of medicine and thus pointing out the versatility of using the AM technology on a concrete example. The aim of thisarticle is to provide an up-to-date practical application of FFF and SLA additive methods in the fast-growing field of AM and to present to the reader a specific example of the use of AM with the idea of raising a better general understanding and supporting research into the use of AM technology in medicine.