APPLICABILITY ANALYSIS OF ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING PROCESSES IN THE FABRICATION OF ANATOMICALLY SHAPED LATTICE SCAFFOLDS

Abstract

Manufacturing of anatomically shaped scaffolds for bonе tissue recovery as well as other similar anatomically shaped implants represents a major challenge for modern manufacturing technologies. The complexity of anatomically shaped lattice scaffolds for bone tissue recovery requires involvement of so-called additive manufacturing processes. This paper brings out the criterial matrix for the assessment of additive manufacturing processes applicability in the case of bone tissue scaffold manufacturing. Moreover, this criterial matrix serves as the basis for developing Calculator for the generic assessment of additive manufacturing processes applicability. In this very particular case the subject of consideration is an anatomically shaped lattice scaffold intended for the recovery of large trauma located in the upper part of proximal diaphyseal of rabbit tibia. The criterial matrix and the Calculator defined for this case prove themselves as generic tools for comparative analyses of applicability of different additive manufacturing processes. Furthermore, these tools can help identifying the most demanded features of some future additive manufacturing process that has to be developed for the specific case.