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RAPID prototyping, ARM, ARTIFICIAL arms, BIONICS, HUMAN body, and LEG

The field of bionics has shown rapid and notable improvements in the recent years due to technological advances in various fields of medicine and engineering. We have reached a point where upper and lower limb exoprosthesis can reproduce most of the fundamental movements of a biological arm or leg, some of the newer models even having the function of producing movements which would be impossible for the human body to re-create. The aim of this paper is to design and optimize an upper limb bionic exoprosthesis by using patient's parameters and morphological dimensions. Due to the latest trends in additive manufacturing, such a prototype can be used as a template which can be modified according to the morphological landmarks of each individual, so that it can be as close as possible to the patient's anatomy being used as an alternative for people from disadvantaged areas, due to the low production costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RAPID prototyping, ENGINEERING design, THREE-dimensional printing, INFORMATION retrieval, and INTERDISCIPLINARY research

Purpose This paper aims to argue about the involvement of additive technologies (ATs) in the prototyping issues of designing. More precisely, it reviews the literature contributions focused on the different perspectives of prototyping activities for design purposes, searching for both available knowledge and research needs concerning the correct exploitation of ATs.Design/methodology/approach A two-step literature review has been performed. In the first step, general information has been retrieved about prototyping issues related to design. In the second step, the literature searches were focused on retrieving more detailed information about ATs, concerning each of the main issues identified in the previous step. Extracted information has been analyzed and discussed for understanding the actual coverage of the arguments and for identifying possible research needs.Findings Four generally valid prototyping issues have been identified in the first step of the literature review. For each of them, available information and current lacks have been identified and discussed about the involvement of AT, allowing to extract six different research hints for future works.Originality/value This is the first literature review concerning AT-focused contributions that cover the complex and inter-disciplinary issues characterizing prototyping activities in design contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RAPID prototyping, DESIGN, SURVEYS, RESEARCH, and ENGINEERING

Prototyping is interwoven with nearly all product, service, and systems development efforts. A prototype is a pre-production representation of some aspect of a concept or final design. Prototyping often predetermines a large portion of resource deployment in development and influences design project success. This review surveys literature sources in engineering,management, design science, and architecture. The study is focused around design prototyping for early stage design. Insights are synthesized fromcritical reviewof the literature: key objectives of prototyping, critical review of major techniques, relationships between techniques, and a strategy matrix to connect objectives to techniques. The review is supported with exemplar prototypes provided fromindustrial design efforts. Techniques are roughly categorized into those that improve the outcomes of prototyping directly, and those that enable prototyping through lowering of cost and time. Compact descriptions of each technique provide a foundation to compare the potential benefits and drawbacks of each. The review concludes with a summary of key observations, highlighted opportunities in the research, and a vision of the future of prototyping. This review aims to provide a resource for designers as well as set a trajectory for continuing innovation in the scientific research of design prototyping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RAPID prototyping, ROBOTS, USER-centered system design, HUMAN-computer interaction, and TEACHING

Including children in the design of technologies that will have an impact on their daily lives is one of the pillars of user-centered design. Educational robots are an example of such a technology where children’s involvement is important. However, the form in which this involvement should take place is still unclear. Children do not have a lot of experience with educational robots yet, while they do have some ideas of what robot could be like from popular media, such as BayMax from the Big Hero 6 movie. In this paper we describe two pilot studies to inform the development of an elicitation method focusing on form factors; a first study in which we have asked children between 8 and 15 years old to design their own classroom robot using a toolkit, the Robo2Box, and a second study where we have compared the use of the Robo2Box toolkit and clay as elicitation methods. We present the results of the two studies, and discuss the implications of the outcomes to inform further development of the Robo2Box for prototyping classroom robots by children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ELECTRIC vehicles, RAPID prototyping, SIGNAL processing, ARTIFICIAL satellite tracking, BRAKE systems, REGENERATIVE braking, and DESIGN

