3D printing assisted fabrication of shape memory shoes

• Main Author: Ng, Catherine Jia Lin
• Other Authors: Huang Weimin
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2019
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Mechanical engineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/78306
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Shape memory polymer (SMP) is a polymer-based smart material which can return from a deformed state (temporary shape) to their original (permanent) shape under the right stimuli. Due to this unique characteristic, there are many products which can be fabricated to help our daily life. Since shoes are an essential component that help to prevent injuries and enhance ones’ comfort level while walking, running etc., this project aims to investigate how to fabricate a pair of SMP shoes with the assistance of 3D printing. A few prototypes have been created to test the feasibility of these shoes. Although the shoe prototypes are only a proof-of-concept, these prototypes are able to demonstrate that they are deformable at body temperature to fit into different foot sizes.