Being a so-called Key Enabling Technology (KET), Additive Manufacturing advances many application fields and is at the centre of the fast and comprehensive transformation we currently see in our economy. In the future it will be crucial that manufacturing and production are not only agile and digitised, but also come with a reduced environmental footprint in processing value chains.
Within this EuroTech Focus Area, our academics do not only look at the research perspective of future-proof green manufacturing but also at how universities need to fulfil their mission of providing the right skills to the engineers of tomorrow.
Digital Learning Initiative 2020/2021
In the winter term 2020/2021, EuroTech piloted an inter-university course catalogue that included also three virtual challenges for student teams. One of them was posed by the Focus Area Additive Manufacturing.
Additive manufacturing of a lower limb prosthesis – a frugal innovation approach
The goal was for the students to develop an innovative, resource-saving prototype that would primarily benefit prosthesis wearers in countries of the global south. The teams designed a concept for a simple model that could be developed quickly and inexpensively while meeting high quality standards. The selection of suitable materials played a decisive role, as these must guarantee the unrestricted functionality of the various prosthesis components. Read more
