Performance of Low-Cost 3D Printed Pylon in Lower Limb Prosthetic Device

In this study, pylon section of lower limb prosthetic device was fabricated by additive manufacturing technique. Polylactic acid polymer was used as the filament for 3D printing of pylons. The 3D printed pylons were tested to evaluate their compliance with the standards set by ISO 1038:2016 (Prosthetics-Structural testing of lower limb prostheses-Requirements and test methods). A static proof test and compression test were applied on the pylons to evaluate their performance. The results showed that 3D printed pylons have enough strength under stress and exceed the requirements of the standards and therefore can replace themetallic pylons in lower limb prostheses. Using 3D printers as an alternative fabrication technique can open a new horizon to increase the accessibility of lower limb prostheses for low-income populations.