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3D Printed Prosthetic for Disabled Stray Dog

Sui-Wah Wong, a member of Phrozen's community on a Taiwanese Facebook group, recently showcased his creation of a prosthetic for a dog with disabilities.

▲ The short video Wong has been shared on Facebook.

    Wong is a devoted animal lover, a owner of a vintage film-camera repair workshop. He's also an active volunteer with a local stray rescue and adoption group called "我們的動物緣", meaning "our serendipity with animals", situated in Ji'an, Hualian, Taiwan. Given his background in CAD and 3D printing from his camera repair business—where he crafts rare parts for classic film cameras—he found himself motivated to start exploring designing and 3D printing prosthetics for animals with disabilities.


▲ Wong's design of prosthetic for a dog with disabilities.


    Despite his familiarity with CAD and 3D printing, the realm of designing assistive devices for either human or animal application remained uncharted territory for him. "I started working on this design project from scratch." "Making one might not be super difficult, but the real challenge is crafting a prosthetic that perfectly fits their specific needs." Wong explains that crafting each prosthetic requires a tailored approach, its integration involves not only an anatomical fit but also an ergonomic form to ensure practical utility.

    Key factors in designing a prosthetic involve the material's stiffness, the weight of the final piece, and how comfy it is for the animals to wear. "After the printing is done, I add padding inside to make sure they're comfortable when they move around." Wong explains, "There's a connection between how stiff it is and how heavy it ends up being. I need to find the right balance - strong enough but not too heavy."


▲ Various attempts to make a proper prosthetic design.


    After several attempts, Wong finally manages to create a product that Peachy can actually use. "There are quite a few street dogs with amputations due to car accidents here in Hualian, but Peachy was born this way." Wong dedicates his time to helping these injured animals, and he explains the process of do this prosthetic work with limited resources as a volunteer at an animal rescue group:

    "I take photos of the animal from different angles and then make adjustments to the design accordingly." "This method of creating objects isn't the most accurate or efficient. Having a 3D scanner to build the model would cut the time down to a third, even though it's still more cost-effective and quicker than the traditional approach." Wong designs the model in the evening, lets the printer run overnight, retrieves the model in the morning, and then spends his free time on post-processing.


▲ The prosthetic Peachy is using in the video above.


    Wong is currently using the Phrozen Sonic Mini 4K along with Rock-Black Stiff resin to craft all the necessary parts. "It's been working well, especially considering the socket's thickness is only around 1mm." After he made a post seeking suggestions for a suitable functional resin for this purpose, Phrozen decided to offer him a bottle of Onyx Impact Plus resin to experiment with. "You need a material that's strong, durable, and resilient enough for daily heavy-duty use. Impact Plus fits the bill, but it's not the easiest to print," responded Ray, co-founder of Phrozen, to the post.

    "She is now adapting well to the latest design." Said Wong, "I'm really looking forward to trying out Impact Plus." he added with a modest smile. Wong's dedication shines through as he quietly goes about perfecting his designs to help these animals. It's a testament to his commitment that he's willing to put in the effort, using the resources at hand, all to make a difference in the lives of these furry companions. Through each iteration, he's not just solving problems, but he's also showing that a bit of creativity and persistence can have a meaningful impact on the everyday struggles faced by these animals.


▲ Wong, along with the volunteer from the animal rescue group, helped Peachy put on the prosthetic.


▲ Peachy being able to exercise freely with the help of the prosthetic made by Wong.


▲ The latest design of prosthetic for Peachy made by Wong.


Link to the original post: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Phrozen3DP/permalink/2669875736484129/

Link to Fanpage of the animal rescue group 我們的動物緣: https://www.facebook.com/weneedshome

All photos provided by Sui-Wah Wong.

 



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