How FDM Material Innovation is Transforming Prosthetics with Ruud Rouleaux

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Ruud Rouleaux, founder of ColorFabb, shares the evolution of 3D printing materials from early PLA filaments to revolutionary foaming technology that's changing prosthetic and orthotic care. His journey from plastics engineer to materials innovator reveals how focusing on functional materials rather than competing on price has positioned ColorFabb as a leader in the field.

• Origins of ColorFabb in 2010 when the 3D printing market was just emerging
• Development of wood-filled PLA that sparked interest in composite materials
• Introduction of VarioShore foaming technology in 2016 for lightweight, comfortable devices
• Creating skin-tone matched materials that can be fine-tuned by adjusting printing temperature
• Obtaining compliance certifications for direct skin contact applications
• Integration with advanced software like implicit modeling for better textures and geometries
• Future developments including induction nozzles and better flow control
• How FDM printing with the right materials sometimes outperforms more complex technologies
• The shift toward data-driven approaches in orthotics while maintaining clinical expertise

Special Thanks to Structure for sponsoring this episode.

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