The electro-mechanical brake booster (EMBB) is a kind of mechatronic actuator, which is developed to suit the brake assist requirement of electric vehicles. In this paper, we report on the design of an EMBB system consisting of a dc motor, a two-state reduction of a gear and ball screw, a servo body, and a reaction disk. Considering the inconvenience of installation and high price of the pedal force sensor, we translate the control problem of brake power assist control to position tracking control. Meanwhile, a nonlinear control method for position tracking is presented to solve the problem of power assist braking, which is formalized as three parts: the steady-state control, feed-forward control based on reference dynamics, and state-dependent feedback control. The benefit of the nonlinear control method is that it offers a concise control law and performs well in engineering implementations. In addition, a second-order filter was designed to do the signal processing and obtain a higher-order derivative. Finally, the bench tests based on rapid control prototyping environment were designed and implemented to verify the performance of the controller. Test results show that both the position tracking performance and response time of the EMBB system performed well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RAPID prototyping, LEARNING modules, THREE-dimensional printing, TEACHING aids, DESIGN education, SCHOOL children, and ELEMENTARY education

In recent years, digital fabrication, and especially its associated activities of 3D design and printing, have taken root in school education as curriculum‐based and maker‐oriented learning activities. This article explores the adoption of 3D design and printing for learning by fourth, fifth and sixth grade children (n=64) in multidisciplinary learning modules in elementary school education. School‐coordinated 3D projects were not led by design experts, such as art and design teachers, designers, researchers or technical specialists, but run 'in the wild' by school teachers. The study was conducted by using an ethnographic research design, including field observations, non‐formal interviews and a reflective questionnaire. The results indicate that, in the adoption of 3D printing activities, learning is centred on the technical skills and the usage of 3D tools. Hence, the elementary ABCs of 3D printing do not achieve the full design and creativity potential of digital fabrication that earlier research has suggested. However, the results do have implications for the potential of 3D printing projects to increase children's empowerment. In their current state, 3D design and printing are some of the learning tools, among others, and similar achievements can be achieved with other hands‐on learning technologies. In order to enhance the learning of creativity and design thinking skills, 3D activities in school should be planned accordingly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RAPID prototyping, BONE mechanics, THREE-dimensional printing, COMPUTED tomography, CLINICAL trials, and FEASIBILITY studies

Purpose This paper aims to explore the feasibility of rapid prototyping for human hand bones and additional artery with topological preservation.Design/methodology/approach A serial of slices derived from spiral computed tomography human hand specimen was imported into 3DSlicer 4.4.0 to obtain a three-dimensional virtual model. The model is exported as a standard template library file. Additional arteries were structured according to the atlas and the bone model. Then, a real model was printed based on the virtual model. Measurements were approached in 11 parts of the virtual and real model.Findings There is no statistical difference between virtual and real model in 11 parts, and the topological characters were preserved.Practical implications This method can be used in reconstruction of clinical iconological blood vessel and anatomical education.Originality/value This paper shows that it is possible to keep the topological structure of blood vessel not only in painting but also in clinical data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DEAF children and RAPID prototyping

Deaf children are an underrepresented group in technology development, despite the potential technology available to aid them in language acquisition. Requirements elicitation prototyping allows Deaf children to act in an informant role in the creation of key technologies. This paper presents a case study of requirements elicitation prototyping conducted with young Deaf children in order to identify issues within the process. Potential solutions to each issue are provided so that designers working with young Deaf children as informants can adjust their design process to obtain relevant information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RAPID prototyping, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY, PROTOTYPES, NEW product development, AUTOMATION, and MANUFACTURING processes

Rapid Prototyping (RP) presents the automatic production of physical parts using by additive manufacturing technology. The start techniques for Rapid Prototyping became available in the late 1980s and were used to produce models and prototype parts. Today they are used for a much wider range of applications and are even used to manufacture production-quality parts in relatively small numbers. Rapid Prototyping is widely used in the automotive, aerospace, medical, and consumer products industries. In paper is presented process of design product development, product production and testing of products produced by Fused Deposition Modelling rapid prototyping technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TOPOLOGY, THREE-dimensional printing, RAPID prototyping, METALS, and STRAINS & stresses (Mechanics)

