A Summer of Service

At Mannix College, we pride ourselves on a community that cares deeply and passionately serves others, embodying our core value of service. Luke Tan, a Mechatronics Engineering student specialising in AI at Monash University and a resident of Mannix College exemplified this spirit through a heartwarming summer project to create a custom prosthetic leg for Jilly, an energetic dog who lost a leg due to an amputation.

The opportunity arose when a university friend shared a Facebook ad from Jilly’s owner. Combining his passion for prosthetics and love for dogs, Luke set out to design a functional and comfortable prosthetic leg for Jilly.

Luke faced several challenges in the project, such as sourcing materials and ensuring the parts’ strength and fit. He used 3D-printed TPU 95A for the brace, which provided flexibility and comfort, and then secured it to Jilly with elastic Velcro straps, allowing for adjustability. The shaft of the leg was constructed from a piece of carbon fibre sourced from a damaged bike, which increased durability without sacrificing weight. This shaft connects to a 3D-printed foot, also made from TPU 95A, offering shock absorption and grip. The design of the foot allows for easy changes to adjust compression and grip levels, aiming to mimic the natural shock absorption of Jilly’s other three paws. All connecting parts were 3D printed from PLA tough and ABS.

Creating the prosthetic first involved researching dog leg prosthetics and the materials and methods used to produce them. To assist in this stage, Luke contacted veterinary companies to determine best how to produce a design that integrated with the dog’s natural (and remaining) anatomy. The next stage of the design process involved taking a 3D scan of where the prosthetic would mount to Jilly and then producing multiple iterations and stress-testing different parts to perfect the design. Luke meticulously tested each part, improving it with each iteration to ensure it was lightweight and strong. Initially, Jilly was unsure how to use the leg, but after a few weeks, she adapted well, bringing immense joy to her owners.

So far, the leg has withstood six months of Jilly’s consistent use, with only one part failure that has since been upgraded and redesigned to be more durable. This project has deepened Luke’s knowledge of prosthetics and 3D printing, reinforcing his passion for innovative solutions. This experience has not only enhanced his technical skills but also his understanding of the impact engineering can have on improving lives. He hopes to continue working on prosthetics in the future.