SolidWorks Prosthetic Project

Image Credit: Jessica Corbitt

Objective:

Create a 3-D model of an object with a minimum of 3 parts

Systems and Tools Used:

SolidWorks 2020
Digital calipers
Compass
Straight edge

Skills Learned:

SolidWorks: Assembly, 3-D sketching, Dynamic sketches, Lofts
Problem-solving: The leg had many organic shapes that were difficult or impossible to measure. I created a system to solve this that is discussed more in-depth further down this page.

3-D Modeling a Prosthetic Leg

Image Credit: Jessica Corbitt

Drawing Overview of Total Assembly

In this drawing, I aimed to illustrate the overall height and length of the entire assembly while indicating the location of the center of mass. I've also included notes explaining that this height may vary, as each prosthetic needs to be tailored to fit the individual patient.

Breakdown of Assembly and Subassemblies

When I presented this drawing, my professor mentioned that he had never seen someone include three bills of materials in one place. I chose to do this because I believed it would save space, and many of the fasteners for different subassemblies are the same. I understand that the way my brain organizes things can sometimes be difficult for others to follow, so I took extra care to label and organize this page clearly.

This project featured many organic and rounded shapes. Our primary tool for measurements was calipers; however, I encountered limitations when dealing with these rounded shapes. To overcome this, I improvised by using paper, a protractor, and a compass to trace the shapes. Once I had traced them, I used the compass to find the center of each circle, allowing me to measure the radius accurately with the calipers.

Although I recognize that this method may not have been perfectly precise, I made every effort to ensure that my measurements were as close to the actual dimensions as possible by double- and triple-checking them.