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to communicate a method to perform simultaneous topology optimization of component and support structures considering typical metal additive manufacturing (AM) restrictions and post-print machining requirements.Design/methodology/approach An integrated topology optimization is proposed using two density fields: one describing the design and another defining the support layout. Using a simplified AM process model, critical overhang angle restrictions are imposed on the design. Through additional load cases and constraints, sufficient stiffness against subtractive machining loads is enforced. In addition, a way to handle non-design regions in an AM setting is introduced.Findings The proposed approach is found to be effective in producing printable optimized geometries with adequate stiffness against machining loads. It is shown that post-machining requirements can affect optimal support structure layout.Research limitations/implications This study uses a simplified AM process model based on geometrical characteristics. A challenge remains to integrate more detailed physical AM process models to have direct control of stress, distortion and overheating.Practical implications The presented method can accelerate and enhance the design of high performance parts for AM. The consideration of post-print aspects is expected to reduce the need for design adjustments after optimization.Originality/value The developed method is the first to combine AM printability and machining loads in a single topology optimization process. The formulation is general and can be applied to a wide range of performance and manufacturability requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTELLIGENT control systems, COMPUTER-aided design, POWER transmission, MATHEMATICAL models, and RAPID prototyping

This article presents architecture of integrated intelligent computer-aided design system for designing mechanical powertransmitting mechanisms (IICADkmps). The system has been developed in C# program environment with the aim of automatising the design process. This article presents a modern, automated approach to design. Developed kmps modules for calculation of geometrical and design characteristics of mechanical power-transmitting mechanisms are described. Three-dimensional geometrical parameter modelling of mechanical power-transmitting mechanisms was performed in the computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing/computer-aided engineering system CATIA V5. The connection between kmps calculation modules and CATIA V5 modelling system was established through initial threedimensional models - templates. The outputs from the developed IICADkmps system generated final three-dimensional virtual models of mechanical power-transmitting mechanisms. Testing of the developed IICADkmps system was performed on friction, belt, cogged (spur and bevel gears) and chain transmitting mechanisms. Also, connection of the developed IICADkmps system with a device for rapid prototyping and computer numerical control machines was made for the purpose of additional testing and verification of practical use. Physical prototypes of designed characteristic elements of mechanical power-transmitting mechanisms were manufactured. The selected test three-dimensional virtual prototypes, obtained as an output from the developed IICADkmps system, were manufactured on the device for rapid prototyping (three-dimensional colour printer Spectrum Z510) and computer numerical control machines. Finally, at the end of the article, conclusions and suggested possible directions of further research, based on theoretical and practical research results, are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DIGITAL technology, TELEVISION art directors, RAPID prototyping, THREE-dimensional printing, and DIGITAL image processing

The article addresses how production designers and artists experience the shift to digital fabrication tools, relying on two industry interviews and trade publications. My intervention highlights the importance of the designer’s experience of the digital transition, which has been neglected by scholarship to date on digital technologies in the media industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRAOCULAR lenses, MANUFACTURING processes, TREATMENT of cataracts, REFRACTIVE errors, and RAPID prototyping

Intraocular lens implantation surgery is the only approach for cataract treatment at present. Apart from removing the cloudy lens, correction of refractive errors becomes the second main function of intraocular lenses. This paper systematically summarizes the intraocular lenses in terms of its material, design, manufacturing and evaluation. The next generation of intraocular lenses with customized freeform surfaces is highlighted from the lens design viewpoint. The status of processing and measurement methods is presented for both current intraocular lenses and future freeform lenses. Finally, the research perspectives are outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AMORPHOUS magnetic materials, HIGH frequency transformers, TOROIDAL magnetic circuits, RENEWABLE energy sources, CONVERTERS (Electronics), RAPID prototyping, THREE-dimensional display systems, and MAGNETIC circuits

Recent improvements in magnetic material characteristics and switching devices have generated a possibility to replace the electrical buses with high-frequency magnetic links in microgrids. Multiwinding transformers (MWTs) as magnetic links can effectively reduce the number of conversion stages of renewable energy system by adjusting turn ratio of windings according to the source voltage level. Other advantages are galvanic isolation, bidirectional power flow capability, and simultaneous power transfer between multiple ports. Despite the benefits, design, and characterization of MWTs are relatively complex due to their structural complexity and cross-coupling effects. This paper presents all stages of numerical design, prototyping, and characterization of an MWT for microgrid application. To design the transformer for certain value of parameters, the reluctance network method is employed. Due to the iterative nature of transformer design, it presented less computation time and reasonable accuracy. A prototype of designed transformer is implemented using amorphous magnetic materials. A set of experimental tests are conducted to measure the magnetic characteristics of the core and series coupling and open-circuit tests are applied to measure the transformer parameters. A comparison between the simulation and experimental test results under different loads within the medium-frequency range validated both design and modeling procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]